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. But is it true that Macs are less vulnerable than Windows PCs? Well, we know that isn’t true - security firm Malwarebytes uncovered several new threats specifically targeted at Macs in 2020 alone, and notable instances of Mac malware have been uncovered in the past. There’s an age-old belief in the tech world that Macs don’t get malware.