The idea that you don’t have to worry about viruses or malware if you have a Mac is still surprisingly popular. Many people believe that Macs can’t get viruses, and Apple does little to dispel that notion, but is it really true? Can Macs get viruses?
In short, the answer is yes. Though not as common as Microsoft platforms, Apple Macintosh computers are still susceptible to malware. As Apple began to grown market share, the amount of malicious software has grown more common among Apple users in recent years.
macOS Safer Than Windows
Below are some of the reasons why Apple Macintosh computers do not have as many viruses as Microsoft Windows computers:
- Newer Macintosh operating systems, such as the macOS, is built on the Unix Kernel, which is one of the oldest and most secure operating systems available.
- Microsoft Windows is used by a lot more people than the Apple macOS. Because more people use Microsoft Windows, it is a much better target and makes it easier for viruses to spread.
- Most of the computer virus writers are more familiar with Microsoft Windows, which means it’s easier for them create a virus for that platform.
- Many of the tools, scripts, and code used to create viruses or other malware are designed for Microsoft Windows.
Common Programs
The programs we see most frequently when performing a tune up on clients computers are MacKeeper, AdvanceMacCleaner (AMC), and TuneUpMyMac.
All of these programs are supposed to help keep your Mac clean of all malware. However, in our experience when performing a tune up these programs have sometimes actually caused some performance issues such as freezing or crashing. If you find any of these programs in your applications folder, it’s a possibility that they’re the culprit and you may want to consider removing them to further test to see if your computer’s performance enhances.
How to clean and Prevent infection
There are two free programs we recommend for removing common infections.
1. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
The first program is created by Malwarebytes, a highly reputable antivirus solutions company. Malwarebytes Anit-Malware for Mac is designed to quickly scan your Macintosh computer for commonly known malware programs. When the scan is complete, Malwarebytes will display found infections and prompt you to remove them with a click of a button. Malwarebytes is not a monitoring service and will only scan you computer when you run the program manually. It does not guarantee removal of all virus, but does an excellent job removing the majority. You can download a free copy of Malwarebytes below.
https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/
2. Sophos Home for Mac
The second program is created by Sophos, another reputable antivirus company. Sophos Home for Mac is designed to both auto-scan and monitor your mac for potential unwanted programs. Sophos home is ideal for long term support beacuase it monitors your computer and stops malware before it can cause harm to your Mac. You can download a free copy of Sophos Home for Mac in the link below.
Tips on staying virus free
- Stay away from downloading pirated copyright material such as movies and music.
- Only visit sites that you are familiar with or have credibility.
- Make sure to read the EULA (End User License Agreement) when installing new applications to make sure your not installing anything extra.
- Avoid opening emails and or documents from unfamiliar email addresses.
- Routinely scan your computer once a month using an anti-virus software.
I hope that this article has provided an insight of common programs on macOS and has given readers the tools necessary for fighting infections. If you know of any anti-malware programs you have used, please leave it in the comments below to share your experience and opinions.
***Disclaimer: All info in our blog post is meant to be informative and an extra opinion of caution based off of our own personal experiences with each program. By law, thanks to a cease and desist letter from Mackeeper’s lawyer, we are not lawfully allowed to say or imply that they’re a virus or cause harm to your computer in any way.