Malware doesn’t commonly occur on Macs, but it’s not impossible to get it. Malware can attack your Mac in different forms, such as worms. These cause many problems and can negatively affect the quality of your Mac experience.
Worms are malicious software that multiply on your Mac to quickly spread to all connected devices. Your Mac can get infected when you connect to unsecured networks or visit dangerous websites. The question is, once infected, how to get rid of this malware?
What is a worm?
Worms are one of the scariest types of malware that can infect your Mac. They can multiply and spread without human activity and quickly affect all devices on your network. With no intent to harm, the worms were created as a technological test. However, cyber criminals now create different types of worms as malware to harm users.
Your Mac can be infected with worms in several ways, and it doesn’t need to connect to any software to cause damage. They take advantage of security loopholes and vulnerabilities to spread to your Mac. The easiest way to get worms is through spam emails, corrupt internet networks, file sharing and email platforms.
How does a worm affect your Mac?
Worms work by taking advantage of vulnerabilities in macOS security, Internet connection, and personal ignorance. Worms can slightly mess up your Mac by duplicating themselves to the point of affecting your storage.
At the same time, some can cause more serious problems, like modifying and deleting files or installing harmful apps and programs without your consent. Cybercriminals can use worms to steal or destroy your data.
Signs of a worm attack on your Mac
If you’re having unexplained issues on your Mac, scanning for different types of malware, including worms, is a good idea. You may experience these issues when there is a worm on your Mac.
Slow system performance
When your Mac starts up slowly and responds slowly to commands, it’s probably because your memory is full. First you need to check what is taking up your memory space. You have nothing to worry about if your files and programs are using up memory space. However, if unidentified and duplicate files are occupying your memory, you might have a worm on your Mac.
You can check your RAM in Activity Monitor by following these steps:
- Open Searcher from the Dock and click Apps on the left.
- Scroll down and select the Utilities folder and open Activity Monitor.
- Click it Memory tab at the top of Activity Monitor window to see all applications and programs using memory.
- The memory pressure graph is at the bottom of the Memory tab. It shows you the real-time usage of your memory.
You can also check how your hard drive’s memory is being used in System Settings:
- Click it apple menu and open System Parameters.
- Open General on the left and select Storage to see how your Macintosh HD is used to store files.
Hidden and missing files
If you can’t find your files as you stored them on your Mac, notice a bunch of hidden files in your folders, or discover deleted files, you might have a worm on your Mac. Worms are capable of modifying and deleting your system files.
Unrecognized files or programs
When browsing through your files and folders, you may notice that some files are different from yours with unusual names and characters. A worm can install programs and applications that do not require your permission. These programs can harm your system or serve as spyware for cybercriminals.
Sharing unknown emails
Email is a common way to infect your Mac with worms. So, an obvious sign that you have worms on your Mac is when you start receiving excessive spam or your contacts start receiving spam from you.
4 Ways to Deal with a Worm on Your Mac
Worm damage to your Mac can be minimized or even reversed if you can take the appropriate steps. Let’s see how you can deal with a worm on your Mac.
1. Isolate infected systems
We mentioned earlier that worms spread quickly across devices, so you should check the extent of the spread first. Use antivirus to scan all your devices with shared data and internet connections for worms. Next, disconnect and isolate all infected devices from your local network or any general Wi-Fi network you are using.
2. Configure Mail Filters
The easiest way to avoid malware attacks on your Mac is to be careful about the links you click on and the websites you visit. A worm can attack your Mac through links in spam emails. To be on the safe side, avoid clicking on links in emails from unknown senders and spam.
After experiencing a worm attack in your email, one of the steps you can take to prevent it from happening again is to set up email filters. An email filter will automatically categorize your emails to reduce spam security risks.
3. Use antivirus with a firewall
One of the first steps to take when worms attack your Mac is to install antivirus software. An antivirus helps you identify infected files and also start the process of removing the worm from your Mac.
Worms spread quickly to devices on your network through email, file sharing, and network sharing. However, the best antivirus for your Mac is one with a firewall to prevent a worm from replicating itself on your other devices.
You can also enable the firewall on your Mac to block worms and other malware on your device’s network.
- Open System Parameters by clicking on the apple menu in the menu bar.
- Click on Network in the left pane and select firewall on the right.
- Toggle firewall and click Choice at the bottom of the page to view additional firewall options for added security.
4. Update your macOS
Apple releases regular updates on macOS to fix bugs and improve security. Updating your macOS regularly will protect you from ever-evolving worms and other types of malware.
Follow these steps to update your macOS:
- Click it apple menu open System Parameters.
- Select General in the left pane and click Software update on the right.
- Make sure you’re connected to the Internet to allow your Mac to check for available updates.
- If an update is available, you will be able to download and install it.
- To light up Automatic updates or click the information icon on the right to see more options.
Protect your Mac against worms
Although the risk is relatively low, your Mac can catch a worm if you don’t take the proper steps and surf the Internet safely. Fighting worms can be quite tedious, but these steps can eliminate infected files and programs from your Mac.
You should also always protect your Mac with timely updates and antivirus. This helps protect your Mac from worms in all their forms and keeps it running smoothly.
