How to remove Rogue Mac malware

Mac users were always relatively safe from infections with malware. It simply wasn't worthwhile to write malware for Macs because there weren't many around. But now there's a problem because more and more Mac users are reporting problems because they have been infected with a rogue security program called MacDefender, MacProtector or MacSecurity.

But the trickle of affected users is rapidly becoming a flood and now Apple could finally show how much they really care about their customers. Well, the fact is that they don't because Apple continues to tell support reps: do not help with Mac malware. That story is here.

What should an affected and now very grumpy Mac user do now to remove this threat from his computer? The answer is simply downloading Sophos AV for Mac via here, install, run and you're safe and protected again.

Update [25may11]: Apple finally admits that they have a problem on their hands. See here how to manually remove the malware. In the coming days, Apple will deliver a Mac OS X software update that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants. The update will also help protect users by providing an explicit warning if they download this malware.

Update [31may11]: BleepingComputer.com has introduced the BleepingComputer Mac Rogue Remover Tool that removes Mac Security, Mac Defender, Mac Protector, Mac Guard and Mac Shield. More info here. Download here. The tool is constantly updated to remove new targets.