Macs, Malware, and Mythology

In the battle of which operating system is the "best," the biggest factor is usually simply what you are used to and comfortable with. But arguments will always arise, and one of the most common arguments for Mac systems and OS X is that they don't get viruses. But is this accurate?

Just this past month, Malwarebytes set out to shed more light on this issue, specifically discussing malware on Mac systems, and if they truly need antivirus and antimalware products, and the answer may surprise you.

According to their article, which you can read here, Macs can indeed get viruses and malware. While there are fewer types of attacks on these systems than on PCs, that number is beginning to shift as well. As Macs are becoming increasingly popular, more malware is being written to exploit those users. In fact, they state that in 2015, there were five times as many OS X malware detections than the previous five years combined.

This is particularly increasing because many Mac owners do not believe they need any antivirus, leaving these systems much more exposed to attacks. With more and more Macs being used, and a large percentage of those without any additional protection against malware, cyber-criminals are finding it profitable to attack these systems as well. So while there may be fewer vulnerabilities on Macs than on PCs, the number of attacks on Macs are certain to increase.

The Malwarebytes article even goes on to cover what sorts of attacks are already affecting systems running OS X, including adware, information stealers, and even a recent instance of ransomware. Adware is the most prevalent, as it is one of the simplest to implement, but the fact that more serious forms of malware have been found is concerning. As cyber-criminals see more value in attacking Mac systems, more and more forms of malware are likely to be developed.

The moral of the story? Macs are not invulnerable, and need to be protected just like any other system. Fortunately, thanks to their increasing prevalence, there are now plenty of options for antivirus on OS X. Find a company that you are comfortable with and that has a well rated antivirus/antimalware, and install it to better defend your Mac today.