The facts you need about antivirus on Macs
Here’s one tidbit of information about malware that many people don’t know: Many of them are OS-specific. That means a piece of malware designed to exploit a Windows vulnerability does no harm to a Mac and vice versa. That and the fact that a huge majority of malware is designed for Windows lead many to believe that Macs don’t need antivirus software. That, however, is nothing but a dangerous misconception.
Macs are still very much vulnerable malware — it’s just that there are more types of Windows malware in existence today. Moreover, the number of macOS malware is quickly increasing as more and more people switch to Macbooks and Macs. In 2019, for instance, there was a 400-percent increase in Mac malware compared to the previous year, according to Malwarebytes.
If you’re a Mac user who believes Macs don’t need antivirus, it’s time to think again. On this page, we’ll explain just how protected Macs are against malware, what you can do to protect your digital safety, and what the biggest cybersecurity threats are to Mac users.
Security has always been one of the main focuses of Apple software, and we see that in the fact that it has included XProtect in every macOS system since 2009.
XProtect is a built-in proprietary antivirus software for Macs. It scans applications and files for viruses and malware using a database that Apple updates daily. If it finds malware on a file or application, it immediately notifies the user and blocks the threat.
That’s just the first layer of protection. There’s also the Mac Malware Removal Tool that scans the entire system regularly to make sure nothing has snuck past XProtect. And if it finds any malicious code, it immediately neutralizes it.
In general, the design of Macs limits damage from malware. The computers automatically quarantine suspicious files, meaning that they can’t access critical system software or change the computer’s core functions. Apple enables these features by default, so you don’t have to worry about getting your settings right.
Keeping malware out is one thing; protecting critical system files from attacks is another. Macs keep malicious software from wreaking havoc using tools like the Executive Disable (XD), Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and System Integrity Protection that run in the background to prevent viruses from accessing critical files.1 These features have been available since the last few macOS versions.
That being said, the built-in security features of Macs aren’t enough to completely guard your device and your personal information from malware. Apple may be better than most at making security software, but it’s primarily a hardware company. If you want total protection, you need a dedicated piece of software for fighting malware and viruses.

FYI: Apple updates Macs daily with new virus information, so you don’t necessarily need to wait for the next security patch or software update to stay protected. But keep reading to find out how to get full protection on your Mac.
In addition to built-in security features, Mac users can use third-party antivirus software to protect their Apple computers. We regularly test antivirus software from different brands on multiple platforms including macOS, and these are the ones we’ve found most user-friendly and best at detecting malware for Mac:
Apple provides better security features and malware protection than other operating systems, but Apple’s measures aren’t foolproof. XProtect, for example, does not identify as many types of potential malware as third-party antivirus software, and gaps in its library of malicious codes can leave users exposed.2
We can’t blame Apple. It is, after all, a tech company that develops both hardware and software, and digital security is just one of the many things Apple is focusing on. It’s understandable that it doesn’t keep track of as many security threats as third-party products.
Besides, the number of viruses affecting Apple computers is growing at an alarming rate. According to Malwarebytes, the number of serious malware attacks identified on Macs increased by 61-percent from 2019 to 2020, while rates of less harmful malware declined during the same period.3
Cybercriminals are upping the intensity of their attacks, so we should not rely on just Apple’s built-in protection. Using a dedicated, third-party antivirus is highly recommended. For recommendations of software that we tested ourselves, check out the best Mac antivirus software for Macs here.
The cybersecurity landscape is always evolving, and just as there are TikTok trends, there are also malware trends. Usually, malware makers tend to create malware that exploits recently found vulnerabilities, as well as malware that they find effective in targeting as many people as possible.
For Mac users, these are the latest malware trends to keep track of:
Mac malware and adware can be pretty sneaky. But here are a few telltale signs that might indicate an infection.
A lot has changed since Macs first came on the market to compete with PCs, and unfortunately, that means some incorrect information and myths have stuck around. We’ll debunk a few falsehoods here.
Hackers used to target Macs less frequently because they weren’t as popular as PCs. Now that Macs are very common and PCs have better defenses, malware designed for Macs is on the rise. In fact, antivirus software Malwarebytes reported that it detected 9.8 viruses on average per Mac in 2019, compared with just 4.2 viruses on the average Windows computer. In the same year, a Mac malware program was the second-most frequently detected in the world,6 which is startling, given that Macs comprise only 17 percent of desktops worldwide as of December 2020. In contrast, Windows makes up 77 percent of all desktops, making the disparity in malware detections even more shocking.7
Thanks to strong advertising by Apple, lots of people believe that Mac’s software itself doesn’t have the security openings that Windows does. However, that isn’t true; researchers have identified thousands of vulnerabilities over the years.8
Since Macs require your password to install software, many people think they are safe from malware as long as they don’t install anything that looks unfamiliar. However, these days you’re more likely to get infected by visiting a website with malicious code or watching an advertisement. Plus, hackers have gotten a lot better at disguising malware as legitimate programs.
