I found an email dated August 29 in one of my secondary Google accounts claiming that malware on my Mac or other Windows computers has been stealing my login sessions. I checked Activity Monitor for unusual background processes and didn't see anything suspicious. My Mac has an M1 chip and is fully updated, so I assumed its built-in protections, including XProtect, would provide strong security. How could Claude know whether my computer has malware, and what should I do to verify and fix the situation? Is it worth running a separate malware scanner?
3 Answers
First secure the accounts involved: change the password from a trusted device, enable two-factor authentication, and review active sessions and connected applications. If the email contains a link, avoid using it and inspect the real destination instead. A warning about a new login can simply mean someone accessed the account or a session changed; it is not proof that malware is installed.
For reassurance, you can download Malwarebytes from its official site and run an on-demand scan. Keep macOS updated and review browser extensions, login items, and recently installed applications. Built-in Mac security is helpful, but no scanner can turn an unverified email into reliable evidence that your computer is infected.
This sounds much more like a phishing or scareware message than a real malware detection alert. A service such as Claude generally cannot inspect your computer just because you have an account, and a convincing logo, verified sender mark, or familiar-looking address does not prove that every link in the message is safe. Don't click its buttons or provide credentials. Check the actual message headers and sign in through the official website or app directly to look for genuine security alerts.
Even if the message came through a legitimate mailing system, that still doesn't mean the claim is real. The important question is whether the service actually has a reason and permission to monitor your device; an ordinary account email does not provide that access.