No software is immune to attacks, including macOS. The growing popularity of Apple computers has made them the prime target of malware. Security companies are increasingly offering Mac antivirus software, but do you need one?
Here’s everything you need to know to keep your Mac safe from malware!
How macOS protects your computer
Your Mac has many built-in security features to keep it safe. At the heart of macOS (formerly Mac OS X) is the solid foundation of Unix. It’s the same operating system that BSD and Linux were built on, and has earned its reputation for reliability and security through a solid permissions system.
Is your Mac running slow?
Every Mac uses a set of proprietary technologies to keep the platform secure. It may surprise you to learn that your Mac is already running a background anti-malware scanner called Xprotect.
Every time you open a file on your Mac, Xprotect scans it and compares it with known macOS malware definitions. If it finds anything suspicious, you’ll see a warning that the file will damage your computer and worsen its performance.
It is no surprise to see that some tips to speed up a MacBook from reputable resources emphasize the importance of keeping the laptop malware-free.
Another technology called Gatekeeper tries to prevent unknown applications from causing harm. By default, macOS blocks all software that is not signed with an Apple developer certificate or downloaded from the Mac App Store.
Not all unsigned applications are harmful. Developers who create free open source applications often cannot justify the $ 99 required to join the Apple Developer Program and issue certificates. To bypass Gatekeeper, go to System Preferences> Security & Privacy, and then click “Open Anyway” after trying to open an unsigned application.
To prevent damage to the operating system from signed applications and those distributed via the Mac App Store, Apple uses a sandbox. Sandboxing gives the app everything it needs to accomplish its goal. By running the application in the sandbox, you limit its capabilities and grant additional permissions based on the input.
Which Mac Security Software Should I Install?
Let’s be clear: antivirus software for your Mac is not essential. If you follow the basic “common sense” practices outlined above, the chances of infection remain low. Even with an antivirus program, your system may fall victim to a new, undocumented malware attack.
When one Mac is attacked, they are all at risk, whether or not you are using an antivirus program.
Finally, System Integrity Protection (SIP) protects some of the most vulnerable parts of the system, including core system directories. Apple limits any potential harm caused by rogue software by preventing applications from accessing these areas.
SIP also protects pre-installed applications such as Finder and Safari from code injections that can change the way these applications work. If you restart your Mac and execute the terminal command, you can disable SIP; but most people should leave it alone.
How to Reduce the Risk of Malware
The best thing you can do to protect your Mac from security vulnerabilities is to keep it updated. Apple is responding to the vulnerabilities with minor security patches and major operating system updates.
Go to System Preferences> Software Update to check for updates. Ideally, you should set your Mac to automatically install updates.
If you install software from unknown sources, it can also lead to infections. For best results, only use software from the Mac App Store or signed by a legitimate developer certificate.
As mentioned above, even if you do this, your system is not immune, but it does provide good protection. If you need to install an unsigned app, download it from a reputable source. Some Mac application installers contain unnecessary software, such as Windows.
Downloading pirated software may lead to infections. This is very risky as you are at the mercy of the uploader by downloading software from illegal sources. You could expose yourself to more than you expected.
Adobe Flash is another source of malware and browser-based exploits. If you don’t use it very often, remove it from your system. Most websites are already moving away from Flash, and it will be gone for good by the end of 2020. If you must use it, install Google Chrome and enable the Flash-version in sandbox mode.
Public unsecured wireless networks also pose a security and privacy risk. Man-in-the-middle attacks are carried out over public hotspots and may allow someone to spy on your traffic. If you need to use an unsecured public network, do so over a VPN.
Finally, for added protection, you can install antivirus or anti-malware software to monitor your system.
