Problem
When using your Mac, you are told by a program called MAC Defender that you have viruses and that you must pay for the product in order to remove them. This is actually a fake antivirus that lies about your system security in order to get your money.
Solution
To remove the MacDefender malware, you can download our Removal Tool or follow these instructions:
- Click the Spotlight magnifying glass icon (top right of the screen) or press cmd + Space.
- Type in Activity Monitor and press Enter.
- Make sure the dropdown (near the top right of the window) is set to All Processes.
- In the list, click on MAC Defender.
- Click the Quit Process button.
- Click Force Quit.
- Go to your Applications folder.
- Delete the MAC Defender file and empty the trash.
- Click the Apple icon in the top left of the screen, then click System Preferences.
- Click Accounts.
- Click on your username on the left.
- Click the Login Items tab.
- If MAC Defender is there click on it, then click the minus (-) button.
It is recommended that you Disable Automatic File Opening in Safari to prevent this happening again.
Thank you Carl, thank you. This really worked!And your instructions were so clear even we novices could understand.
Glad this helped. Only just put this up today 🙂
i had it installed for about an hour or so because i was trying to figure out how to delete it. i don't think i keyed in my credit card number though. should i make a report? what info could they have gotten?
I don't believe this program steals any information. It seems it is just an attempt to get you to pay for a program that doesn't do anything.
okay thanks so much!
Really helpful! Thanks so much.
Just adding my thanks to the rest
@a little obsessed: Thanks for pointing that out. Have added a seperate article for Mac Protector so that Google finds it 🙂
it was named mac protector in my app section as well…wow
thank you sooo very much for the easy to follow instructions cause i am a SUPER -NOVICE!!!!
i feel soo SMART right now:))
thank you so much! I worried about this all day at work, and just found your instructions. Super easy.
Worked! Thanks, saved me a trip to the Mac store.
Carl, Your the man… Could not have done it without your perfect step by step process. Thank You
you have saved my live…thanks!
Thank you… too many late nights working and just clicked yes.. Never doing that again.
Thanks so much – your instructions were very clear – appreciate your expertise.
After quitting the MAC Defender process you can use AppCleaner to remove the application and all its files. It deletes other files too beside the .app file
Similar scareware on Windows machines can disable anti-virus and spyware protection. It can also limit access to the internet or the ability to run programs that can be used to remove the scareware. Hopefully, now that these thing are affecting the Mac, similar "features" are not added.
thank you carl, super easy instructions!
Thank you Carl, came across this last night and made me panic. Thank youfor your easy to follow instructions. Awesome !!
Hi Phillip.Just to let you know, all of our software is currently free. More downloads will be added soon.
hey I’m trying to follow the instruction but the step number 4 can’t find the MAC PROTECTOR!!!!!!! NEED HELP THANKS