In the wake of recent hacks and news about widespread vulnerabilities, you may be wondering how you can protect yourself. For example, do you need antivirus software for Apple devices?
Text Size
If you’re looking for a quick and simple answer, you won’t get one. Largely, that’s because the current threats to Apple users go far beyond the standard Windows computer viruses you may be familiar with. In other words: it depends.
Do I Need Anti-Virus for My Mac?
Do Macs Need Antivirus Protection? Do I need antivirus software for my Mac? MacOS does include security features to protect you from malicious software. And you can set MacOS to block you from. Krisda / Shutterstock No software is immune to attacks, including macOS. The growing popularity of Apple computers has made it a prime target for malware. And security companies offer more and more antivirus for Mac, but do you really need it? Here's everything you need to know to protect your.
Macs have long been touted as being more secure than Windows PCs. That’s largely true and, historically, Mac users have gotten away with not needing antivirus software. But malware that targets Macs has become more common as Apple’s market share grows.
Mac-targeting malware is not just more common, it’s also more devious. The recent ZombieLoad vulnerability, for example, exploits a component in most modern day computers — and allows it to bypass so-called perimeter defenses like firewalls or antivirus software.
With the recent KeRanger attacks focused on OS X, we explain exactly what malware and ransomware are and answer an age old question - do Macs need antivirus. Even though Apple Macintosh’s are known for being entirely safe from Malware and virus’s and on the whole they are far better protected than other operating systems. Except for: Trojans which come in the form of attachments in emails. They can cause problems for your Mac. Definition Here: All Apple laptops and desktops need an antivirus program.
So, sure. You can use an antivirus scanning app on your Mac as part of a broader cybersecurity routine. But that app likely won’t detect critical vulnerabilities like ZombieLoad (even if they’re actively being used against you).
Do I Need Anti-Virus for My iPhone or iPad?
On the other hand, iOS features robust security protections because it’s a walled-garden system. You don’t need an antivirus program on iPhones or iPads. And, in fact, many so-called antivirus iOS apps are fairly disreputable or scammy.
But those system-level protections can’t defend against social engineering techniques that trick users into downloading side-loaded software on their devices.
What’s the Final Verdict?
All of this is to say that antivirus programs, particularly on the Mac, aren’t necessarily a bad idea. But they’re only one piece of the puzzle and they certainly don’t render you invulnerable to an attack.
In fact, they could do more harm than good if they lull you into a false sense of security. A much more effective course of action is a broad set of privacy and cybersecurity tactics:
Vigilance and good cybersecurity habits are, by and far, the best defense against malware, viruses and major security vulnerabilities. They won’t make your Mac or iPhone impervious to attack — but they’ll definitely go a lot further than just using an antivirus app.
Read Next:Apple Moving MacBook and iPad Production to Indonesia to Escape U.S.-China Trade War
“You don’t buy an Apple product; you invest in it.” Mr. Jobs said this many years ago with great confidence. He had the vision to serve people the next gen products - iPhones, Macs, iPods. He had power and therefore, he fulfilled his dream. But..
.. with great Power comes great Responsibility.
The responsibility of giving the people products that can be kept away from Malware. He did this task quite efficiently. The Mac is considered to be safe and secure. And there are a number of reasons why Macs are said to be more secure than PCs. Why Mac Computers are Safe?If you’ve got an iMac, Macbook, Mac Pro or Mac Mini, you may be thinking that you need to install an antivirus program to keep you safe and secure from the large range of threats you keep hearing about in the media. But then again, you also must have heard that..
..the virus only affects Windows systems.
So what is the reality? The aforesaid question is not a new one. Plenty of Mac aficionados believe that Apple computers are inherently secure and don’t require protection. To some extent, they’re not wrong. But.. ..I’d argue that though there are much lower chances of this fruit getting eaten by virus, still sometimes a protection can come handy. Today, with the advent of technology, Windows is also becoming highly secure against viruses. Most of the world is Windows user, and only about 20-30 percent of the globe uses Macs. So that is quite obvious that the Windows makers will give their attention to have the maximum security in their devices. Let's return to our question.
The answer is YES.
Mac does need protection but not on a scale that would give you Goosebumps. Why is the security not required?Mac comes with built-in “file quarantine and known malware checking” abilities that do a pretty good job at reducing the risk associated with downloading and running leering codes. The most common misconception is that the hackers go after big shoals of fish in the pond, i.e., Windows.
But on the contrary, Mac operating system is based on Unix that is sandboxed by its nature.
The ContradictionApple has been criticized at various platforms for being slow to deal with threats and shut vulnerabilities down. Virus namely, Rootpipe was discovered in October 2014, but the fix only came out in April 2015. Corel for mac download. Apple’s big rival may have a bad reputation, but it has taken decisive action to tackle that perception. Do I really need the security?If you ask yourself this question, then let me tell you that it depends entirely on how you use it. For many of us who rely on the Mac App Store and Gatekeeper security, an extra security app isn't especially necessary. But if you download software off the Internet without knowing where it's coming from, or if you start seeing your web browser or other software working in ways you don't anticipate, like opening up strange websites, Mac security software can give you peace of mind you won't have otherwise. The trap that many Mac users fall into believing is that because there are currently no known viruses targeting the Mac, it's safe from attack. In reality, the Mac OS, its included applications, and third-party applications have and will continue to have security issues that can allow some form of attack; it's just that the attack isn't likely to be from a virus. “Microsoft has been at the forefront of infections for so long, and people started to pressure them to do something, and they did,” explains a Senior E-Threat Analyst. “The response time for fixing vulnerabilities is much shorter now, and you are also advised to run a third-party security tool.” How to get protected from Malware?Do We Need Antivirus For Macbook ProIf you’re concerned, and you want some peace of mind, it’s easy enough to take action. Do You Need Antivirus For MacAnti-virus programs don't just provide protection against known viruses; they also include anti-phishing, anti-adware, anti-spyware, and other tools that can keep your Mac from picking up debris as you browse the web, open email attachments, or download apps, extensions, and other items that could be bearers of malware. BitDefender is one of many commercial anti-virus software packages that works on the Mac that detects and eliminates malware when it finds it. ![]() Do I Need Antivirus For Macbook AirYou can get protection for your Mac even without spending money. The free app ClamXav (which encourages you to donate if you find it useful) can also eliminate malware and adware on your Mac. Dragon medical for mac.
Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. The more precautions you take and the better security practices you engage in, the fewer problems you're likely to have. Practice all the above and you should never have to worry about any threat disrupting your enjoyment using Mac. Lastly, you should realize that malware threats against any computing platform, including the Mac, could dynamically change from day to day. Best Virus Protection For MacSo while I don’t see a need for an active anti-malware app for my Mac today, tomorrow may be another story. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |