For many years, a myth has persisted that Apple devices are immune to computer viruses. If you ask about it on an Apple forum or even pull someone aside at an Apple store, you may be told, “No! Don’t be silly! You don’t need an antivirus for your Mac! It isn’t a Windows PC!”
But are they right? Are Macs immune to viruses? Or are these Apple fans in denial when it comes to the risks facing their devices?
Do you need an antivirus for your Mac?
For the vast majority of Mac users, antivirus software is a good insurance policy to have. Apple has already built in lots of security features, most of which users aren’t even aware of. These features, which we’ll get into soon, help to make Macs some of the most secure devices against viruses and malware.
However, no device is immune to cyberattacks. Viruses and malware evolve at a frightening pace. What isn’t a threat today may be a threat tomorrow. And if you participate in risky online activities like torrenting, accessing the dark web, or downloading lots of files, even Apple’s built-in tools will have a hard time protecting you.
If you use your Mac simply to check email and social media, do some work, and play a few games, you probably think that you don’t need third-party antivirus software.
But that’s not strictly true as you’ll see in this article. The idea that Macs are immune from malware is an old one, which is rapidly changing as Apple increases their market share of users.
Does Apple advise using antivirus programs on Macs?
Remember the “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads? In this famous marketing campaign, Apple basically told users that viruses were strictly a Windows thing. This led to the myth, which is believed by many Apple fans, that Mac malware simply didn’t exist.
Today, Mac malware is becoming such a growing problem that Apple has quietly changed its tune regarding malware in its marketing. However, they do still maintain that their current security tools are more than enough to take on whatever malware is out there.
Apple advises that people don’t need to bother with third-party antivirus solutions. But, as we will see, this advice is not impartial.
How antivirus software works on Mac
Apple devices are constructed differently than Windows machines, which is why malware and viruses have a tougher time gaining a foothold on Macs. So, how does traditional antivirus software work on a Mac?
Is antivirus software effective on Macs?
Due to two Apple security features — sandboxing and System Integrity Protection (SIP) — it is often argued that a third-party antivirus is not 100% effective, as it would be on a Windows PC.
This is true to a certain extent, but Apple’s built-in XProtect antivirus software is still a powerful resource (more on this later). There are still many reasons why it makes sense to put antivirus software on a Mac and why it is still effective.
The fact is, despite how well Apple’s built-in security tools perform, some malware still slips through. This means having a secondary layer of protection is paramount to catching anything which XProtect and Gatekeeper doesn’t. It’s still an extra layer of protection that can save your laptop from a determined malware attack.
A third-party Mac antivirus tool, like CleanMyMac, powered by Moonlock Engine, provides services that the built-in Mac features don’t have, such as detecting advanced malware, virus attacks, and other threats.
Updates for CleanMyMac are more frequent than macOS updates. This means that it will detect new threats much faster than XProtect would.
Can Mac antivirus software impact performance?
Any software that requires a monitoring process will impact system performance to some degree. That’s normal, unavoidable, and just part of how these programs work.
The aim is to minimize the number of running programs on your Mac and disable anything that doesn’t need to be running all the time. That way, when the antivirus runs in the background, it won’t bring your Mac to a screeching halt.
Open Activity Monitor and identify the apps that use up a lot of CPU. Run a web search on any processes that aren’t immediately obvious. Try to only open the CPU-hungry ones when you really need them.
Is there a built-in antivirus software on Macs?
As we’ve mentioned, Apple Macs have built-in security tools to combat viruses and malware. None of them need to be installed — they work right out of the box. Let’s see how each of them works.
XProtect
XProtect is Mac’s built-in antivirus tool, which starts working as soon as the computer boots up. There’s no actual dashboard or user interface — it instead runs silently in the background and does its job without any input required by the Mac user.
XProtect compares possible threats against a database that is constantly updated by Apple. If it finds a match, it deals with the malware silently.
XProtect is a great solution, but it does have its drawbacks. It only deals with viruses and malware actively trying to enter the MacBook. It won’t warn you about dangerous websites or malware-infected weblinks, and it doesn’t give you any kind of preventative measures to avoid a virus in the first place.
Gatekeeper
Apple tries to reduce the risk of malware by keeping a tight leash on what gets into the App Store. Every App Store submission is checked thoroughly for malicious code. Apple then does its best to steer people toward the App Store for all their app needs.
However, there are other places where you can get top-tier Mac software. Resources like CleanMyMac and Setapp have their own dedicated, secure download pages.
