There is a popular opinion that Mac systems are inherently more secure than Windows. In fact, most Mac users don’t even bother to use an antivirus or anti-malware software. Objectively speaking, that opinion may or may not be true. Mainly because that depends on a variety of factors like the number of Mac users, how they use their system, how computer literate they are, etc. However, over the past few years, the threats to Mac users have been increasing, thanks to quickly spearing malware, ransomware, and adware.

Question: Q: how to remove mac adware cleaner pop up window I have a pop up window whenever I'm in google chrome that says, 'Recommended download, install mac adware cleaner' now to protect our mac device from malware, adware and other security threats. In general, MacBooster is a nice app that aims to clean and speed up a Mac machine. Its features are a combination of what CleanMyMac and Gemini offer, and even go beyond. However, choosing the best Mac cleaner software is not simply a game of comparing the number of features.

Read: Best Malware Removal Tools For Windows

Avoid MacKeeper

I bet you might have seen ads on websites (mostly porn sites), telling you to clean your Mac with MacKeeper. And while it’s legitimate software (as in not a virus), but it’s nonetheless useless and a waste of resources. Also, uninstalling MacKeeper isn’t easy as well. So, no matter what you do, avoid MacKeeper at any cost.

Instead, it is essential that you use a good anti-malware software so that not only you can be safe but also avoid spreading malware, ransomware, and viruses to other users. Here are some of the best anti-malware software for mac.

Read: How I Removed Malware From my WordPress Site

Best Anti Malware for Mac

1. Malwarebytes

When it comes to dealing with malware and other nasty stuff like rootkits, there is no other software that more popular than Malwarebytes. Other than it being able to remove malware from Mac effectively, the best thing about Malwarebytes is that it plays nice with your other antivirus software if you’ve already installed any. In fact, most users including me use Malwarebytes as a backup and perform weekly scans just to make sure that the system hasn’t been infected or has infected files.

To scan your system all you have to do is install the application, launch it and hit the scan button. As soon as you hit the button, it can do a quick scan for malware, PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), rootkits, adware, spyware, virus, etc., both in your system memory and hard disk. If it finds any threats, it will automatically quarantine those threats.

For in-depth scanning, select the custom scan option. Do keep in mind that the custom scan can take a couple of hours depending on the amount of data you have on your hard disk.

Download Malwarebytes (free, $40 for pro version)

2. Systweak Anti-Malware

Systweak Anti-Malware is a dedicated malware scanning and removal software for MacOS. Just like Malwarebytes, Systweak Anti-Malware scans for malware, rootkits, viruses, and adware in your hard disk and system memory. Once it finds a threat, it automatically quarantines it. If you know that Systweak Anti-Malware quarantined a false positive, you can restore the file or app with just a single click. For regular, deep, or custom scans, you can create custom schedules.

If you know a file or folder to be safe, you can exclude them from scanning avoiding any possible false positives by adding them to the exclude list. Of course, Systweak Anti-Malware always runs in the background and protects your Mac system from malware and PUPs in real-time. Other features of the software include start-up scan, memory scan, and beginner friendly user interface.

So, if you unsatisfied or looking for a good alternative for Malwarebytes you should try Systweak Anti-Malware.

Download Systweak Anti-Malware ($40)

3. Bitdefender

Bitdefender is another popular software to protect your mac from various threats like malware, virus, trojans, adware, spyware, unwanted software, and much more. The best thing about Bitdefender is that apart from protecting you from regular threats, it can actively scan in multiple layers and protect your system from ransomware. Other than that, Bitdefender can also keep an eye on cross-platform threats so that you don’t unintentionally spread malware, virus, or other infected files to your friends, colleagues or family.

Since Bitdefender always runs in the background, it can block any and all threats in real-time. Of course, Bitdefender also scans your system occasionally. If needed, you can create custom schedules with various configurations and scan settings. Bitdefender also has other features like backup protection, safe files, parental controls, secure shopping protection, etc.

Simply put, if you need a full-fledged software that can do much more than blocking and removing malware then give Bitdefender a try.

