Today, We are going to ask a big question — Do Mac need antivirus?

You must have heard that Macs don’t effected with Viruses. You may have said that yourself. Sadly, the latest Malwarebytes report proves otherwise. It describes a significant rise of Mac threats of over 400% in 2019. The report claims that cybercriminals now target Macs even more severely. Numbers of security companies insist on the importance of antiviruses for Macs. But do you really need it? Let’s look at:

how macOS protects your computer? how viruses still get into Mac? how to recognize a virus and how to remove it for good?

I’ll also show you how to keep your Mac secure from any virus or malware.

But what’s the difference between these two? Malware is an umbrella which covers a wide range of malicious softwares and viruses. Virus is a specific type of malware that spreads into a system by self-replicating itself. With this in mind, let’s get started!

Let’s take a look at how mac OS secures your computer from threats.

How mac OS protects itself from malware

Your Mac have many built-in security features that keep it safe.

It might surprise you, but your Mac already runs an anti-malware scanner in the background.

It’s called Xprotect.

Whenever you open a file, Xprotect scans and checks it against known Mac-specific malware.

If it finds something suspicious, you see a warning message.

When your Mac installs system updates, it also updates the malware base.

Another technology called Gatekeeper. Its sole purpose is to prevent unknown apps from

causing harm.

By default, macOS blocks all apps that aren't signed with an Apple-issued developer certificate.

On the other hand, Apple uses sandboxing to obstruct signed apps and those distributed via the App Store from damaging the operating system.

Sandboxing provides the apps with everything they needs to perform their purpose and nothing else. Finally, system integrity protection or SIP secures some of the most vulnerable parts of your system, including core system directories. SIP also secures pre-installed apps, like Finder and Safari, from any code injections that can change the method they run. As you can see, mac OS is indeed safe, thanks to various built-in features.

But how do viruses still get into Macs? As the Apple security features have improved same is the case with malware. New types are discovered every year. In June 2019, OSX/CrescentCore is found posing as an Adobe Flash Player installer disk image. It was signed with a developer certificate, so it infected machines in a couple of days before Apple caught it.

One month ago, a malware OSX/Linker make use of a “zero-day” flaw in Gatekeeper. Since Apple hasn't patched the security flaw right at the time when it was first reported, the culprit comfortably sneaked in. Hardware is also one more point of weakness in the chain. In early 2018, it came to know that almost every CPU sold in the past two decades was affected by serious security flaws. These flaws became known as Spectre and Meltdown. And yes, your Mac was likely affected too. The flaws could allow attackers to access data in parts of the system that seemed to be protected. Apple insists there are no known exploits currently affecting users as macOS High Sierra and above include a patch to protect against both flaws. While the App Store hopes to catch any shady apps, several malicious ones passed Apple’s review process in 2017.

Applications like Adware Doctor, Open Any Files, and Dr. Cleaner create legitimate anti-malware software. Neverthless, they shared personal data with third parties. Because Gatekeeper implicitly trusts the App Store, the software got into computers with no additional checks. An app like this can’t cause too much harm at the system level, thanks to Apple’s sandboxing rules. But stolen information is till now a significant security breach.

Generally, malware gets its way into the system with user help. Apple viruses purely rely on your downloading a program, clicking a link, or installing an app or plugin. When you click on a malicious link or download the apprently official app, a virus gets the green light to get into your Mac. These are consierable examples of recent Mac security problems. But how to spot malware?

With ransomware like KeRanger or a DoS attack like Safari-get, the issue is obvious. With other malware, however, the infection is less clear. Here are a few of the telltale signs to pay attention to:

Is your Mac behaving erratically?

Has it suddenly started running slowly?

Do you see tons of adverts or pop-ups while browsing the web?

Have you noticed software that you didn’t deliberately install?

If you see at least one of these signs, your Mac is likely to be infected.

But don’t panic! It may be relatively easy to remove. Let’s see how you can do that.

The following steps definitely work in most cases. Still, sometimes the malware removal means using dedicated software. Luckily, in 2020 many apps can recognize Mac-specific viruses. CleanMyMac X can do the job perfectly well. It can recognize thousands of malware threats, including adware, spyware, ransomware, worms, and cryptocurrency miners. Apple authenticates this app, so you are safe using it. Besides, it offers real-time malware protection, informing you when you're about to install something harmful. There is a risk-free trial available. You can find a link in the description box below and try it out. So here’s the procedure how to perform a full system scan. Start CleanMyMac X and go to Malware Removal. Hit Scan to let the app check your Mac for malware. Click Remove if something suspicious is found. And that’s all!

Now, your Mac is virus-free. But how to keep it this way?

How to keep Mac virus-free Mostly, using a Mac is a pleasant, malware-free experience. But no computer is ever 100% protected. Here are some measures you can take to safeguard your system:

Avoid opening any suspicious attachments or links.

Ensure that you know and trust the source of the document before opening it.

Double-check every app you want to download.

Install only signed software from approved developers and the App Store.

Regularly back up your files to cloud storage or external drive.

Install system and software updates and patches as they are released.

Scan your Mac for malware threats regularly.

And if a rogue app enters into your system, keep CleanMyMac X close to hand to remove

it immediately for good.

So, does your Mac need an anti-malware tool?

Let’s be clear: antivirus software is not essential. Even if you run all the security tools available to you, never assume your Mac is safe. Weak points can appear overnight with no warning. Still, an extra layer of protection might not go amiss. What do you think about that?