Contents
- Perform common tasks
- View the status of computer protection
- Disable and resume computer protection
- Protect more devices with your subscription
- Use Protection Status
- Perform scan tasks
- Edit the list of trusted files, folders, and websites
- View application activity in the Timeline
- Configure protection against malicious and phishing links
- What to do if file access is blocked
- Enable and disable the Kaspersky Protection extension in selected browsers
- Update application databases
- What to do if a notification about critical hard disk health appears
- Add a website to Safe Money protection
- View and update the list of home network devices
- Delete a device from the list of devices connected to your home network
- What to do if the home Wi-Fi network has been changed
- Enable checking of your accounts for possible data leaks on websites
- Check if your account has been compromised
- Check if your data associated with your phone number has been compromised
- Prevent applications from using the webcam
- Prevent websites from tracking your browsing activities
- Protect your passwords and sensitive information
- How to send your feedback on the application to Kaspersky
View the status of computer protection
The protection status indicator, which is shaped like a shield and located in the main application window, informs you about computer protection problems. Depending on the status of computer protection, the color of the indicator can change. If the application detects any security threats, a message about threats appears in the main application window and the indicator changes color.
The indicator color can change in the following ways:
- Green. Your computer is appropriately protected.
A green indicator signifies that anti-virus databases are up to date and all application components have been configured as recommended by Kaspersky. No malicious objects have been detected, or any detected malicious objects have been neutralized.
- Yellow. The level of computer protection is reduced.
A yellow indicator signifies that the Kaspersky application is aware of a problem. Such problems include, for example, minor deviations from the recommended protection settings or slightly outdated application databases.
- Red. Your computer is at risk of infection.
A red indicator signifies that there are dangerous problems that may lead to the infection of your computer and loss of data. For example, the anti-virus application databases are extremely out of date, the application is not activated, or malicious objects have been detected.
It is recommended to fix problems and deal with security threats as soon as possible.
Disable and resume computer protection
By default, the Kaspersky application starts after the operating system starts up and protects your computer until it is turned off. All protection components (File Anti-Virus, Safe Browsing, Safe Money, and Network Attack Blocker) are enabled and running.
You can disable protection completely or disable specific protection components.
Important: Kaspersky strongly advises against disabling protection or protection components, because disabling them may lead to infection of your computer and data loss.
When computer protection is disabled:
- The application icon in the menu bar is inactive.
- The protection status indicator in the main application window is red.
When one or more protection components are disabled, the protection status indicator is red or yellow.
Note: Disabling or pausing protection components does not affect virus scan tasks or the update task.
You can disable/resume computer protection in one of the following ways:
- From the application icon
- From the application settings window
You can also resume computer protection from the main application window or your My Kaspersky account.
Disable/resume computer protection from the application icon
Disable/resume computer protection from the application settings window
Disable a protection component
Important: If you have disabled computer protection or a protection component, it will not be re-enabled automatically when the application starts again. You have to re-enable computer protection or the protection component manually.
To enable computer protection or protection components, you can also use Protection Status. Disabling computer protection or disabling protection components puts your computer at much higher risk of infection. This is why Protection Status informs you when protection is disabled.
Protect more devices with your subscription
The Kaspersky application lets you check how many devices are currently protected by your subscription and how many more you can protect. You can also share protection with other devices right on your Mac.
When you share protection, your applications are activated automatically. You don't need to remember the activation code because the subscription is transferred through your account. If you have never signed in to your My Kaspersky account on a device, we will ask you to do so when you share protection with it.
Check how many devices are protected by your subscription
Note: Some subscription plans may display only the information about the total number of devices that can be protected by your subscription.
Share protection with your other devices
Note: Some subscription plans may require you to go to My Kaspersky to share protection with other devices.
Use Protection Status
Protection Status is a Kaspersky application feature that helps you analyze and fix problems and computer security threats.
For each problem or threat on the Protection Status window, the Kaspersky application suggests actions that you can perform to resolve the problem or threat. For example, if the application detects infected files on the computer, you can click Disinfect All. If the anti-virus databases are out of date, you can click Update. You can fix a problem or neutralize a threat immediately or later.
Fix a problem or neutralize a threat immediately
If you close Protection Status without neutralizing dangerous threats, the protection status indicator in the main application window remains red to remind you of these threats.
Page topPerform scan tasks
The default Full Scan task is included in the Kaspersky application. While running this task, the application scans memory, startup objects, and all internal disks of the computer for viruses and other malware.
The default Quick Scan task is included in the Kaspersky application. While running this task, the application scans the critical areas of the computer (memory, startup objects, and system folders) for viruses and other malware.
You can also run a Full Scan or Quick Scan task on My Kaspersky. For more information about running a computer scan on My Kaspersky, see the My Kaspersky Help.
You can schedule a Full Scan or Quick Scan task.
You can scan an individual object (such as an internal disk, folder, file, or an external disk) for viruses and other malware.
When an external disk is connected to the computer, the Kaspersky application can automatically start scanning the disk, prompt to scan, or do nothing. You can select one of the options in the settings of the External Disk Scan task.
Select the action the application performs when an external disk is connected to the computer
You can view the results of completed scan tasks in the Reports window.
Edit the list of trusted files, folders, and websites
Trusted Zone is a list of objects that the application does not scan or monitor. You may need to add objects to Trusted Zone if, for example, the Kaspersky application blocks access to a file, application, or website even though you are absolutely sure that this object, application, or web address is harmless.
When an application is added to Trusted Zone, its file and network activities (including suspicious ones) are no longer monitored. However, the Kaspersky application continues to scan the executable file and process of the trusted application.
Add/remove a file or folder to/from the list of trusted files and folders
Add/remove a trusted website to/from the list of trusted web addresses
Enable monitoring of a trusted web address
View application activity in the Timeline
When something important happens while the application is running, it is displayed in the Timeline window. You can get an overview of the 3 latest events on the Home page of the main application window, or open the Timeline window to view all important events that occurred over the last 7 days. This helps you see what the Kaspersky application is doing to protect your Mac.
The Timeline displays the name of each event and the time when the event occurred.
View detailed information about an event
Page topConfigure protection against malicious and phishing links
Using data from Kaspersky Security Network, the Kaspersky Protection browser extension can check all links on open webpages to determine whether they are listed as malicious web addresses and check the links for phishing threats. The Kaspersky Protection extension also marks dangerous links with a red icon which signifies a high degree of danger.
Turn off/on the display of status icons for links on webpages
What to do if file access is blocked
The Kaspersky application blocks access to infected files and applications. If a file is infected, it must be disinfected before you can access it.
Disinfect all detected objects
If you know for sure that the files being blocked by File Anti-Virus are safe, you can include them in Trusted Zone.
Page topEnable and disable the Kaspersky Protection extension in selected browsers
The Kaspersky Protection extension for browsers warns you about dangerous websites and offers a safer way to enter passwords and sensitive information online. You can also use the extension to enable or disable some Kaspersky components and features. The extension is compatible with Safari, Google Chrome, and Firefox.
By default, the Kaspersky Protection extension is installed in Safari. To use the extension in this browser, you need to enable it.
Enable the Kaspersky Protection extension for Safari
Disable the Kaspersky Protection extension for Safari
Note: To ensure a safer browser experience in Safari on macOS 14 or later, allow the Kaspersky Protection extension on every website and in Private Browsing mode.
Allow the Kaspersky Protection extension for Safari on every website
Allow the Kaspersky Protection extension for Safari in Private Browsing mode
Note: You can uninstall the Kaspersky Protection extension from Safari only by uninstalling the application.
To use the Kaspersky Protection browser extension in Google Chrome and Firefox, you need to install and enable the extension for these browsers.
Install and enable the Kaspersky Protection extension for Google Chrome/Firefox
Note: If you still have the outdated Kaspersky Security extension installed in Google Chrome or Firefox, we recommend that you remove it after you install the Kaspersky Protection extension.
Remove the outdated Kaspersky Security extension from Google Chrome
Remove the outdated Kaspersky Security extension from Firefox
For instructions on managing browser extensions in the Google Chrome/Firefox browsers, see the browser's documentation.
Page topUpdate application databases
The Kaspersky application downloads updates from Kaspersky update servers, which are HTTPS servers where the application updates are regularly published.
Note: An internet connection is required to download updates from the update servers.
By default, the Kaspersky application periodically checks for updates on Kaspersky update servers. If new updates are available on a server, the application downloads them in the background and installs them on your computer.
Start an update of the application
You can run an update of the application on My Kaspersky. For more information about updating the application on My Kaspersky, see the My Kaspersky Help.
You can change the way the Kaspersky application updates the application databases. By default, the application updates databases automatically.
Enable/disable automatic downloads of the application database updates
You can view the results of completed update tasks in the Reports window.
What to do if a notification about critical hard disk health appears
If the Kaspersky application notifies you that your hard disk is in critical condition due to deterioration, you may want to create a backup to reduce the risk of losing your data.
Note: This functionality is available in Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium only.
Open Time Machine to back up data from a hard disk
Add a website to Safe Money protection
Safe Money verifies the authenticity of known online payment systems and banking websites. The list of known online payment systems and banking websites is updated as a part of the application databases.
