Apple Macs are famously secure compared with Windows devices. The company has implemented strong security measures in its proprietary MacOS operating system that go a long way to protect its users from malware and other problems. However, Mac users shouldn’t assume that this lower level of threat means they’re immune from the risk. Criminals are increasingly interested in hacking Apple devices, like Macs, and new hacking methods and malware variants are being developed and refined all the time. We look at the signs that your Mac has been hacked, and the steps that you should take to put things right if it has.

Can A Mac Device Get Hacked?

Macs don’t tend to be a major target for hackers — according to Elastic Security Labs research last year, in fact, just 6% of malware is distributed on Macs, compared with 39% on Windows and 54% on Linux endpoints.

A large part of the reason is that hacking a Mac is just very difficult compared with a PC, with Apple making a big selling point of its particularly robust security measures. However, every now and again, security vulnerabilities are detected. And while Apple generally moves quickly to resolve any issues, there's always a chance that attackers could succeed in the meantime. In the last couple of years, for example, vulnerabilities have been found in macOS Ventura's App Management feature, and in the company's M-series chips.

How To Tell If Your Mac Is Compromised

The main signs that a Mac has been hacked are much the same as with any other device — slow performance, system crashes, a plethora of dodgy pop-up ads and the like.

Other signs that your Mac may have been hacked include suspicious network activities such as unusual or unauthorized data transfers or unexpectedly high or abnormal network traffic. You may spot the addition of unfamiliar user accounts, password changes that you didn’t make, unexpected changes to your account settings such as email forwarding rules or automatic email replies or changes to your security questions.

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Sign 1: Sluggish Performance

If your Mac’s performance suddenly slows down, or your machine starts freezing, crashing or unexpectedly restarting, this could be a sign that malware or other unauthorized processes are consuming system resources behind the scenes.

Sign 2: Frequent Pop-Ups

One common sign that a device has been hacked is the appearance of unwanted pop-ups, ads or alerts — often a sign that your Mac has been infected with adware or other malicious software.

Sign 3: Suspicious Network Activity

Unexpected network activity can also be a sign that your Mac may have been hacked. You may spot unexpected data uploads or downloads taking place in the background or unusually high network traffic.

Sign 4: Unauthorized User Accounts

You may spot unknown user accounts listed on your Mac — or Apple may alert you that this has happened. If so, it’s probably a sign that someone unauthorized is accessing your account.

Sign 5: Password Or Other Changes

One clear sign that your Mac may have been hacked is an unexpected change of your account password. Similarly, hackers may change your account settings, for example email forwarding or automatic email replies, or changes to your security questions.

What Should You Do If Your Mac Is Hacked?

If you think your Mac has been hacked, your first move should be to quarantine your machine by unplugging it and then disconnecting it from the internet by turning off wifi and Bluetooth.

You should change your passwords to something unique and hard to guess — especially your iCloud account — and add two-factor authentication if you don’t have it already. Check your machine for any unexpected apps or files, and remove any that you find — run a full anti-virus scan. It’s a good idea to uninstall and reinstall your browser. And you should check your other accounts for signs of compromise — particularly any accounts that might have your financial details. If you spot anything amiss, alert the provider.

Step 1: Disconnect

If you discover that your PC has been hacked, the first thing you should do — and you should do this immediately — is unplug your machine, and disconnect it from the internet by turning off the wifi through the machine’s settings. This prevents the hacker from continuing to remotely control your computer and means they can't gather any more personal or financial information than they already have.

Step 2: Change Your Passwords

Change the passwords for all your accounts, including your administrator account, using something strong and unique. You should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA), especially for critical services like iCloud.

Step 3: Run An Anti-Virus Scan

Running an anti-virus scan should identify any suspect apps or files — remove any that you find, and check that you’re getting regular security updates. For extra security, you may wish to uninstall and reinstall your browser.

Step 4: Check Your Other Accounts

To make sure that the hackers haven’t gained broader access to your personal data, you should heck your other accounts for signs of compromise — particularly any accounts that might have your financial details, such as banks or online shopping sites. If you spot anything suspect, alert the provider.

How Can You Protect Your Mac From Hackers?

Apple Macs have a number of built-in security features that make them harder to hack, including a built-in virus scanner and firewall.

System Integrity Protection checks whether key operating system files have been tampered with, while FileVault encrypts your files and Gatekeeper blocks the installation of software that hasn’t been verified by Apple. Some of these tools are on my default, while others can be enabled via System Settings, followed by Privacy & Security. Beyond this, best practice includes always using strong, unique passwords, keeping all your software up to date or using a virtual private network.

Bottom Line

Apple Macs have famously good security, and the chances of getting hacked are comparatively low. However, it can happen. There are, though, ways to recover control, and measures to take to stay safe in future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Can You Tell If Your Mac Has A Virus?

Signs that your Mac may be infected with a virus include slow performance, system crashes and a spate of pop-up ads. Other symptoms include suspicious data transfers or unexpectedly high network traffic.

There are, though, other ways in which an attacker can gain control of your machine. They may persuade you to give away control yourself by pretending to be, for example, a member of the Apple support team, in what’s known as social engineering. Attackers may also be able to gain access through undiscovered vulnerabilities before any security patches can be applied.

How Can You Tell If Your Mac Is Being Remotely Accessed?

There are plenty of reasons a Mac might be remotely accessed for legitimate reasons — for collaboration with colleagues, or IT support, for example.

However, hackers or scammers can use techniques such as social engineering to gain access to your machine. If you want to check whether this has happened, you can go to Applications, then Utilities, then Activity Monitor to find out; checking the Users tab will show you who is currently logged in and what permissions they have.

How Can You Tell If Your Mac Is Being Monitored?

You may have the suspicion that your Mac is being monitored by an employer, a partner or an ex — and it’s certainly possible. The good news is that it's pretty easy to check.

Just go to Finder, then Applications and then the Utilities folder, where you should select Activity Monitor. You can then look through the applications used to see if there’s anything happening that you haven't initiated yourself, and whether there are any unexpected users.

How Can You Tell If Your iPad Has Been Hacked

Slow performance, system crashes and pop-up ads are common signs that your iPad has been hacked. You may also spot:

apps that you didn’t install;

suspicious network activities;

unauthorized data transfers;

unexpectedly high or abnormal network traffic;

the appearance of unfamiliar user accounts;

password changes that you didn’t make; 

new email forwarding rules or automatic email replies;

unexpected changes to your account settings.

How Can You Tell If Your iPhone Is Hacked?

Signed of a hacked iPhone include unfamiliar apps or pop-up ads on your home screen; the iPhone overheating or running out of battery more quickly than usual; and the iPhone running slowly and using more data than usual.