Virus protection

i2canoe Said:

"I got an notice my MacBookPro is infected with virus and I should download a recommended fix . . do I follow this or is it dangerous?"

That is a HTML File:

That is a Hoax. It is no more than an HTML file (Web site). There is nothing "application" about it, so to say.

Rid of Security Software:

So, Rid of all security software installed on your Mac; it is pointless to use anyway, and is a waste of storage space. Rid of it as instructed by its software developer. Contact the developer to find out just how to rid of it 100%

Malware: Run MalwareBytes

Run MalwareBytes. I is an application created by long time Apple-Users; it can be downloaded on the App Store.

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Notes and Reference Sites on Phishing:

• Phishing & Other Suspicious Emails
• Avoid Phishing eMails, Fake 'virus' Alerts, Phony Support Calls, and Other Scams
• Identify Legitimate eMails from the App Store or iTunes Store

In addition to the excellent and accurate responses you've already received this user tip describes what's needed to keep your Mac safe and sound: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community

It's fake. Anmybody in the world running any computer will see some variant of that message if they visit that web site. It is a very old and very common hoax.

Avoid phishing emails, fake 'virus' alerts, phony support calls, and other scams - https://support.apple.com/HT204759

i2canoe wrote:

Is it necessary to buy the upgrade on Malware or the free version sufficient?

It should only be necessary to use MalwareBytes once in your lifetime. If you managed to get tricked into installing Adware, you should learn from the experience and never install Adware again. If you get tricked into installing Adware more than once, you need more help than MalwareBytes can provide.

How to install adware - Apple Community

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

Of course not. Read these other surrounding posts. Apple has built-in security in macOS that precludes using any (inaffective) anti-virus tool. It will just interfere with Apple's security features in the operating system. Do consider Malwarebytes for Mac as was discussed in these threads as it is not an anti-virus tool.

Since Apple will never pop this junk in your browser, then all else, regardless of how convincing, or displaying a likeness of an Apple website — is just another SCAM. Quit Safari, then:

1. Press the shift key when relaunching Safari.
2. Select Safari menu : Clear History… : all history : Clear History
   1. This purges all cookies and history
3. Safari Preferences : Advanced : [√] Show Develop menu in menu bar
   1. Press option+command+e keys to clear the browser cache
4. Quit Safari and relaunch normally.
5. Avoid each website that pops this SCAMware in your browser.

Unless you clicked on a link and let it install something it is unlikely you even need to run Malwarebytes. It's just a web page pretending to be a virus notice. There is no basis in reality for what it says.

If you are constantly seeing this then it is possible you do have malware constantly redirecting you to that site, either from that site or possibly from another one you visited earlier. Then you need to consider running Malwarebytes one time to deal with this incidence.

I run Malwarebytes maybe once every 6 months but it has yet to detect anything on my computer. I'm just careful which web sites I visit and what I click on.

The free version of Malwarebytes is fine, run it once a week.

The free version is all you need.

It’s not necessary to upgrade. I’ve used the paid version of MalwareBytes, and it runs just as a fast, and is just as affective. I now use the free version.

Do I need virus protection on my Mac Pro