How to get rid of a virus on a Mac OS X laptop.?

Question

I am renting a laptop from my school. It is a Mac OS X Version 10.6.4. A while ago, I clicked on a link that I believe has given me a virus. Ever since I clicked on it, FireFox has been closing down unexpectedly rather often (about 6 times today). However, there is no anti-virus software that I have found already installed, and I have been unable to find a free (because I'm currently in high school, and have no funds) virus program. I've done online searches, which has gotten me nowhere. Every time I find a potentially good program and try to install or run it, one of two things happens: 1) it tries to open in in Text Edit, and informs me that the program cannot be run, or 2) it cannot be installed at all, because it requires an administrative password to make changes. Is there an anti-virus program that runs directly off a site, with no downloads required? Or even just a scan, so I can know definitively whether I have a virus or not?

Answer 1

There are no MacOS X viruses, you can't have one. The few Mac trojans that exist are in fake or illegal software downloads. Since you don't have admin privileges, you can't install them. You can't catch anything on a Mac by visiting a website, opening and email or a photo or clicking on an ad. Text edit is opening because you are trying to install a Windows antivirus. I did tech support for a school district for 10 years, never had a Mac with a virus. You just have a messed up version of Firefox (use Safari instead) or you are trying to access sites that are trying to mess with Firefox.

Answer 2

I read in the news paper this morning that there was a new virus out, possibly damaging Macs. Now I'm quite scared, and I don't really know if I can trust the answer above, since it has two thumbs down.

Am I just too paranoid? :/

Answer 3

Sorry but without the root password you can't really do much. Just create another user(if you can), the infection should be confined to your current user account.



However it is possible that the problem is with Firefox only. Are you using a beta version?

Answer 4

1

Answer 5

Here is a Free antivirus program for MAC...............



http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-mac-home-edition.aspx