Many Mac users believe that antivirus and antimalware software is not necessary, and that Macs are immune to the problems that plague Windows users. According to MacWorld, malware writers are less likely to target Mac users because Apple has a smaller market share than Microsoft Windows. Additionally, Apple has included a number of security measures to protect Mac systems. For example, Gatekeeper blocks software than hasn’t been digitally signed and approved by Apple from running on your Mac without your agreement.
So can Macs get viruses? “The answer is definitely, yes,” according to Bogdan Botezatu, Bitdefender’s Senior E-Threat Analyst, “There have been incidents, and there will be more.” Botezatu goes on the say that, “Mac OS X software has more high-risk vulnerabilities than all versions of Windows put together.”
The perception that Apple products are safe from viruses means that users do not install antivirus utilities. Ironically, this lack of antivirus software hides the number of infections as there is no mechanism for identifying and reporting infections. Because most modern malware for both Macs and PCs does not slow down the computer, users might not know if they had a virus.
The fact is that, although Macs have some malware detection and file quarantining built in, there are many malicious programs that can affect Mac users. Even with a reasonably secure operating system, third-party software, such as web browsers and the Flash player, can introduce threats. An article in DigitalTrends points out that Macs face the same threats as other platforms from phishing attacks and social engineering, where users are tricked into installing something damaging to their own devices.
There are many antivirus and antimalware programs available for Apple devices. DigitalTrends offers a list of what they consider to be the five best free antivirus programs. They also recommend that you keep your operating system and all apps up to date, including all available security patches.
How-To Geek suggests using MalwareBytes for Mac. Download the free program and run a scan. If MalwareBytes finds any malware, it will remove it. According to How-To Geek, “MalwareBytes for Mac is a solid tool in any Mac user’s toolkit. Full antivirus applications aren’t necessarily as mandatory as they are on Windows yet, but you might want them if you download a lot of applications from the web and are particularly worried.” If you want a full antivirus program, Tom’s Guide did some tests and recommended Avira Free Antivirus for Mac.
Don’t be lulled into a false sense of safety if you use a Mac. Keep yourself virus-free by following best practices for secure computing.
