- Why Virus Is Good For Macular Degeneration
- Why Virus Is Good For Mac Computers
- Why Virus Is Good For Mac Os
Dec 17, 2020 The Best Mac Antivirus Protection for 2021. Despite what you may have heard, your Apple computer is not immune to malware. We test the top contenders to identify those offering the best Mac. Checking your Mac for viruses. OS X does a pretty good job of stopping viruses and malware from attacking your computer. But there are steps you can take to further protect yourself. There is a more complected mathmatic explation that still uses the laws of proublity that explains why windows virus will grow faster than the odds in a mac virus that shows even more why the security though obscure grows even faster. But for simplesity sake my example shows it pretty well how it does effect it.
An Apple Macintosh computer can get a virus or malware infection, so the short answer to the question is Yes. However, it's less likely for an Apple Macintosh computer to be infected compared to a MicrosoftWindows computer.
NoteThe term 'virus' and 'malware' are often used interchangeably. For the sake of simplicity, 'virus' will be used on this page and refers to either a virus or malware.
Several examples of viruses that have infected Apple Macintosh computers include the following.
- Flashback malware - Infected over 600,000 Apple computers in April 2012; designed to steal user's personal information, including account login credentials.
- OSX/KitM.A virus - Infected a small number of Apple computers in May 2013; designed to take screenshots of a user's desktop and upload to one of several websites.
- OSX.PROTON - Infected thousands of Apple computers in 2017; designed to steal user's account credentials by accessing the macOS Keychain app.
- OSX/MaMi - Infected several thousand or more Apple computers in January 2018; designed to allow a person to view a computer's Internet traffic, also called 'snooping.'
In 2015, the senior e-threat analyst at Bitdefender, Bogdan Botezatu, was quoted as saying 'Mac OS X software has more high-risk vulnerabilities than all versions of Windows put together.' Despite that statement and apparent fact, Mac computers are still infected by viruses much less often than Windows computers. Below are some of the reasons why Apple Macintosh computers do not have as many viruses as Windows computers:
- Beginning with macOS X in March 2001, Macintosh operating systems are built on 'Darwin,' a fork of the BSDkernel.
- Most of the computer virus writers are more familiar with the IBM platform and 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.
- Many of the targets of viruses are governments and businesses, with an aim to either steal information, money, or create havoc. The majority of computers used by government agencies and businesses have the Windows operating system, resulting in most viruses being targeted towards Windows computers, instead of Macs.
If you are running a virtual PC on your Apple Macintosh or Windows in Bootcamp, because it is emulating Microsoft Windows, it can become infected with Windows viruses.
Software and plug-in threats
Although the Apple OS is more secure than many versions of Windows, additional software, plug-ins, and add-ons that connect to the Internet can introduce security vulnerabilities. The most common ways to attack a Mac computer is through a third-party browser and browser plugins, like Adobe Reader, Flash, and Java. Today, most Mac users have these plugins installed and enabled on the computer, and, in doing so, compromise the overall security of the system.
Additional security threats
Why Virus Is Good For Macular Degeneration
Although a Mac is less susceptible to viruses, Mac users can still be the victims of trojan horses, phishing scams, and online fraud. If you are a Mac computer user, we still recommend keeping informed about how to keep safe while online. There is no such thing as a 100% safe computer. Mac, Windows, and even Linux computers are all capable of being infected with a virus or other malware.
Additional information
- See our malware and virus definitions for further information and related links.
About 20-30% of computer users own a Mac. For starters, Macs are more expensive than your regular Windows PC. Apple sells high-quality technologies that do not come cheap. So, it is safe to assume that almost all Mac users are fairly rich themselves to afford such a fancy and high-tech product. Over the years, we have been used to hearing about viruses and malware (and now the more modern ransomware attacks) that damage Windows PCs.
Macs aren't actually immune to these viruses or other cyber attacks although they are often more secure than Windows PCs despite the absence of security software. Still, the debate between which platform is better continues. The Mac is susceptible to the 'Trojan' virus that is just as sneaky at stealing data as its Windows counterparts if you don't update your device to the latest software update.
The question of whether Macs need antivirus is not a new one, but the answer is changing. While Macs are generally more secure than Windows PCs, they are far from immune.
Head over to the forums on the Apple's website and you'll find the same answer time and again – ‘you don't need security software because I haven't got security software and it's never been a problem'.
The scientists among you will recognise this as a confusion of cause and effect. It's also a simplification of a complex issue.
2017 has already seen multiple reports that suggest Macs are less secure than they once were. Business Insider claims that Macs are now more vulnerable to viruses and attack than even Windows PCs. And Fortune has warned of Mac malware that can freeze Apple computers.
Why Virus Is Good For Mac Computers
(Via: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/security/do-macs-get-viruses-3418367/)
This problem is hard to detect and the victim (you) will only likely find out about it if you have a firewall in place. While Mac wasn't a hot target for cyber criminals in the past, times are changing especially that more people are using the web or taking their businesses online to keep up with the advancements and stay relevant in the market. Most Mac users are actually rich people because Apple Mac devices are generally sold at a much higher price than the rest of Window powered PCs.
For consumers and businesses, it needs to be a reminder of the importance of keeping operating systems updated – and all data backed-up more than once. Windows may be the primary target, but Mac malware is growing – which includes ransomware.
McAfee said recently that Mac malware grew 744% last year. Most of it was adware, which is an irritation rather than a threat to data, but not all of it.
