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.
Best Virus Protection For Mac
May 07, 2020 “But modern Macs generally have plenty of resources (processing power, memory, and disk speed) to allow antivirus software to protect you without any noticeable detriment to the Mac. Oct 06, 2018 Can Macs Get Viruses? To find out if Macs need antivirus software, you first need to know if Macs can even get viruses. The simple answer is yes. Like any other type of technology, Macs have weak points that viruses and other malware can exploit. So, why do people think that Macs are immune from viruses? 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. Jul 16, 2019 It is almost true that Macs don't get malware or viruses. While not nearly as popular a target as Windows and Android devices, Macs do attract. But as great as they would be, macs are not immune to viruses. Unfortunately, a lot of people tend to believe that macs are the safest computers and do not need.
Note
The 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.
Note
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
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.
Do Macs get viruses?
Yes, unfortunately, Macs can and often get viruses and infected with malware and other pieces of malicious software that can cause problems for users and businesses. Cybercriminals are smarter than ever, and Macs — whose users are known to, on average, earn more than those who use Android or Microsoft Windows — are an attractive target.
According to Objective-by-the-Sea malware conference, around 20% of Macs are infected with PUPs or potentially unwanted programs.
For over a decade, malware and viruses have been created to target Mac operating systems, which means, sadly, the answer to “Can Mac get a virus?”; is yes. Now is the time to protect your Mac from a wide world of cyber threats, increased threat profiles, phishing scams and other dangers lurking around the deep dark web.
How to remove Mac viruses?
If you haven't been able to prevent a computer virus, you can at least implement a quick cure. A proven way is to use a powerful malware scanner, such as CleanMyMac X. It identifies thousands of threats, including adware, spyware, scareware, worms, cryptocurrency miners, so you can easily get rid of them. With CleanMyMac X, even if you’ve downloaded something that looked legitimate, yet later turned out to be malware, you can remove it, making sure it has gone for good.
Here is how to scan your Mac for malware:
Download free version of CleanMyMac and launch the app.
Choose the Malware Removal tab.
Click Scan.
Click Remove.
The above program is notarized by Apple and also has a real-time anti-malware detector. If something unusual pops up in your system Library, you'll get a quick alert and instruction on how to remove it.
Flashback vulnerability
One noticeable incident that infected 600,000 Mac computers (around 1% of all computers running macOS and OS X) was a case of Flashback malware that exploited a security flaw in Java. Apple recommended, after users had the malware removed, updating Java or removing it altogether. That was perhaps the most noticeable and widespread incident, although there are many others that occur every day impacting thousands of us who use an iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and other versions of Apple Mac computers.
How do Apple computers get viruses?
Not enough Mac users make use of anti-virus and anti-malware software. Unlike Windows, an ecosystem that traditionally faces more threats, there is greater visibility and faster response times from Microsoft. Apple has been criticized for not dealing with threats sooner.
Although they do build a lot of protections into macOS and OS X that people don't see and interact with. Unfortunately, in many cases, this is proving insufficient. Cybercriminals are getting smarter. Malware, in particular, is getting good at sneaking into computers silently and causing problems. Some signs of this include:
More popups and ads than you would normally expect when browsing the web;
Suddenly getting redirected away from a page you were visiting;
‘Recommended updates’ and other indicators that you need a certain piece of seemingly legitimate software.
Mac users download these pieces of adware without realizing it. Some of the most common include VSearch, Conduit, Genieo, GoPhoto, Jollywallet, Savekeep, MacShop, Yontoo, Shopper Helper Pro, Slick Savings, PallMall, and Awesome Screenshot. These malicious pieces of tech are bundled into other seemingly legitimate downloads or email attachments, even social media images and videos, and once you've clicked accept, most anti-virus programs believe they're approved by the Mac user.
Do Macs Need A Virus Protection
How to protect your Mac from viruses
Mac Virus Protection
Despite the rising tide of threats, there are steps you can take:
Keep your macOS, browsers and apps up-to-date.
Apple helps you keep your Mac secure with software updates. The best way to keep your Mac secure is to run the latest software. When new updates are available, macOS sends you a notification — or you can opt in to have updates installed automatically when your Mac is not in use. MacOS checks for new updates every day, so it’s easy to always have the latest and safest version. Sep 26, 2019 For best results, only use software that’s either from the Mac App Store or signed with a legitimate developer certificate. As covered above, even if you do that, your system isn’t immune, but it does provide a good deal of protection. If you have to install an unsigned app, make sure you download it from a reputable source. Do you need virus protection software on a mac. May 13, 2020 Much of our lives now take place online, and even in 2018, there's no such thing as being too careful. It's a shame, but, yes, you still need antivirus software. Aug 22, 2019 And once you're infected, it super easy for other devices connected to your network to become infected, too. 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. Even if you use a limited, free version of a program, you'll be doing yourself a favor. Wondering whether you need antivirus software to protect your Mac? MacOS is more secure than Windows, but you'd be wise to look carefully at your security options because Macs can get viruses.
Identify and remove malicious apps and files using a powerful Mac protection tool, such as CleanMyMac X. It is the simplest way to remove malware threats.
Use common sense when clicking emails, downloads or popups. If something looks like a scam, it usually is.