We've tested many of the best antivirus on the market so we know which ones are the best. After all, even the MacBook Air 2022 is not what you'd call cheap, and you don't want to have something pricey to be crippled by a cyber attack.

You will need Mac-specific antivirus software designed to work with the unique demands of macOS in order to protect that new Mac. However, malicious programs targeting Macs and MacBook Pros have not only become increasingly common, but also more potent. The macOS operating system is Unix-based, which is sandboxed so it can be challenging for viruses to do any real damage. Malware authors have frequently found and exploited weaknesses, such as using obscure file formats or large file sizes that the sandbox can’t process, leaving Mac users at risk of infection.There’s an enormous potential target out there that is irresistible to hackers and cybercriminals considering the sheer amount of Mac and MacBook owners around the world. While sandboxing adds another layer of security for Macs, not even the App Store nor sandboxed apps are 100% safe, as highlighted by the attack on the Chinese version of the App Store by the XCodeGhost Virus. XProtect defends Macs against various types of malware, by scanning downloaded files for signs of infection, but it needs to be regularly updated to recognize new or emerging threats - and it won’t help you if you unwittingly land on an infected or unsafe website.Ī digital certificate is always seen as proof of a file’s security and a surefire sign that the file contains no malicious code, but cybercriminals can still plant malicious code at the file completion stage, exploit security gaps to sign their malicious files with valid digital certificates, and more. The macOS, or Mac OS X system, has existed for 40 years in various forms - it’s robust, and because of its regular updates, malware developers find it hard to keep up with the changes and write viruses that will successfully infect the Mac operating system.Īpple's basic malware detection is built directly into its Mac OS X operating system.

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