The Safe Mac

Search results for: “flash”

  • How to prepare your Mac for sale

    People sell their computers all the time. Unfortunately for the buyers, this is often done improperly, leaving the buyer with a junk computer that isn’t working properly… sometimes even containing malware! For the seller, such improper preparation is a danger as well, as the buyer may be able to access sensitive data left unknowingly on…

  • Recovering deleted files

    You have deleted one or more files that you really shouldn’t have, and you don’t have a backup of that data, so you’re freaking out. Everyone’s been there at some point. If that is what has led you here, my advice to you is simple: stop reading right now! Yes, I’m totally serious. Shut down your computer…

  • Identification

    Identification of adware simply requires looking for certain key files. If one of these files are present, you are “infected” with the corresponding adware, and will need to follow the removal instructions specific to that adware. It is important to work through this entire page! Do not stop after finding one piece of adware, or look for…

  • Am I infected?

    I hear this question all the time these days, and find myself often typing the same things over and over again. This FAQ, which is part of my Macintosh Malware Guide, will help you determine whether or not you should be worried. Note that it is written on the assumption that you have read the Macintosh Malware…

  • How do I protect myself?

    Protecting yourself, whether you use AV software or not, is the most important aspect of avoiding malware.  The biggest part of that is keeping up with updates, not only for your system but for all your software.  Security vulnerabilities are being found and fixed by software companies all the time.  These vulnerabilities often provide ways…

  • Do I need anti-virus software?

    There is no simple yes or no answer to this question. The answer will depend on many factors, the biggest of which is your own opinion on security. However, I do have some recommendations. Before we get to those, we need to examine some basic facts about anti-virus (AV) software. Perhaps the biggest fact that…

  • How does Mac OS X protect me?

    Mac OS X is certainly not impervious to malware, and there have been some imperfections in Apple’s handling of security issues over the years. However, there are some very innovative security features in Mac OS X that can do a lot to help protect you, if you let them. The key is knowing what they…

  • Mac Malware Catalog

    Below is a list of the Mac trojans that I know of. If I have left anything off this list, please let me know. Due to the extreme rarity of Mac malware, it’s often difficult to find good information about it… very few people have actually ever seen any of it. Update: I have removed the…

  • What are the threats?

    Classes of Malware It is very important to understand that there are, by my definition, two different kinds of malware. One is the virus: malware that is capable of infecting a machine without user interaction. Some people further divide such malware, referring to viruses (programs that must attach to other programs) and worms (programs that…

  • Mac Performance Guide

    Although they don’t need regular maintenance to keep them performing at their best, Macs, like any computer, can sometimes suffer from a variety of performance issues.  When you start to see the spinning “beach ball” cursor and general slowness, there is something wrong somewhere.  The question is, where?  The goal of this guide is to…