'Your computer is low on memory' - Mac Virus Removal

"My Mac shows me a pop-up saying that "Your computer is low on memory. To free up some memory, please close a few applications." This doesn't make sense because I have few applications opened. What should I do? Is this a virus?"

Like this user from Apple Support Communities, many others have the same experience of the low memory on Mac issue. Here, we will discuss why it happens and how to remove the "Your computer is low on memory." alert.

Why does your computer keep saying it is low on memory?

In normal circumstances, your computer will say it's low on memory when you simultaneously run an excessive amount of software. Or when you consume resource-intensive apps such as graphics editing software or video games on a Mac that doesn't have enough RAM to handle them.

You can easily spot the culprit by viewing information through Activity Monitor, a built-in Utility on Mac. The common fixes to free up memory include quitting applications you are not using, clearing browser cache, etc.

But this message may be odd when you are not running a RAM-consuming app, at least not one you know of. So we need first to distinguish between a real macOS low RAM (Random-access memory) notification and a fake one.

Is the 'Your computer is low on memory' a fake alert on Mac?

If you search in Google with the keyword "Your computer is low on memory," it shows you a few pages of how to fix the issue on Windows and a pop-up image similar to the one on your Mac but with part of the wording different.

However, it's a different story on Mac-related posts.

Truth be told, this seemingly legitimate notification is a lot likely a disguise of a virus on Mac. Because Apple has a different way to warn you that you are running out of memory - a pop-up reads, "Your system has run out of application memory."

What does 'Your computer is low on memory.' mean?

The "Your computer is low on memory" pop-up on Mac is a deceptive warning made up by adware, scareware, or other malicious apps, such as ScreenSaver.app, ScreenCapture.app, Spaces.app, MacSecurityPlus, and BeAware.

This pop-up virus intends to trick you into clicking on its Close button, which is a disguise to deceive you to:

You may receive the low memory on Mac error message while browsing the web or after installing freeware or unauthorized application bundled with a potentially unwanted program (PUA) such as Secure Search.

Once these harmful programs are installed, it's hard for an average user to get rid of them because they have helper components that allow them to reinstall after being removed. That's why we made this complete guide to help you fix the "Your computer is low on memory" virus on Mac.

How to fix your computer is low on memory Mac?

We include six steps to help you identify and remove the malware that renders the low memory on Mac alert. Please follow them one by one.

• Force quit the malicious applications in Activity Monitor.
• Get rid of the unwanted software from the Application folder. 
• Remove suspicious programs from Launch Agent.
• Terminate malicious Profiles from your Mac.
• Uninstall rogue extensions from search engines.
• Use Malwarebytes for Mac to eliminate the pop-up virus.

Step 1: Force quit the malicious applications in Activity Monitor

Our first attempt to get rid of your computer is low on memory pop-up is to force quit dubious applications and those with heavy RAM consumption in Activity Monitor, so they will stop showing the error message immediately.

Step 2: Get rid of the unwanted software from the Application folder

Sometimes, you may find nothing out of the ordinary shown in the Activity Monitor, and hard to spot the malicious programs in all the running processes. Since they are easier to find in the Applications folder, the next step is to uninstall any fishy-looking apps added without your consent.

Step 3: Remove suspicious programs from Launch Agent

The first two steps help spot obvious malware that stays in the Application folder or shows in Activity Monitor but not with a hidden code. Since All malware needs to use Launch Agent scripts for at least one stage of their attacks, we will have a better chance of removing them by deleting the files they generated.

Follow the same step to check these folders:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/Application Support

Possible malware: IdeaShared, SystemSpecial, DataSearch, and ProgressMatch

/Library/LaunchDaemons

Known examples: com.startup.plist, com.pplauncher.plist, com.DataSearchP.plist, com.ExpertModuleSearchDaemon.plist, and similarly named files

Step 4: Terminate malicious Profiles from your Mac

Often times, the "Your computer is low on memory" alert won't go away because they have malicious code installed on the Profiles of your Mac. To terminate the virus, you must delete the configuration file in Profiles that stops users from removing the malware.

Step 5: Uninstall rogue extensions from web browsers

If you have clicked on the button or link on the virus pop-up, it's likely your default web browser is already infected and needs to be cleaned up. We will address steps to remove malicious extensions from three mainstream web browsers: Safari, Google, and Firefox.

How to get rid of the "Your computer is low on memory" virus from Safari?

How to get rid of the "Your computer is low on memory" virus from Google?

Google has an option to restore default settings, which will reset the unwanted changes but keep the saved bookmarks, history, and passwords intact.

How to get rid of the "Your computer is low on memory" virus from Firefox?

Like Google, Firefox also has a reset feature that allows people to restore it to the factory default state without losing essential information such as bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, auto-fill data, etc.

Step 6: Use Malwarebytes for Mac to eliminate the pop-up virus

If you have followed the steps mentioned before, the malware that prompts the error message should have gone. To ensure no infiltrated programs are left, you can download Malwarebytes for Mac to scan your Mac. It is a free anti-malware tool that can detect viruses other software tends to miss, one of the best.

How to prevent the pop-up virus from happening again?

The low memory on Mac error message is just one of the various methods cyber-criminals use to steal your data or promote shady software. These attacks are typically carefully plotted, and you should be cautious when you notice the following symptoms:

Immediately remove the virus once you notice one to avoid it affecting Mac's performance. Perhaps the best way to keep away from the "your computer is low on memory" virus or a similar kind, is to be reminded to: