I am new to Mac. Lifelong Windows user, purchased a Macbook 15” M2 in August. I have not installed anti-virus. I am thinking I do not need it….I know everyone has a different level of comfort/peace with security. I’m fairly paranoid ; ) Of course, with Windows one had to have anti-virus and Defender worked well. I am thinking it’s the same for Apple - their built-in security/antivirus features should be sufficient. I do not download much software and will try to only do so from the App store. I also limit my surfing on the Mac, I do most of that on my Ipad. So I think my risk is low. I am looking for comments or feedback on this approach from the community. thanks! Donna
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Is Antivirus really needed for Mac?
- Thread starter dmt43
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I don't think so. There are no Mac viruses in the wild. There is Malware but, a lot of it is made for Windows. I would invest in a good adblocker, which will help prevent getting suspect ads and redirects to other sites.
Never use your admin account for daily use. Create a regular account for daily use.
Never use your admin account for daily use. Create a regular account for daily use.
I did for a few years, but smarter folks than me with channels all say "Not necessary", and I figure Apple and their manpower/budget can quash any new threats faster than a six-man team somewhere (nothing against the independent vendors, however).
Any new OS updates are also checked against their own security software before release, which is an added benefit.
Any new OS updates are also checked against their own security software before release, which is an added benefit.
For your reading pleasure.
System security overview
Apple maximizes its operating system security without affecting usability—from boot-up, to software updates, to the online operating of the operating system.
support.apple.com
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
If you share with window users you might. While infected window files usually have no impact on a Mac. As a Mac user you could spread window viruses to other window users, if you modified an an infected windows file and then spread it to other users, who used it on a windows machine. This has been a problem, especially with office Word and excel macro viruses.
Opposite to other responses I have AV software installed on my Apple computers, since years.
Have I ever needed it? Not that I am aware of.
Personally I consider AV software, the same as AppleCare, as something similar to an insurance. You hope you never need it, you may never need it, but if you need it you may be glad you have it. But that’s just me, maybe I am just having a little more conservative point of view. And as we are all different we all make different decisions!
Herbert
Have I ever needed it? Not that I am aware of.
Personally I consider AV software, the same as AppleCare, as something similar to an insurance. You hope you never need it, you may never need it, but if you need it you may be glad you have it. But that’s just me, maybe I am just having a little more conservative point of view. And as we are all different we all make different decisions!
Herbert
Sponsorships? YouTube creators don't have to actually use something in order to "endorse" it.
regarding the thread title: yes, it is needed, that's why it comes baked into the OS in various forms, as you've already pointed out
regarding your case: no, i don't think much additional stuff is needed.
safe browsing habits and the awareness of phishing / social engineering should keep you safe
as a safety net though, as Macs, like other systems, are not immune to malware, i would still upload unknown, non sensitive data, as they will be keeping your uploads, on virustotal.com, which will scan your files very thoroughly by dozens of highly regarded scanners
it's also good to learn the locations where malware can actually establish persistence, which actually are just a handful on Mac and is quite manageable to overlook yourself, if you find something fishy inside
this of course will most likely only reveal some longer term hidden spyware, as you probably won't check these locations the second you open files
regarding your case: no, i don't think much additional stuff is needed.
safe browsing habits and the awareness of phishing / social engineering should keep you safe
as a safety net though, as Macs, like other systems, are not immune to malware, i would still upload unknown, non sensitive data, as they will be keeping your uploads, on virustotal.com, which will scan your files very thoroughly by dozens of highly regarded scanners
it's also good to learn the locations where malware can actually establish persistence, which actually are just a handful on Mac and is quite manageable to overlook yourself, if you find something fishy inside
this of course will most likely only reveal some longer term hidden spyware, as you probably won't check these locations the second you open files
I see that a lot, but aren't Windows users responsible for their own security? Should Mac users have a long list of what not to use and send in order to protect even those who are still on XP? I don't think so.
I have always used only my Admin Account. I don't recall ever seeing this advise, but it intrigues me. Why not? Is it complicated to switch? (I've seen an Apple support page on migrating to a new account, but I don't recall forming an impression of the difficulty.)
This advice may have been appropriate in 2004 or 2005 era, but now? With sandboxing and the OS essentially on a read only drive? Sounds like absurd advice with little to no benefit besides placebo effect in feeling more secure.
Unless there has been a report that I missed, I believe there has never -- repeat for emphasis, NEVER -- been a Mac OS X "virus" discovered "in the wild".
Malware... yes.
Adware... yes.
For that, use MalwareBytes.
There's both a free version and a paid version.
It installs for free, then asks you after about 30 days to upgrade to the paid version.
You can decline, and it will "convert itself" into the free version.
The difference is that the paid version runs "full-time" in the background.
The free version only runs when you "manually launch" it.
That's good enough for me.
Malware... yes.
Adware... yes.
For that, use MalwareBytes.
There's both a free version and a paid version.
It installs for free, then asks you after about 30 days to upgrade to the paid version.
You can decline, and it will "convert itself" into the free version.
The difference is that the paid version runs "full-time" in the background.
The free version only runs when you "manually launch" it.
That's good enough for me.
does it matter though?
"i've been so lucky that my computer and my bank accounts have just been compromised by malware and not a virus! i don't even want to think about what would have happened!"
also, at least as far as i'm concerned, viruses are malware too, unless you actually want to have them on your system maybe
"i've been so lucky that my computer and my bank accounts have just been compromised by malware and not a virus! i don't even want to think about what would have happened!"
also, at least as far as i'm concerned, viruses are malware too, unless you actually want to have them on your system maybe