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Does macos has a built-in antivirus like windows?
- Thread starter Username5281
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Yes, it has built-in protections. At least the latest version of macOS does. I don’t know about older versions.
Some people install Malwarebytes, but it’s really not necessary. If you follow some basic practices when browsing the Internet and don’t download random things from random websites, you’ll be fine
Thank you for the suggestions, I'm kinda familiar about avoiding ****** software and virus, I'm mostly wondering if macos has a "Windows Defender" equivalent
Do macos built-in protections have names? Can they be disabled?
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Here’s an Apple support article that talks about it. I believe there are ways to disable some protections, but I’m not sure about all. If you want an OS to tinker with, macOS is probably not ideal. While it’s not completely locked down like iOS, it’s fairly locked down. That ads security, but really annoys people that want to tweak things
Protecting against malware in macOS
On devices with macOS, malware defenses are structured using the followingApp Store, or Gatekeeper combined with Notarization, and XProtect.
support.apple.com
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You can read some blog posts about XProtect and security in general at https://eclecticlight.co
https://eclecticlight.co/tag/xprotect/ (maybe skip the updates articles)
https://eclecticlight.co/tag/security/
https://eclecticlight.co/tag/xprotect/ (maybe skip the updates articles)
https://eclecticlight.co/tag/security/
Nice thanks 
If i understand correctly:
Gatekeeper is this:
which is what we always bypass when installing software
------
Runtime protection:
Doesn't protect against software obtained using .dmg/.app (where you would have bypassed Gatekeeper)
------
Notarization: looks like it provides like a certificate if Apple got submitted the file, did scan and found nothing
------
XProtect: hmm this looks like a Windows Defender equivalent/a normal antivirus
______
thanks again
If i understand correctly:
Gatekeeper is this:
which is what we always bypass when installing software
------
Runtime protection:
Doesn't protect against software obtained using .dmg/.app (where you would have bypassed Gatekeeper)
------
Notarization: looks like it provides like a certificate if Apple got submitted the file, did scan and found nothing
------
XProtect: hmm this looks like a Windows Defender equivalent/a normal antivirus
______
thanks again
There’s a lot to unpack about this topic but historically the amount of viruses or malware that target macOS are always less the Windows. Part of this is the majority of the world is Windows and there’s so many backdoors exploits available because of Windows legacy capabilities for software/hardware. The other, is that macOS is Unix based which it’s not the easiest to get access to but if you do it’s pretty much game over for the system.
Do your own research but if anything a quality adblocker and not going to shady websites/software repositories are infinitely better than bloated virus software which has root access to your system btw.
Do your own research but if anything a quality adblocker and not going to shady websites/software repositories are infinitely better than bloated virus software which has root access to your system btw.
I welcome correction if the following statement is wrong, but...
... isn't it a fact that there has NEVER been a Mac "virus" discovered "in the wild" ...?
(malware, adware, even ransomware, yes... but not "a virus"...)
... isn't it a fact that there has NEVER been a Mac "virus" discovered "in the wild" ...?
(malware, adware, even ransomware, yes... but not "a virus"...)
And or a massive shutdown due to faulty third party submitted code
isn't a malware/ransomware etc a kind of a virus? O_ o
do any keylogger/trojan ever been discovered on macos in the wild?
There were Mac viruses in the good old days.
Category:Classic Mac OS viruses - Wikipedia
"The Mac Malware of 2024 - A comprehensive analysis of the year's new macOS malware"
https://objective-see.org/blog/blog_0x7D.html
My, informed, opinion about XProtect https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/osx-pirrit-and-adload-malware-issues.2455663/post-33870317
https://objective-see.org/blog/blog_0x7D.html
My, informed, opinion about XProtect https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/osx-pirrit-and-adload-malware-issues.2455663/post-33870317
Not really.
It’s semantics though, virus refers to software that exhibits certain behaviours.
Though the general public use “virus” as a catch all term for any malicious software. So whilst technically “potentially” true, it’s not a particularly helpful statement
I found out the other day, OffceLibre, a well-known freeWare is only free if you download it directly from the developer's website, but Apple complains, "u didn't download it from our appstore" $8.95, so we can't run it for you for security reason... yeah right. Tim Cook, the master of nickel and dime.
Ya, after spending my precious time to go around it, wondering how many newbies would bother and just pay.
hehe
i see you meant libreoffice now, i use it too
Weird it's paid on the App store O_ o
macOS has built-in anti-malware, but not like Windows.
You can even get Microsoft Defender for Mac - not that I would recommend it.
If you feel the need for something extra, Malwarebytes is well regarded.
You should not be trying to disable the built-in protection.
Remember that Mac OS, uses a feature called sandboxing, which helps to reduct the ability of 'intruders', accessing vital resources. The best way I can describe it is; imagine a child in a sandpit, with high walls, the adult can drop things in, but the child doesn't have the ability to throw things out.
"I found out the other day, OffceLibre, a well-known freeWare is only free if you download it directly from the developer's website, but Apple complains, "u didn't download it from our appstore" $8.95, so we can't run it for you for security reason... yeah right. Tim Cook, the master of nickel and dime."
This is why I DISABLE system integrity protection AND gatekeeper on my Macs.
I just don't want to be bothered by such things.
Never had a problem after doing both of the above. Not once.
This is why I DISABLE system integrity protection AND gatekeeper on my Macs.
I just don't want to be bothered by such things.
Never had a problem after doing both of the above. Not once.