Download Bitdefender ($50 – $70 according to the version you choose)

4. Avast

Just like Bitdefender, Avast is not just an anti-malware software, it is a anti-virus software that can scan and protect your system from a wide range of threats. In fact, if you’ve ever searched for a anti-virus software, you should have definitely heard about Avast.

Using Avast you can regularly scan your system and create your own schedules to better protect your system. Along with anti-malware security, Avast can also protect your system from infected emails, unprotect WiFi network, and ransomware. Other features of the software include real-time protection, detailed security reports, browser protection, ability to shield you from dangerous downloads and PUPs, etc.

As good as the software is, while using Avast, you should be ready for a little bit of performance dip, at least, that is my experience while using Avast. Other than that, Avast is a pretty good and reputed software to protect Mac system from online and offline threats.

Download Avast (free, $70 for pro version)

5. AVG

AVG is yet another popular software that can protect you from malware, viruses, trojans, adware, and other threats. The good thing about AVG is that you can scan your system for threats related to Mac, Windows, and Android so that you don’t spread viruses or malware to other systems. Also, thanks to the simple and minimal design, using AVG to scan or create scanning schedules is pretty easy and straightforward. Moreover, unlike Avast, AVG always runs in the background and provides real-time protection for free.

As good as it is, when you try to download AVG from the official site, you will be redirected to the CNET website. So, be careful while installing it on your system as CNET has a habit of bundling adware and other toolbars along with the software you are trying to install.

If you are looking for all-around protection with real-time threat analysis and blocking then you should go with AVG.

Download AVG (free)

6. Sophos Home

Another popular opinion amongst Mac users which is more than just an Anti-Malware. Sophos Home comes with a bunch of extra features including a live chat support.

Sophos offers features like Anti-virus and ransomware security along with anti-malware protection. The programme also lets you remotely manage your devices. Yes ‘Device(s)’, Sophos home can be used in up to 10 devices for the paid version and 3 devices for the free version. Doesn’t end here, Sophos Home also lets you put on parental controls so that none of your devices reach the unprotected side of Web.

Download Sophos Home (30 day trial, $27 yearly for premium)

Wrapping Up: Best Anti Malware for Mac

If you are looking for a dedicated anti-malware software that plays well with other antivirus and firewall software then go with Malwarebytes. As a premium option, you can also try Systweak Anti-Malware. If you are looking for a full-fledged anti-virus software that can extend the protection to viruses, adware, ransomware, and other threats then go with AVG as it provides real-time protection for free. You can also try Bitdefender.

In general, if you know what you are doing on the Internet and don’t download the cracked software or porn, you’ll probably don’t need an anti-virus and/or anti-malware software. That said, if you don’t consider yourself tech savvy or if you are buying a computer for your parents, it’s a good idea to have an anti-malware installed.

That’s for now. If you think I missed any of your favorite anti-malware software then command below and share it with me. It will also help other Mac users.

Read: Top 10 Free Portable Anti-Malware Software to Have on Your Pen Drive

How to remove Mac Clean Pro from Mac?

What is Mac Clean Pro?

Similar to Advanced Mac Tuneup and Secure Mac Tuneup, Mac Clean Pro is a dubious application that claims to clean and optimize computers. Judging on appearance alone, Mac Clean Pro may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA), since developers proliferate it using a deceptive marketing method called 'bundling'.

Virus removal is one of the main Mac Clean Pro features. After scanning the system, users are presented with many infections that must supposedly be eliminated. The 'free version' of Mac Clean Pro is apparently not able to do this. Therefore, to resolve all issues, users must purchase the 'full version'. Bear in mind, however, that the Mac Clean Pro application is bogus - there is no guarantee that the listed infections actually exist. Furthermore, there are dozens of fake anti-virus/system optimization tools distributed using the 'bundling' method. All claim that system is damaged, but these claims are merely attempts to promote in-app purchases. Again, it is currently unknown whether Mac Clean Pro scan results are trustworthy - there is a high probability that your computer is optimized and virus-free. Therefore, we advise to remove this application and not to pay for the full version. If you are not sure whether your computer is safe, scan the system with a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite, such asCombo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS. As mentioned, developers promote Mac Clean Pro via the 'bundling' method. In most cases, 'bundling' is used to proliferate several PUAs at once. Therefore, Mac Clean Pro might be one of a number of PUAs that infiltrated your system. 'Bundling' is often used to proliferate adware and browser hijackers that deliver intrusive advertisements, gather sensitive information, and cause unwanted redirects. Therefore, if Mac Clean Pro has infiltrated the system without your consent, also remove other dubious applications/browser plug-ins.

