- Apr 5, 2014
- 6,008
The question of whether Macs need antivirus is not a new one. I asked it myself when I bought my first Mac 14 years ago, and the empirical evidence suggests that the answer I received then was correct. My PowerBook G4 has been connected to the internet, without protection, for a decade. It hasn't yet fallen prey to malware.
Indeed, head over to the forums on the Apple Store website and you'll find the same answer time and again - 'you don't need security software because I haven't got security software and it's never been a problem'.
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The scientists among you will recognise this as a confusion of cause and effect. It's also a simplification of a complex issue. Here then, are reasons for and against the suggestion that Macs don't require antivirus, with what I hope is a definitive verdict for every user.
Why Macs need antivirus | Why Macs need security software
There are no technical reasons why the Mac OS cannot be targeted by cybercriminals. Indeed, there are exploits in the wild: albeit they are principally Trojans, and require a user to erroneously install them.
Yes, criminals target the lowest hanging fruit, it is harder to target Macs, and the numbers of Mac users are relatively small, but that situation could change. Windows is becoming more secure - Windows 8 and Windows 10 are the most secure Windows ever - and the Mac market share in wealthy western countries is around 20-30 percent. When you consider that Macs are expensive, and so their owners tend to be wealthier than the average PC users, they start to look like an attractive target. I'm not scare-mongering - the threat is not there in any significant scale. But someday it could be, and that may make AV a worthwile investment.
It's also worth remembering that the end user is always the weakest link. In many ways security software exists to save you from bad decisions - installing apps that appear to offer something for nothing, but turn out to be spyware or viruses. Even Mac users can fall victim in this way. So for the price of a cup of coffee each week, it makes sense to install security software and then forget all about it.
Our colleagues over at Macworld UK have the definitive guide to the best antivirus for Mac. It is regularly updated, and is worth checking out as some of the best Mac antivirus products are free. Right now the number one recommended product is BitDefender Antivirus and the number two is Norton Antivirus.
What follows is the counter argument as to why Macs don't need antivirus.
Why Macs don't need antivirus | Why Macs don't need security software
Quite simply, because all the evidence suggests they don't. I've had an unprotected Mac connected to the web for nearly 15 years, and I have never had a problem. Why this is the case is worth investigating, however.
The argument most often put forward is a simple one of market economics: because Apple's global market share is in single figures, criminals go after the bigger shoals of fish in the Windows world. There is something in this - virtually all current malware exists to generate cash for criminals. Crooks are not known for their application or invention, so the biggest, easiest target gets all the attention.
In practice cybercriminal gangs are focused exclusively on Windows because there are more Windows users, yes, but also because Windows is still easier to hack. As a Unix-based operating system the Mac OS is by its very nature sandboxed. It's like having a series of fire doors - even if malware gains access to your Mac, it is unable to spread to the heart of the machine. Macs are not unhackable, but they are more difficult to exploit than are Windows PCs. So just as a burglar could break into a house with an alarm system but will probably choose the unprotected dwelling next door, a Mac makes a less attractive target in a world in which only attractive targets tend to be attacked.
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The most recent versions of OS X - everything since OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion - take this even further. They includes the GateKeeper function that by default prevents Mac users from installing anything other than Apple-approved software. The existance of the Mac app store means that Apple computer users can install software with total peace of mind.
And the lack of Java and Flash plugins removes the temptation to install fake versions of both - previously the principal vectors of infection for Macs.
Do Macs need antivirus: the verdict
I'd say that if you are using your Mac at home, mostly for non business purposes, you can close this article and continue to operate without security software. Yes, it is a risk. But using the internet is a risk, and in my considered view running a Mac without AV is a worthwhile calculated risk.
There are exceptions, however. If you are running a business with a fleet of Macs, or a network of both Macs and Windows PCs, I'd suggest getting in some protection. It's a belt and braces approach that may not be necessary, but if you have a lot to lose it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.
You may also consider using antivirus on your Mac if for some reason you could be targeted individually - if you have access to sensitive or high-value data, for instance. If you do choose to buy Mac antivirus, take a look at the reviews roundup put together by our colleagues on Macworld: Best Mac antivirus software.
