In fact, the majority of such threats now come from code that targets weaknesses in browsers and other applications that aren't platform specific. But malware isn't just taking advantage of operating system weaknesses anymore. There are no known viruses in the wild that exploit a vulnerability in the Mac OS, and Windows continues to be the overwhelming preference for malware writers to target their programs. Telling customers they can run antivirus for "additional protection" could be interpreted as a way to protect against any liability. The message that remains is that Mac users don't really need to take additional steps to protect against viruses and other malware. The motive remains unclear, particularly because Apple didn't replace the previously published suggestion with an updated one. To some, Apple's latest move will be seen as back-tracking given that it comes one day after those misleading reports circulated. "I bet you it was a low-level support note and it hadn't gone through the right approvals," said Rich Mogull, security editor of Apple news site TidBITS. One Apple expert speculated that Apple was merely removing a poorly worded support note and said it probably wasn't ever Apple's intention to tell Mac users they need antivirus.
Security experts, while pleased that Apple would urge Mac users to install antivirus software, had warned that running multiple antivirus products could cause problems and recommended against it.Īpple's antivirus support note was initially published last year and was updated last month, despite reports that it was a new note.
"However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, running antivirus software may offer additional protection."Īpple's previous security message in its KnowledgeBase, which serves as a tutorial for Mac users, was: "Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult." "The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box," he said. "We have removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was old and inaccurate," Apple spokesperson Bill Evans said. PST with background.Īpple removed an old item from its support site late Tuesday that urged Mac customers to use multiple antivirus utilities and now says the Mac is safe "out of the box." PST with context on previous coverage, and at 7:08 p.m. Even if you use a limited, free version of a program, you'll be doing yourself a favor.Updated 7:45 p.m. While you may think you don't need antivirus protection on your Mac, it's more important than ever now that Apple has grown so popular. And once you're infected, it super easy for other devices connected to your network to become infected, too.
There are viruses out there that are smart enough to know how to hide deep in your system and work constantly to keep you from noticing it, all while performing malicious attacks. Technology has improved for the bad guys just as much as it has improved for the good guys. You won't always know if you have a virus. If it takes much longer for your Mac to wake up than it used to, there may be something lurking in the shadows. If your Mac just isn't responding the way it should, you might have malware planted into your system somewhere. If this happens, you should immediately change your password to stop any more messages being sent from your account.
You may also discover that your personal email or social networking sites are sending out messages that you didn't write. These ads tend to feature adult content or claim that a virus has been detected on your device and will often appear in places that you don't normally see ads. If you start to notice weird advertisements popping up in strange places on popular websites like YouTube, you might be infected.