The Internet is full of rogue potentially unwanted applications that claim to be legitimate. By offering 'useful features', these programs often trick users to install, however, since their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers, many PUAs provide no significant value for regular users. These rogue applications cause unwanted redirects, deliver intrusive advertisements, record personal information, and promote in-app purchases. In doing so, they pose a significant threat to your privacy and browsing safety.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Mac Clean Pro has an official download website, however, remember that developers promote this potentially unwanted applications using the aforementioned 'bundling' method - stealth installation of software with regular (usually free) applications. Developers do not disclose installation of 'bundled' applications properly. They conceal them within various sections (in most cases, 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings) of the download/installation procedures. In addition, users often rush these procedures and skip steps - behavior that often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted applications such as Mac Clean Pro.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Carefully analyze all windows of the download/installation dialogs. Select 'Custom/Advanced' settings, observe each step, and opt-out of all additionally-included applications. We also recommend that you avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since developers monetize them by 'bundling' PUAs. Apps should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links. As well as using the 'bundling' method, developers proliferate potentially unwanted applications using intrusive advertisements (which lead to malicious websites and run scripts that download and install PUAs). Most of these ads seem legitimate, but typically lead to dubious websites (pornography, gambling, adult dating, etc.). If you experience these ads, eliminate all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. The main reasons for computer infections are lack of knowledge and careless behavior - the key to safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan withCombo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Appearance of 'Mac Clean Pro' PUA (GIF):

Mac Clean Pro official promotion site:

Official Mac Clean Pro installation setup:

IMPORTANT NOTE! Mac Clean Pro adds itself to the list of applications that automatically run upon each user log in. Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:

• Go to System Preferences -> Users & Groups.
• Click your account (also known as Current User).
• Click Login Items.
• Look for the 'Mac Clean Pro' entry. Select it, and click the '-' button to remove it.

Instant automatic Mac malware removal:Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for MacBy downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Free scanner checks if your computer is infected. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Combo Cleaner.

Quick menu:

• STEP 1. Remove PUA related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue add-ons from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

Potentially unwanted applications removal:

Remove potentially unwanted applications from your 'Applications' folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select “Applications”. In the applications folder, look for “MPlayerX”,“NicePlayer”, or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Free scanner checks if your computer is infected. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Combo Cleaner.

Remove mac clean pro potentially unwanted application related files and folders:

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder..

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder.. bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder:

In the Go to Folder.. bar, type: /Library/Application Support

In the “Application Support” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, “MplayerX” or “NicePlayer”, and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for adware-generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder:

In the Go to Folder.. bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons

In the “LaunchDaemons” folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”, 'com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure your system is not infected run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file double click combocleaner.dmg installer, in the opened window drag and drop Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates it's virus definition database and click 'Start Combo Scan' button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays 'no threats found' - this means that you can continue with the removal guide, otherwise it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Mac Clean Pro potentially unwanted application removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove mac clean pro potentially unwanted application related Safari extensions:

Open Safari browser, from the menu bar, select 'Safari' and click 'Preferences..'.

In the preferences window, select 'Extensions' and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the 'Uninstall' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove mac clean pro potentially unwanted application related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the 'Open Menu' (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose 'Add-ons'.

Choose the 'Extensions' tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Remove' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove mac clean pro potentially unwanted application related Google Chrome add-ons:

Open Google Chrome and click the 'Chrome menu' (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose 'More Tools' and select 'Extensions'.

In the 'Extensions' window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Trash' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.