So Anti Virus software on Mac?

[dannyjo22]

I've had my MAC for 6 months now and still undecided if I should pay for some extra protection. I'm so used to having it on my PC, half the people say don't bother and others say Malware is on the increase for Mac now as the users grow.

Yes or no?

If Yes what do you recommend?

 

[HACO]

I use Malwarebytes (premium version comes free with Natwest bank).

 

[Feek]

You will find vocal answers from both sides. I don't have any, I've never used any. macOS is still inherently safe and not targeted. I still don't think there's ever been a true macOS virus out there properly in the wild.

If you really want something then grab the free version of Malwarebytes and run a scan every few weeks.

Just be careful, and if something pops up asking for your admin password, consider whether you've run anything that is likely to ask for it. If you haven't then don't give it your password.

 

[ChrisD.]

I don't have any.

 

[MagicBoy]

What Feek said.

 

[visibleman]

You will find vocal answers from both sides. I don't have any, I've never used any. macOS is still inherently safe and not targeted. I still don't think there's ever been a true macOS virus out there properly in the wild.

If you really want something then grab the free version of Malwarebytes and run a scan every few weeks.

Just be careful, and if something pops up asking for your admin password, consider whether you've run anything that is likely to ask for it. If you haven't then don't give it your password.

Each to their own i guess but considering MacOS' built-in prevention(s) can and has been bypassed and there's plenty of ransomware and malware for MacOS (Intel and Silicon), saying "macOS is still inherently safe and not targeted" isn't true.

As a home user, other than the usual advice of keeping the Mac updated (so MRT, XProtect and Gatekeeper are kept up-to-date) and staying away from internet dodgy-ness, Malwarebytes free (they do discount paid subscriptions once in a while that's worth doing) should be installed and regularly ran - takes seconds to run, so no real reason not to have it installed.
And ideally you should deploy an admin and standard account and elevate privileges when and where needed as it does help to reinforce checking what app or script is asking for elevated privileges.

If anyone is remotely interested in this side of Mac's then both Patrick Wardle (Objective-See) and Malwarebytes blogs are well worth checking as they do write-ups on various Apple related mal/ransomware and, Objective-See and The Eclectic Light Company do some interesting security related tools.

Edit - Just to add, Malwarebytes is what i use and run on a home system and i personally wouldn't go running a full-blown AV (Malware and Ransomware is the issue with Macs). If this for business then it's a different ballgame.

 

[wigster]

I'm interested in why people say Mac is better than Windows for virus threats what makes Mac harder for a virus yo get through?

 

[ShortWarning]

I'm interested in why people say Mac is better than Windows for virus threats what makes Mac harder for a virus yo get through?

I'm not sure it's that MACOS is harder to create viruses for or is inherently safer, it's that it has a much smaller market share than Windows so isn't really targeted.

I don't use anti-virus (on my mac or Windows). I just try to be sensible with what I'm opening.

 

[MR_Punk]

I've been a Mac user for as long as I can remember and would just echo what @Feek suggested.

 

[Feek]

Yeah, it's been over two years since I posted that and my opinion hasn't changed.

 

[beachBOYken]

What’s Anti Virus software?

 

[visibleman]

I'm not sure it's that MACOS is harder to create viruses for or is inherently safer, it's that it has a much smaller market share than Windows so isn't really targeted.

MacOS is being targeted more and more with the increase in popularity of Mac's and there's some pretty nasty malware and ransomware around (for Mac's), like LockBit. Patrick Wardle's List (don't download anything off this page) is a good example of what is out there for Mac's and his yearly round up blog posts, 2023 Round-up, is an interesting read (if you're into security at all).

Common-sense plays a big part in all of this but (Mac) users need to be just as vigilant and aware as if they were using any other platform; the age old myth that their devices are safer because "Mac", just isn't the case today.

 

[Cromulent]

MacOS is being targeted more and more with the increase in popularity of Mac's and there's some pretty nasty malware and ransomware around (for Mac's), like LockBit. Patrick Wardle's List (don't download anything off this page) is a good example of what is out there for Mac's and his yearly round up blog posts, 2023 Round-up, is an interesting read (if you're into security at all).

Common-sense plays a big part in all of this but (Mac) users need to be just as vigilant and aware as if they were using any other platform; the age old myth that their devices are safer because "Mac", just isn't the case today.

Also it is highly recommended to keep your Macs running the latest version of macOS to make sure you always have the latest security fixes included.

But yeah not downloading dodgy things is a pretty important thing to bear in mind.

 

[JUMPURS]

I've traditionally never had an AV on my Macs, however, defender came with my M365 subscription so I've got that installed, hasn't caused me any bother yet.