If you open a banking website whose certificate or web address is not trustworthy, the Kaspersky application will display a message in your browser that this website is not safe to visit. If you have the Kaspersky Protection extension installed, the application also displays notifications informing whether the website can be trusted or not.
If you believe that some websites are not included in Safe Money protection or you want Safe Money protection on websites that don't belong to "payment systems and banking websites" category, you can add them to protection manually.
Add a website of a bank, payment system, or online store to Safe Money protection
If the Kaspersky application cannot verify a website certificate
If you get a notification about a certificate verification problem on a website, it means the website you want to open does not pass the authentication check. We recommend not to visit this website. For detailed information about this issue and possible causes of the certificate verification problem, see the Customer Service website (Knowledge Base).
View and update the list of home network devices
You can manually update the list of devices connected to your home network.
Note: This functionality is available in Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium only.
View and update the list of home network devices
Delete a device from the list of devices connected to your home network
If a device is no longer connected to your network (for example, an old phone), you can delete this device from the list of devices connected to your home network.
Note: This functionality is available in Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium only.
Delete a device from the list of devices connected to your home network
What to do if the home Wi-Fi network has been changed
You can make the Kaspersky application forget the Wi-Fi network that is no longer your home network.
Note: This functionality is available in Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium only.
Forget the current home network
Enable checking of your accounts for possible data leaks on websites
Sometimes even a unique and strong password and virtual keyboard are not enough to protect your website accounts and sensitive information. Hackers constantly search for vulnerabilities on popular websites in order to steal user data. If a website where you have an account has been hacked, your account becomes compromised and your data is at risk of being publicly accessible.
The Kaspersky application can check your email address against a database of leaks known to Kaspersky each time you sign in to your account on websites. If your account has been compromised, the application will inform you.
Note: The Kaspersky application can only check accounts that use an email address as the user name. Data Leak Checker on websites is available only in Kaspersky Plus and Premium only.
Enable/disable checking of your accounts for possible data leaks
Check if your account has been compromised
If you are not sure whether your accounts on certain websites are safe, you can check them using the Kaspersky application. The application can detect if your accounts have been compromised and your data is in danger of being publicly accessible.
Note: The Kaspersky application can only check accounts that use an email address as the user name.
Check if your account has been compromised
Check if your data associated with your phone number has been compromised
Your phone number is often used to identify you when you create an account on a website or in an application. If you are not sure whether accounts associated with your phone number are safe, you can check them using the Kaspersky application. The application uses your phone number to detect if associated accounts have been compromised and your data is in danger of being publicly accessible.
Check if accounts associated with your phone number have been compromised
Prevent applications from using the webcam
Applications on your computer can gain access to your webcam and take snapshots of your surroundings. You can block access to your webcam to prevent any application from using it.
Note: The access will be blocked for all applications installed on your computer. You cannot block access to your webcam for specific applications.
Important: If the Kaspersky application is blocking your webcam, you must first unblock the webcam in order to use it.
Prevent applications from using the webcam
Prevent websites from tracking your browsing activities
Some websites use information about your browsing activities to customize what they show to you. You can block websites from tracking you using the Kaspersky application.
Prevent websites from tracking your browsing activities
Protect your passwords and sensitive information
The Kaspersky Protection browser extension helps you strengthen your passwords and protect your sensitive information. By default, the extension detects duplicate passwords, checks the strength of your passwords and the security of your website accounts, and provides an onscreen keyboard to protect the passwords you enter in sign-in forms.
Note: The Kaspersky application doesn't monitor passwords or display password settings if you have any password manager installed.
Turn off/on duplicate passwords detection
Turn off/on checking of password strength
By default, an onscreen keyboard appears on the screen automatically when you select a password field in the browser window.
Turn off/on automatic display of the onscreen keyboard
You can manually open the onscreen keyboard in your browser.
Open the onscreen keyboard manually
You can use the onscreen keyboard as follows:
- Click the keys of the onscreen keyboard with the mouse pointer.
- Unlike with a physical keyboard, you can't click multiple keys on the onscreen keyboard simultaneously. To enter a combination of keys (for example, the Option key and SHIFT key), click the first key (for example, Option) and then click the second key.
- To switch languages, click the key in the lower-left corner.
Important: The onscreen keyboard can't protect your personal data if the website you are sending data to has been hacked.
How to send your feedback on the application to Kaspersky
After you use the Kaspersky application for some time, the application may prompt you to rate it. You can share your opinion of the application with Kaspersky and send us your suggestions regarding the application without waiting for a notification from the Kaspersky application.
Send your feedback on the application
Page top