How can I check if I have a virus problem please?

[Staffie]

Please can someone give me some advice as I'm worried I may have
innocently acquired a virus on my macbook pro. Earlier I searched
for Book Forums to get some recommendations for reading. I
clicked on a book forum UK site but judging by the page that loaded
I think it must have been a porn site!!!!! I quickly clicked off the page
without doing anything else at all as soon as I realised what had happened.
I am fairly new to Mac and have no idea how to check if I have a virus or
been infected in any way.

 

[adamhenry]

Here is some good reading on Mac Malware.

 

[Dave Braine]

You don't have a virus. Here's some more good reading on the subject:
http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Virus/Malware_FAQ

 

[Ulenspiegel]

You don't have a virus.
Anyway, there are two useful applications that you can use:

1. AdwareMedic (http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php).
2. ClamXav (http://www.clamxav.com/download.html).

I would suggest installing an AdBlocker as well, like:

1. AdBlock (https://getadblock.com) or
2. AdBlock Plus (https://adblockplus.org).

 

[Julien]

How can I check if I have a virus problem please?.

Question: Do you:
A: Own a PC
B: Own a Mac

If you answered B then you don't have a virus problem.

 

[GGJstudios]

Please can someone give me some advice as I'm worried I may have
innocently acquired a virus on my macbook pro. Earlier I searched
for Book Forums to get some recommendations for reading. I
clicked on a book forum UK site but judging by the page that loaded
I think it must have been a porn site!!!!! I quickly clicked off the page
without doing anything else at all as soon as I realised what had happened.
I am fairly new to Mac and have no idea how to check if I have a virus or
been infected in any way.

You don't have a virus. Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 12 years ago. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which can be easily avoided by practicing safe computing (see below). 3rd party antivirus apps are not necessary to keep a Mac malware-free, as long as a user practices safe computing, as described in the following link.

​

Read the What security steps should I take? section of the Mac Virus/Malware FAQ for tips on practicing safe computing.

 

[Acanfield28]

Download malwarebytes.com/Mac and run it. It’s not a virus. Then clear your trash and safari history.

 

[Gregg2]

Three years would be a long time to fret over your computer being infected...

 

[satcomer]

Go free and just use a free program EtreCheck to scan your individual Mac! It won’t remove anything but show you where to find the offending files to delete!

 

[TiggrToo]

Go free and just use a free program EtreCheck to scan your individual Mac! It won’t remove anything but show you where to find the offending files to delete!

Assuming the OP still has the issue from THREE years ago!