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Reed argues that Apple’s in-built protection systems do a poor job of detecting adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), things that he describes as “the most prevalent” threats to Mac users today. There are further indications that we are often the weak link. Relying purely on Apple’s systems isn’t enough. If your Mac slows to a crawl while your antivirus app is conducting a scan, you’ll soon run out of patience - potentially putting yourself at risk.
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If you’re going to install an antivirus app, then, you need to find one that’s not only trustworthy but fast, too.
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“So many people still feel like Macs don’t need antivirus software that, if you convince them to install something, it’s an instant failure if performance takes a hit,” he laments.
Reed, however, is not so dismissive, calling antivirus apps’ performance hit a “bane” to Mac users. “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’s speed.” “A decade or longer ago, the argument that antivirus software could slow down your Mac certainly may have had some merit, in some cases,” he explains. What about the common criticism that antivirus apps put an unnecessary strain on Macs, slowing them down and adding unwanted bloatware? McElhearn feels this concern is overblown. This means App Store antivirus software is less likely to be able to detect all threats and is also less likely to be able to remove all threats.” Where’s the weak link? Even if you grant access to the entire hard drive, many of those files cannot be removed by an App Store app. “By default, for example, cannot get access to most of the files on the hard drive.
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Reed also believes the nature of sandboxing on MacOS actually restricts antivirus software, at least if you download it from the App Store. He told me that Gatekeeper still won’t perform a signature check on non-quarantined apps on launch, meaning a malicious actor could tamper with a legitimate app and it would still be permitted to run on MacOS. However, Reed still doesn’t believe these go far enough.
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What about the new security features in MacOS Big Sur? Apple says apps will require your permission before accessing your documents, desktop files, iCloud Drive, and external drives, plus it’s promising greater security thanks to a dedicated system volume for the operating system and the T2 Security Chip in new Macs. Reed explained that it only checks files against 94 rules, “a tiny fraction of the rules found in any more powerful antivirus engine.” Kirk McElhearn, co-host of Mac security firm Intego’s podcast and a writer on malware topics, concurs that XProtect only looks out for “a handful of strains of malware.” In addition, XProtect’s list of malicious file signatures is hardly all-encompassing. “The nature of sandboxing on MacOS actually restricts antivirus software.”
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“For example, torrent software often doesn’t, while at the same time being used heavily in piracy.”
“Adding that flag is not a requirement, and not all software does ,” he explained. Thomas Reed, Director of Mac & Mobile at security firm Malwarebytes, told me that the defenses aren’t as comprehensive as it seems. The MacOS layer of security relies on Apple adding quarantine tags to suspicious or outright malicious software, which in turn results in the warning dialogue you see when you try to open them. On top of that, all apps are sandboxed, meaning they can only do what they’re meant to do, without being able to access critical system infrastructure and settings.īut there are gaps in the armor that protect Mac users’ systems. And now, Apple has even started notarizing apps so that they can prove they are trustworthy. Gatekeeper, meanwhile, will prevent the app from opening without your permission if it hasn’t been digitally signed as safe by Apple. It works invisibly in the background, meaning it needs no maintenance or activation and doesn’t slow down your Mac. For example, when you download an app off the internet, your Mac checks it against a list of known malware apps using XProtect. Windows PCs make up roughly 90% of the market, making them a much more attractive target to malware makers.Īnd Macs really do have some stellar built-in tools that protect you right off the bat. The belief that Macs are fairly resilient to malware isn’t just idle fanboy-ism. Vulnerabilities in Apple’s systems Riley Young/Digital Trends
But are they enough? These features come with every Mac by default, so is there really a need to install third-party antivirus software on your computer? We asked the experts. Macs have a lot of built-in features that can be powerful tools in the fight against malware.
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