Gatekeeper, as the name implies, stands guard as an app is downloaded. It checks to see if it is an approved app, and if not, it stops the installation and quarantines the app if it considers it to be unsafe.
If the app is quarantined, you can easily take it out of quarantine by going to the Privacy & Security section in System Settings. Just be sure that the app is safe before you do so.
Lockdown Mode
Lockdown Mode is the cybersecurity “nuclear” option. If you find yourself in the high-risk category for targeted attacks (government officials, journalists, activists), it may come in handy.
The name is self-explanatory. When you activate Lockdown Mode, it:
- Limits FaceTime calls to contacts and disables file sharing
- Prevents your web browser from being configured
- Blocks all external devices from connecting to your Mac (hard drives, USB sticks, etc.) other than keyboards, mice, and monitors
- Prevents your Mac’s system settings from being changed, stopping attackers from inserting malware such as rootkits
You can find Lockdown Mode in the Privacy & Security section in System Settings. But Lockdown Mode is not really necessary unless you are in a precarious position with people actively trying to penetrate your Mac.
The most common malware threats for Mac users
Many forms of malware are rearing their ugly heads on Macs these days. The following is a rundown of the most common malware threats.
Spyware
Spyware runs in the background, logging keystrokes to steal account login details, listening to your microphone, watching you through your camera, and generally scooping up as much personal data as possible.
Adware
Adware puts pop-up ads on your computer in an effort to coerce you into taking some sort of action. This can be something ironic, like warning you about your computer being infected, so you need to buy their antivirus software immediately.
Backdoor
As the name implies, a backdoor malware gives the malware secret access to a network or a software app, which bypasses the usual security measures. It’s basically a secret door which lets them in via the ‘back’.
Trojans
Named after the trojan horse in Greek mythology, a trojan is a malware that disguises itself as something legitimate or harmless to put down the guard of the device owner. Once the trojan is activated, the malware starts to spread throughout the device.
Phishing
Phishing is the oldest trick in the book. By using a variety of methods — email, SMS, or phone calls — Mac users are tricked into clicking links and entering personal details on websites controlled by cybercriminals. Clicking on a link may load malware onto the computer (or attempt to).
Ransomware
This is the nightmare of many businesses. If an employer accidentally clicks on a malware-infected link, it could down their entire network and hold the server’s files for ransom.
Essential tips for protecting your Mac from malware
Of course, prevention is much better than any cure. Instead of being a malware victim, observe the following cybersecurity practices to prevent becoming one.
Don’t install apps from untrusted sources
Try as much as possible to confine your app buying to the Mac App Store. CleanMyMac and Setapp can be obtained through the App Store.
If you want to install something from outside of the App Store, use your best judgment and be aware that Gatekeeper is going to quarantine it first.
Enable the firewall
Your Mac has a built-in firewall, but unlike the other security tools, you have to enable it first.
This firewall is essential. When malware tries to take control of your Mac, it relies on connecting to external servers as a place to store your personal data and send more malware back. The Apple firewall stops that from happening.
You can enable your Mac’s firewall by going to System Settings > Network.
Don’t click email or SMS links
If you take only one thing away from this article, let it be this. Never click links inside emails or SMS messages. Unless the sender is a trusted friend, but even then, verify that it is indeed that friend and not somebody impersonating them.
The easiest route for malware to get onto your Mac is through infected weblinks. All it takes is for a hacker to send you a link and trick you into clicking it. For them, this is low effort, high reward. By refusing to click those links, you’re making things much harder for cybercriminals.
Use a VPN
Using a VPN can put a serious dent in a hacker’s plans. While it doesn’t guarantee that your Macbook won’t ever be the victim of malware, a VPN does ensure that it’s one more thing protecting your device from external threats – and that’s never a bad thing.
We recommend our own ClearVPN. For the price of an expensive coffee, ClearVPN will encrypt your web traffic and provide peace of mind.
Install all macOS updates and app updates
It’s difficult to keep up with all the latest threats out there, but Apple and app developers do their best by bringing out updates as often as possible.
You should download and install these updates as soon as you’re aware of them. You can check for macOS updates via System Settings > General > Software Update.
For installed apps, go to the App Store updates and enable Automatic Updates.
So, do MacBooks need antivirus software? Whether or not you need an antivirus will ultimately depend on your online habits, your knowledge of threats and how to avoid them, and your risk level.
Only you can decide if Apple’s built-in security tools are more than sufficient for your needs, or if you need some extra virus protection on your Mac.
This is an independent publication, and it has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Mac and MacBook are trademarks of Apple Inc.