In January, we saw an attack which hijacks Safari and the Apple Mail app to cause Macs to crash and a separate attack that captures screenshots from them. In February, a Word macro specifically aimed at Macs allowed arbitrary code execution capable of anything from keylogging to webcam captures. In April, a fake macOS update allowed an attacker to spy on all Internet usage, including secure websites. In May, malware disguised as a Flash updater made its way from Windows to Mac, and a Handbrake mirror got hacked to allow a malicious version to be installed.
In 2015, the senior e-threat analyst at Bitdefender, Bogdan Botezatu, was quoted as saying 'Mac OS X software has more high-risk vulnerabilities than all versions of Windows put together.' Despite that statement and apparent fact, Mac computers are still infected by viruses much less often than Windows computers. Below are some of the reasons why Apple Macintosh computers do not have as many viruses as Windows computers:
- Beginning with macOS X in March 2001, Macintosh operating systems are built on 'Darwin,' a fork of the BSDkernel.
- Most of the computer virus writers are more familiar with the IBM platform and 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.
- Many of the targets of viruses are governments and businesses, with an aim to either steal information, money, or create havoc. The majority of computers used by government agencies and businesses have the Windows operating system, resulting in most viruses being targeted towards Windows computers, instead of Macs.
If you are running a virtual PC on your Apple Macintosh or Windows in Bootcamp, because it is emulating Microsoft Windows, it can become infected with Windows viruses.
Software and plug-in threats
Although the Apple OS is more secure than many versions of Windows, additional software, plug-ins, and add-ons that connect to the Internet can introduce security vulnerabilities. The most common ways to attack a Mac computer is through a third-party browser and browser plugins, like Adobe Reader, Flash, and Java. Today, most Mac users have these plugins installed and enabled on the computer, and, in doing so, compromise the overall security of the system.
Additional security threats
Why Virus Is Good For Macular Degeneration
Although a Mac is less susceptible to viruses, Mac users can still be the victims of trojan horses, phishing scams, and online fraud. If you are a Mac computer user, we still recommend keeping informed about how to keep safe while online. There is no such thing as a 100% safe computer. Mac, Windows, and even Linux computers are all capable of being infected with a virus or other malware.
Additional information
- See our malware and virus definitions for further information and related links.
About 20-30% of computer users own a Mac. For starters, Macs are more expensive than your regular Windows PC. Apple sells high-quality technologies that do not come cheap. So, it is safe to assume that almost all Mac users are fairly rich themselves to afford such a fancy and high-tech product. Over the years, we have been used to hearing about viruses and malware (and now the more modern ransomware attacks) that damage Windows PCs.
Macs aren't actually immune to these viruses or other cyber attacks although they are often more secure than Windows PCs despite the absence of security software. Still, the debate between which platform is better continues. The Mac is susceptible to the 'Trojan' virus that is just as sneaky at stealing data as its Windows counterparts if you don't update your device to the latest software update.
The question of whether Macs need antivirus is not a new one, but the answer is changing. While Macs are generally more secure than Windows PCs, they are far from immune.
Head over to the forums on the Apple's website and you'll find the same answer time and again – ‘you don't need security software because I haven't got security software and it's never been a problem'.
The scientists among you will recognise this as a confusion of cause and effect. It's also a simplification of a complex issue.
2017 has already seen multiple reports that suggest Macs are less secure than they once were. Business Insider claims that Macs are now more vulnerable to viruses and attack than even Windows PCs. And Fortune has warned of Mac malware that can freeze Apple computers.
Why Virus Is Good For Mac Computers
(Via: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/security/do-macs-get-viruses-3418367/)
This problem is hard to detect and the victim (you) will only likely find out about it if you have a firewall in place. While Mac wasn't a hot target for cyber criminals in the past, times are changing especially that more people are using the web or taking their businesses online to keep up with the advancements and stay relevant in the market. Most Mac users are actually rich people because Apple Mac devices are generally sold at a much higher price than the rest of Window powered PCs.
For consumers and businesses, it needs to be a reminder of the importance of keeping operating systems updated – and all data backed-up more than once. Windows may be the primary target, but Mac malware is growing – which includes ransomware.
McAfee said recently that Mac malware grew 744% last year. Most of it was adware, which is an irritation rather than a threat to data, but not all of it.
In January, we saw an attack which hijacks Safari and the Apple Mail app to cause Macs to crash and a separate attack that captures screenshots from them. In February, a Word macro specifically aimed at Macs allowed arbitrary code execution capable of anything from keylogging to webcam captures. In April, a fake macOS update allowed an attacker to spy on all Internet usage, including secure websites. In May, malware disguised as a Flash updater made its way from Windows to Mac, and a Handbrake mirror got hacked to allow a malicious version to be installed.
In case you thought I'd forgotten to include something from March, that was a doozy. That was when we learned from Wikileaks that the CIA has a hacking unit devoted to iOS malware and has lost control of most of it. Indeed, governments are probably the biggest customer for zero-day exploits, and have the biggest teams working on discovering new ones. The WannaCry attack itself uses an exploit developed by the NSA.
(Via: http://www.cio.com/article/3197105/os-x/will-macos-protect-you-from-ransomware-attacks.html)
So technically, Mac isn't safe from the viruses, malware, and ransomware that about the web these days. But since there aren't as much Mac users out there than Window users, it is also the reason why cyber crooks target Windows PCs because most computer users use Windows computers so there is a bigger market to exploit and it is easier to do so as well. Its operating system is like sandboxed itself similar to having several fire doors that protect your Mac device from harmful malware. If it does gain entry, though, it will have a hard time messing up your system.
Why Virus Is Good For Mac Os
Basically, you have nothing to worry about these pesky viruses and malware if you only use your Mac at home and for personal use only. However, it is a different story if you own several Macs and use it for business purposes. You may opt to get some sort of protection for your Mac device for your own peace of mind.