Zip File that I shouldn’t have opened, help

[mwi555]

I sent an email to my mechanic asking for a quote about a repair. A few days later he replied (or so I thought) with a Zip file. I should have known better, but opened the zip file. It tried to open the document in word. I opened it on my phone and I couldn’t see it, I opened it on my iMac. Got the same thing then on the iMac. (I don’t have word either)
Then I thought, this isn’t right…. Contacted the mechanic and he said he had been compromised. I turned off the iMac. I welcome any advice to best deal with the iMac to make sure I didn’t download some malware or something? Thankfully nothing was on the computer that would be the end of the world if I lost it. I normally use the MacBook Air. But I’d rather not do an erase and reinstall.
im assuming it might not even affect it, but how best would you guys suggest to handle this? I think I’m a decently savvy user, but not thinking that day…

if this is the wrong thread, please advise. Thanks.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Sounds like you unzipped Windows based Malware that was unable to run on your Apple devices. I don't think you have anything to worry about. If you are worried, you could revert back to the day before you opened the email zip file and or run a quick scan using the app Malwarebytes. Most of the time, if you get something on your Mac that can hurt you, the system either prevents it entirely or halts further damage after warning you.

 

[casperes1996]

I agree with Robert. If it were me I’d just go “Oh well”, and move on as if nothing happened. Of course you can’t be 100% certain. No scanning program can find everything, nothing can give you any complete guarantees. Not even a system wipe and reinstall is theoretically a guarantee. Extremely well crafted malware could in theory hide in firmware.

But this isn’t exactly likely. I mean the above could be true on any system, even one where you never opened anything. But macOS is really rather secure and as Robert points out, this doesn’t sound like malware intended to hit macOS.

 

[Fishrrman]

Unless your mechanic is using Macs, don't worry about it.

If the malware came from a PC running Windows, there's little chance the Mac is damaged or compromised.

I'd suggest you download MalwareBytes and run it. It's free.
Download the "home" version.
It will run forever "for free" -- you just have to manually launch it.
There's also a "pay for" version that runs continuously in the background.

But the free version is good enough for me.

Just remembered this is the Monterey forum.
Not sure if MalwareBytes will "run with it" yet.
But if that's the case, I doubt the PC malware can, either.

 

[mwi555]

Thank you to all. I appreciate your help and advice!

 

[mwi555]

Just a follow up, I downloaded Malwarebytes, ran it, with no problems! Thanks again!

 

[RadHaz]

VirusTotal will scan files you upload to their server, if you're curious about what that zip file might have contained.

VirusTotal

VirusTotal

www.virustotal.com