Indeed, head over to the forums on the Apple Store website and you'll find the same answer time and again - 'you don't need security software because I haven't got security software and it's never been a problem'.
Pixel, Phone By Google - Now Available Exclusively On A Choice Of Networks. Click here.
The scientists among you will recognise this as a confusion of cause and effect. It's also a simplification of a complex issue. Here then, are reasons for and against the suggestion that Macs don't require antivirus, with what I hope is a definitive verdict for every user.
Why Macs need antivirus | Why Macs need security software
There are no technical reasons why the Mac OS cannot be targeted by cybercriminals. Indeed, there are exploits in the wild: albeit they are principally Trojans, and require a user to erroneously install them.
Yes, criminals target the lowest hanging fruit, it is harder to target Macs, and the numbers of Mac users are relatively small, but that situation could change. Windows is becoming more secure - Windows 8 and Windows 10 are the most secure Windows ever - and the Mac market share in wealthy western countries is around 20-30 percent. When you consider that Macs are expensive, and so their owners tend to be wealthier than the average PC users, they start to look like an attractive target. I'm not scare-mongering - the threat is not there in any significant scale. But someday it could be, and that may make AV a worthwile investment.
It's also worth remembering that the end user is always the weakest link. In many ways security software exists to save you from bad decisions - installing apps that appear to offer something for nothing, but turn out to be spyware or viruses. Even Mac users can fall victim in this way. So for the price of a cup of coffee each week, it makes sense to install security software and then forget all about it.
Our colleagues over at Macworld UK have the definitive guide to the best antivirus for Mac. It is regularly updated, and is worth checking out as some of the best Mac antivirus products are free. Right now the number one recommended product is BitDefender Antivirus and the number two is Norton Antivirus.
What follows is the counter argument as to why Macs don't need antivirus.
Why Macs don't need antivirus | Why Macs don't need security software
Quite simply, because all the evidence suggests they don't. I've had an unprotected Mac connected to the web for nearly 15 years, and I have never had a problem. Why this is the case is worth investigating, however.
The argument most often put forward is a simple one of market economics: because Apple's global market share is in single figures, criminals go after the bigger shoals of fish in the Windows world. There is something in this - virtually all current malware exists to generate cash for criminals. Crooks are not known for their application or invention, so the biggest, easiest target gets all the attention.
In practice cybercriminal gangs are focused exclusively on Windows because there are more Windows users, yes, but also because Windows is still easier to hack. As a Unix-based operating system the Mac OS is by its very nature sandboxed. It's like having a series of fire doors - even if malware gains access to your Mac, it is unable to spread to the heart of the machine. Macs are not unhackable, but they are more difficult to exploit than are Windows PCs. So just as a burglar could break into a house with an alarm system but will probably choose the unprotected dwelling next door, a Mac makes a less attractive target in a world in which only attractive targets tend to be attacked.
Content continues below
The most recent versions of OS X - everything since OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion - take this even further. They includes the GateKeeper function that by default prevents Mac users from installing anything other than Apple-approved software. The existance of the Mac app store means that Apple computer users can install software with total peace of mind.
And the lack of Java and Flash plugins removes the temptation to install fake versions of both - previously the principal vectors of infection for Macs.
Do Macs need antivirus: the verdict
I'd say that if you are using your Mac at home, mostly for non business purposes, you can close this article and continue to operate without security software. Yes, it is a risk. But using the internet is a risk, and in my considered view running a Mac without AV is a worthwhile calculated risk.
There are exceptions, however. If you are running a business with a fleet of Macs, or a network of both Macs and Windows PCs, I'd suggest getting in some protection. It's a belt and braces approach that may not be necessary, but if you have a lot to lose it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.
You may also consider using antivirus on your Mac if for some reason you could be targeted individually - if you have access to sensitive or high-value data, for instance. If you do choose to buy Mac antivirus, take a look at the reviews roundup put together by our colleagues on Macworld: Best Mac antivirus software.
