Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is MacOS in 2019 really more secure than Windows 10?
- Thread starter Future-Proof
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yes, for a number of reasons.
1) Security through obscurity. Windows still is the profound leader in market share. Most malware and viruses are written for Windows.
2) MacOS is more “locked down”. This includes features like System Integrity Protection, where core OS files cannot be edited. Personally I think this is a great thing as I couldn’t count the number of viruses I’ve seen which hijack the explorer shell in the registry to run an application before loading explorer (which occurs even in Safe Mode, as that also loads the shell).
3) Backwards compatibility. Apple are pretty happy to kill any previous compatibility and piss off their customers, though generally this leads to less legacy bugs and long-sleeping security exploits. Due to Microsoft’s marketshare and business presence, it’s a necessity to offer that, though backwards compatibility leaves yourself open to a lot of such issues.
There are a few other reasons but in almost every circumstance, with the exception of utilising exploits from third party applications such as Java or Flash, there is no way a Mac can get infected unless the user installed the application themselves (normally from scareware, or from malicious applications bundled with legitimate ones).
1) Security through obscurity. Windows still is the profound leader in market share. Most malware and viruses are written for Windows.
2) MacOS is more “locked down”. This includes features like System Integrity Protection, where core OS files cannot be edited. Personally I think this is a great thing as I couldn’t count the number of viruses I’ve seen which hijack the explorer shell in the registry to run an application before loading explorer (which occurs even in Safe Mode, as that also loads the shell).
3) Backwards compatibility. Apple are pretty happy to kill any previous compatibility and piss off their customers, though generally this leads to less legacy bugs and long-sleeping security exploits. Due to Microsoft’s marketshare and business presence, it’s a necessity to offer that, though backwards compatibility leaves yourself open to a lot of such issues.
There are a few other reasons but in almost every circumstance, with the exception of utilising exploits from third party applications such as Java or Flash, there is no way a Mac can get infected unless the user installed the application themselves (normally from scareware, or from malicious applications bundled with legitimate ones).
Edited, as initially I wanted to write something very long and constructive based on my limited knowledge, but didn't have enough time.
Bottom line is that I consider both systems as secure nowadays, even though Mac OS has slight advantage, due to its foundation, which is advantage of all UNIX and UNIX like systems.
Bottom line is that I consider both systems as secure nowadays, even though Mac OS has slight advantage, due to its foundation, which is advantage of all UNIX and UNIX like systems.
Last edited:
I don't do Windows.
With Windows 10, do you still need some kind of anti-virus protection?
And is there still the worry of ransom-ware?
I use a Mac (have for 31 years).
I have no worries about either of those things.
Does this answer the OP's question?
With Windows 10, do you still need some kind of anti-virus protection?
And is there still the worry of ransom-ware?
I use a Mac (have for 31 years).
I have no worries about either of those things.
Does this answer the OP's question?