Apple has announced that an update is in the works to remove the Mac Defender virus. However as they see from the barrage of complaints to the Apple Care team regarding this malware, the Cupertino-based company has gone ahead and posted the step to remove the Mac Defender virus yourself. Here they are.
How to remove Mac Defender virus
If the malware has been installed, we recommend the following actions:
Do not provide your credit card information under any circumstances.
Use the Removal Steps below.
Removal steps
Move or close the Scan Window
Go to the Utilities folder in the Applications folder and launch Activity Monitor
Choose All Processes from the pop up menu in the upper right corner of the window
Under the Process Name column, look for the name of the app and click to select it; common app names include: MacDefender, MacSecurity or MacProtector
Click the Quit Process button in the upper left corner of the window and select Quit
Quit Activity Monitor application
Open the Applications folder
Locate the app ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector or other name
Drag to Trash, and empty Trash
Malware also installs a login item in your account in System Preferences. Removal of the login item is not necessary, but you can remove it by following the steps below.
Open System Preferences, select Accounts, then Login Items
Select the name of the app you removed in the steps above ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector
Click the minus button
