XProCheck For Mac

Apple has recently added XProtect Remediator to macOS, a malware detection service that builds upon XProtect by running regular scans, instead of just checking applications when they are launched and changed. However, since it runs silently in the background, it’s difficult to tell how and if it’s working.

XProCheck gives you more insight into what XProtect Remediator is doing. It provides access to a complete activity log over a specified period, with details about potential malware detections.

While it was added in macOS 12.3, Remediator has been implemented all the way back to Catalina. However, even if it’s currently running on your Mac, you might not be aware of it.

Normally, the service runs in the background without any visible indication, even if malware is found and removed. The unobtrusive design is expected from Apple, but some users might want to get a bit more hands-on.

An easy way to verify its activity is via accessing the log, but there’s no intuitive way of doing this. That’s where XProCheck steps in — it extracts log entries for a specified period and lets you view them in a standard user interface, with the option to export.

On the left side, you’ll see the scanning modules being used, along with the number of scans that have been performed. On the right, you have details about each scan, with unusual events marked with special symbols. For more details, you can check the detailed documentation available via the Help menu.

Most users likely have no need to verify that XProtect Remediator is doing its job, but there are situations when you might want more details about a potential threat that has been blocked. What’s more, you can use this tool to make sure that the service is running in the first place, in case you feel it might have been compromised.