Do I have a Virus? MBP 13" 2018

[RunOrDie]

Hi everyone,

I have a MBP 13" i7, 256gb SSD and 16gb ram and was wondering if anyone can help identify if I have a virus.

Upon turning on from sleep, I noticed an app appear and disappear in my Dock. I couldn't find the app anymore and it's not in my Activity Monitor nor in my Force Close applications window. This app doesn't appear most of the time and I don't even know what the app is. It appears and disappears too quickly for me to check.

The icon has a large letter "A" and looks like some sort of Mac app but I can't distinguish it..If it's not a virus, are there any possible explanations why I saw this app quickly appear and disappear? I'm quite confused lol Thanks in advance!

 

[ritmomundo]

Is it the Mac App Store?

 

[RunOrDie]

No, it looked like a text editor? If I recall correctly, it was an Red A on a white paper?

 

[chabig]

Go look at your Applications folder for an icon like that.

 

[DeltaMac]

You can also look through your Launchpad for that icon.

 

[akash.nu]

Ah it could be an app that was on the dock but has been removed from the Mac now and somehow the dock is caching the reference?!

 

[RunOrDie]

Nope don’t see it in Applications folder or Launchpad.

Hmm, does the dock cache references frequently?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

It sounds like Handoff maybe

 

[akash.nu]

It sounds like Handoff maybe

Ah yes that could be it as well. but generally the icon is supposed to stay on.

 

[RunOrDie]

I don't think it's Handoff as this "icon" was on the right side of my Dock. Normally Handoff is shown on the fall left side.

I did manage to find the "icon":

 

[RyanFlynn]

OS X Corona?

 

[akash.nu]

I don't think it's Handoff as this "icon" was on the right side of my Dock. Normally Handoff is shown on the fall left side.

I did manage to find the "icon": View attachment 905859

Yep that’s basically what I mentioned. And uninstalled app with cached reference.

 

[RunOrDie]

Yep that’s basically what I mentioned. And uninstalled app with cached reference.

Oh I see, thanks! So nothing to worry about? Why would it suddenly appear and disappear though? It's not frequent and I haven't seen it since.

 

[mcaswell]

Maybe check your log files for that time right when you woke it up?

 

[motulist]

It's probably not a virus, because if it is then it's one of the worst programmed viruses ever. One of the main pieces of a virus is to make itself not obvious to the end user. Popping a bouncing app launching icon in the dock is about as obvious as it comes, even if it only appears briefly. In fact I'd say appearing briefly actually draw *more* attention to itself.

 

[Queen6]

For peace of mind DL Bitdefender (free version) from the Apple Store. Mac's are not susceptible to viruses, however can be infected by Malware, just run a Deep Scan that will reveal and remove anything malicious.

Q-6