Trying to identify the right antivirus software for your Mac can be daunting. Here are a few things you’ll want to look for:
With several robust free antivirus options out there, paid antivirus software can be a hard sell. However, the best antivirus software options for Mac are paid (our favorite is Avast), and we think it’s well worth the small monthly fee to ensure you have the best protection for threats against Macs. Check out our review of Avast to learn why we think it’s the strongest choice.
Some Mac users don’t install antivirus software because they have concerns about its impact on computer performance. Antivirus software can indeed affect a computer’s speed, but slowdowns range widely — from 1 percent to 51 percent — based on the software and system, according to AV-Test.9
When we review antivirus options for Macs, we test against five different types of viruses and malware to see if they identify dangerous downloads. We also use the program’s scans to see how well they identify what is already on the computer. We combine that research with extensive data from AV-Labs, a leader in the antivirus industry that tests software against tens of thousands of known viruses, to give us a fuller picture of how well the program can identify malware.
We need to be cautious about the privacy implications of the software we choose, and that includes antivirus programs. We recommend considering a few key questions regarding your antivirus software.
Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes are surveillance alliances in which countries have agreed to turn over data to each other for security or law enforcement reasons. If an antivirus company is based in a country that belongs to one or more of these alliances, that means any country in the alliance can compel the company to turn over your data.
There are a few different ways in which companies encrypt your data, and it’s essential to know that your sensitive information is safe. We recommend looking for antivirus software that uses AES 256-bit encryption, the standard the U.S. government uses for top-secret data.
As with any digital product, it’s a good idea to examine the privacy policy for an antivirus. Some antivirus software options (especially free ones) sell user data or share it with third parties, which is both invasive and a potential threat to your security, since the more places your sensitive data is stored, the more likely it is to be stolen.
Besides purchasing antivirus software, you can do a few other things to protect your Mac:
Macs have a built-in firewall, but it is turned off by default. Although Macs are less vulnerable to hacks via incoming connections than PCs are, if you want to be safe, it’s easy to turn on the firewall. Here’s how:
Macs have built-in support for connecting to a private company or school’s network, like those you might use to access your work’s servers from home. However, they do not provide a “true” VPN that protects all of your traffic without going through one of those networks. If you’d like to use a third-party VPN, Macs support most VPN apps. However, they do not support OpenVPN, which is a common VPN protocol. You can still use a VPN built on OpenVPN, but you will need to download a third-party app to make the connection. And not all VPNs work equally with Apple products, which is why we rounded up the best VPNs for Mac.
If you’re using a VPN provided by your company to access your network remotely, follow these steps to set it up:10
Macs come with out-of-the-box antivirus software, XProtect, as well as Apple’s Malware Removal Tool. However, these tools only protect against viruses and malware that Apple identifies, which make up a small percentage of the threats internet security companies identify each day. For that reason, we recommend installing reliable third-party antivirus software on your Mac.
We know that’s a lot of information! We’ve rounded up a few of the questions we get most often about antivirus for Macs to help you digest it.
Yes, you need virus protection on a Mac. Apple’s built-in security is not as comprehensive as third-party software, and viruses targeting Macs are increasing rapidly. From 2019 to 2020, the incidence of the most dangerous types of malware on Macs increased by over 61 percent, according to Malwarebytes.11
Yes, Macs can get malware. In fact, according to Kaspersky, 1 in 10 Macs are infected with malware known as Shlayer. And that’s not counting all the other types of malicious programs out there.
No, Apple does not recommend antivirus software, but it doesn’t recommend against it either. After all, one of its big marketing points for its computers is their security features.
Yes, Apple does have a virus scan. Its Malware Removal Tool automatically scans daily for viruses and removes any that it finds.
Apple. (2021). macOS – Security.
apple.com/macos/security/
Malwarebytes. (2021). Mac antivirus.
malwarebytes.com/mac-antivirus/
Malwarebytes. (2021). State of Malware.
resources.malwarebytes.com/files/2021/02/MWB_StateOfMalwareReport2021.pdf
Sophos. (2020). Macs Under Threat – Four Mac Malware Variants to Watch Out For.
home.sophos.com/en-us/security-news/2020/macs-under-threat-four-mac-malware.aspx
Intego. (2020). New Mac malware reveals Google searches can be unsafe.
intego.com/mac-security-blog/new-mac-malware-reveals-google-searches-can-be-unsafe/
Malwarebytes. (2019). Mac threat detections on the rise in 2019.
malwarebytes.com/mac/2019/12/mac-threat-detections-on-the-rise-in-2019/
Statista. (2021). Global market share held by operating systems for desktop PCs, from January 2013 to December 2020.
statista.com/statistics/218089/global-market-share-of-windows-7/
CVE Details. (2021). Apple Mac Os X: List of security vulnerabilities.
cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-49/product_id-156/Apple-Mac-Os-X.html
AV Test. (2020). AV-TEST Product Review and Certification Report – Dec/2020.
av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-catalina/december-2020/avast-security-14.6-205201/
Apple. (2021). Set up a VPN connection on Mac.
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-a-vpn-connection-on-mac-mchlp2963/mac
Malwarebytes. (2021). State of Malware.
resources.malwarebytes.com/files/2021/02/MWB_StateOfMalwareReport2021.pdf
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