Mac Safety 101: Checking Your Device for Keylogging Software

Many Mac users still believe that “Macs don’t get viruses” and therefore don’t worry much about spyware or keyloggers. In reality, macOS can also be targeted by keylogging software that records everything you type. If such a tool is installed on your Mac without your knowledge, it becomes a serious privacy and security risk.

At the same time, not all keyloggers are automatically “bad” or illegal. There is a clear difference between malicious, hidden spyware and legitimate monitoring tools used with the proper consent and for lawful purposes. For example, Spyrix Keylogger for Mac are designed for transparent use on devices you own or manage as well as other monitoring software as well.

This article focuses on your safety and control: how to check your Mac for keylogging software, recognize suspicious signs, remove unwanted tools, and understand when monitoring software can be used legally and ethically. By the end, you’ll know how to protect your data from unauthorized tracking and how to stay on the right side of the law if you use monitoring software yourself.

Warning Signs: How to Tell Something Is Wrong

#	Warning sign	What you may notice	Why it’s suspicious
1	High CPU/RAM, loud fan	Mac heats up or fan runs hard during light tasks	Hidden background process constantly working (could be keylogger or other spyware)
2	Lag while typing or switching apps	Text appears with delay, apps stutter, short freezes	Monitoring software intercepts keystrokes and slows the system
3	Unknown apps asking for Accessibility or Input Monitoring	System pop-ups from apps you don’t recognize requesting these rights	Keyloggers need these permissions to read your keystrokes
4	Strange network activity when idle	Network indicator active when you’re not downloading, syncing, or streaming	Spyware may be sending captured data to a remote server
5	Suspicious logins to your accounts	Security emails about logins from unknown devices or locations	Someone may already be using passwords stolen from your Mac

Step-by-Step: Checking Your Mac for Keylogging Software

✅ 1. Check Login Items & Background Apps

• Open System Settings → General → Login Items.
• In Open at Login:
  • Remove apps you don’t recognize or don’t need at startup.
• In Allow in the Background:
  • Turn off suspicious or unknown items.
• If you’re unsure about a name, quickly search it online.

✅ 2. Inspect Activity Monitor

• Open Activity Monitor (Spotlight → type Activity Monitor).
• Sort by CPU and then by Memory.
• Look for:
  • Processes with strange or gibberish names.
  • Unknown apps constantly consuming resources.
• For suspicious items:
  • Select the process → i (Info) → check Open Files and Ports or Show in Finder.
  • If it’s clearly unwanted, quit the process and plan to remove the app.

✅ 3. Review Accessibility & Input Monitoring Permissions

• Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security.
• Open Accessibility:
  • Remove access for apps you don’t recognize or no longer use.
• Open Input Monitoring:
  • Revoke permissions from anything suspicious.
• Remember: keyloggers often rely on these permissions to read keystrokes.

✅ 4. Clean Up Applications and Downloads

• Open the Applications folder:
  • Look for unknown “monitoring,” “optimizer,” “helper,” or “security” tools you don’t remember installing.
  • Move suspicious apps to Trash.
• Check the Downloads folder:
  • Delete old installers and strange .pkg/.dmg/.app files.
• Empty the Trash when you’re done.

✅ 5. Audit Browser Extensions

Do this for every browser you use (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.):

• Open the Extensions/Add-ons settings.
  Disable or remove:
  • Extensions you don’t use.
  • Anything you don’t remember installing.
  • Fake “password managers” or “security” tools from unknown developers.
• Restart the browser after cleanup.

✅ 6. Run a Security Scan

• Make sure macOS is updated (System Settings → General → Software Update).
• Use a reputable antivirus/anti-malware tool to run a full scan.
• Quarantine or remove anything flagged as keylogger, spyware, or trojan.

What to Do If You Suspect Your Mac Has a Keylogger

If something feels off, act as if your Mac is compromised. The goal is to quickly protect your accounts and then clean or reset the device.

Common recommendations:

• Change critical passwords from a clean device (phone or another computer).
• Enable 2FA on email, banking, work accounts, and social media.
• Log out of sensitive accounts on the suspected Mac and avoid entering new passwords there.
• Disconnect the Mac from Wi-Fi if you think data may be leaking.
• Back up important files (documents, photos, work data).
• Run a full malware/antivirus scan and remove all detected threats.
• Consider creating a new macOS user account and moving only personal files.
• In severe cases, erase the disk and reinstall macOS from official sources.
• Contact IT or a trusted professional if the Mac is work-related or holds sensitive information.