Mythbusters: Macs Are Not Safe From Viruses!
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Jessica Brown was browsing the internet and reading random articles about celebrities on her Mac. Suddenly, completely out of the blue, a nasty popup appeared on her screen. It said that Jessica had to make a money transfer to get rid of the annoying popup.
Jessica couldn't believe it. How come? Up to that moment, she thought Macs never got viruses or any malicious software. As it turned out, Jessica was wrong just like most carefree Mac users.
Immune Macs: myth or reality?
The myth that Macs are more secure than computers that run on Windows OS has been around for a while. Apple has been marketing Macs as "bulletproof" computers that have almost zero percent chance to get a virus. But in reality, Mac users still get malicious software, viruses, and security attacks.
Are you still seeing Macs through rose-colored glasses? It's time for you to find out why these computers aren't completely immune and what you can do to protect yourself.
Now let's talk facts, not myths. Here's what reality for Macs looks like:
Macs are exposed to viruses just like Windows PCs
As Macs become more popular, they become a sweet spot for hackers and malware. In 2018, there were at least three viruses that stunned the Mac community:
- OSX/MaMi allowed hackers to act as middlemen between websites and computers, thereby spying on the online activity of an infected user's computer.
- OSX/Shlayer disguised as an update for Adobe Flash Player and it would install adware to infected computers. The adware would display unwanted ads and notifications.
- OSX/Creative Updater that also disguised as Adobe Flash Player installer and downloaded malware to infected computers while users didn't even notice a thing.
Issues with App Store breaches, cryptojacking, emerging Trojan viruses – are the reality of MacOS, just like with all operating systems.
Macs are still exposed to Trojans
Trojan viruses are malware disguised as content you potentially want to download: for example, a music file or a program like an antivirus! When you get a Trojan, your Mac starts to work unexpectedly, slows down, or displays annoying ads on a screen. Meanwhile, the virus does what it's designed to do: damage, modify, or steal your data as well as deteriorate the performance of a computer.
The lion's share of Trojan virus cases occur through zero-day attacks. A zero-day vulnerability is a software glitch that hasn't been fixed yet, often in browsers (or other programs). Essentially this means Mac users can get viruses even without downloading any potentially nasty content.
Zero-day attacks infect both Macs and PCs and it doesn't matter how careful a user is. The only way to protect yourself from a zero day attack is by getting an antivirus program that will detect the injected malware and eliminate it before it does any harm to your Mac.
Macs are still exposed to phishing attacks
"Phishing" is a kind of email that attempts to acquire your personal information like credit card CVV numbers, passwords, etc. Phishing originates from "fishing" because such emails disguise as mails from legitimate organizations. These emails are like baits for fish. At first glance, you might not even notice a difference.
Phishing constitutes 70% of all cyber attacks, making it one of the most popular ways to compromise users’ security.
You can protect your Mac. You can protect your iPhone. You can even protect every IoT device under your roof. That doesn’t mean everyone else in your family is safe, or that everyone else in your family is diligent. Just because you hesitate before hitting that big download button doesn’t mean your spouse will, and just because you can cruise through the dark net unscathed doesn’t mean your kids should.
Just like when you’re driving a car, it’s not just your own safety that matters – it’s everyone else in the car with you.
Saving $20-$40 per year on one of the best antivirus programs will cost you dearly if you get infected with nasty malware that will risk your privacy and valuable data.
Your Mac could be like a sitting duck for every hacker under the sun (or looming in the darkness), without a proper antivirus program.
How to protect your Mac
As you can see, the most typical advice to all Mac users out there is to:
- stay away from fraudulent emails and websites.
- update your OS frequently to get security patches.
- don't download malicious content.
But what if you don't want to stuff your head with all of these dos and don’ts? A sure way to secure your Mac is to get a top antivirus program.
Antivirus programs work like a shield that protects your computer from malware, it blocks undesired programs and alerts you if there's a danger of getting a virus.
Below, we've collected a few tested antivirus applications that won't break the bank and will protect your precious Mac 24/7.
Check them out!
TOP ANTIVIRUS PROGRAMS 2026
- TotalAV
Best antivirus package overall. Superior performance + Many added features. Save 80% on the newest 2026 Edition via our link!
- Norton
Norton antivirus is a pioneer in the industry and a 39 times winner of PCMag.com's Editors Choice award. The parental control features are also second to none.
- Bitdefender
Look to BitDefender if your goal is unparalleled performance and ease of use. Regardless of your device, or any assortment of devices you currently use, there is a product to suit your specific needs.
More antivirus reviews
- Avast
Out of the four tests run by AV-Comparatives, Avast earned three Advanced+ and one Advanced rating. That’s good enough in my books. Avast is in the top 10 all the way.
- Avira
If you're looking for all-encompassing protection, Avira has you covered. Surf with confidence knowing you're protected from those who would harm or spy on you. Avira is a winner in our opinion!
- Guardio
Guardio is a lightweight security layer for your browser and phone. It is very good at stopping phishing pages, scam links and risky downloads before they reach you, and it works best next to a regular antivirus program.
- PC Protect
This 'ultimate antivirus' offers an antivirus engine, real-time protection, firewall, ad blocking, disk cleaning, startup program management, a browser manager and more...
- Scanguard
Scanguard's complete protection includes all the features of a top security package. Fast antivirus engine, real-time antivirus protection, and Scanguard-specific technical support. Scanguard also offers superb extras…
- Trend Micro
Reliable protection against scams, malware, and ransomware. Easy to use with solid extra features. Unlock exclusive savings on Trend Micro today!
- Vipre
VIPRE is a security brand with a long history in both business and home antivirus software. Its home products focus on lightweight, real-time protection against malware, ransomware and dangerous websites, without a lot…
- Webroot
Webroot is a high performing and efficient antivirus solution. It has some shortcomings, but its excellent antivirus capabilities and lightweight protection mechanism make it a top-tier antivirus and an ideal choice for…
VPN
- Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a highly versatile VPN that offers a range of advanced features, including WireGuard tunnelling protocol, dedicated IPs, SOCKS5 proxy, port forwarding, and an ad- and tracker-blocking…
Ad blockers
- Cyberghost Ad Blocker
Founded in 2011, Cyberghost is a one-stop tool designed to offer users the greatest levels of anonymity, privacy, and security online. Since its inception, the prevalence of invasive adware, spyware, and other malicious…
- ExpressVPN Ad Blocker
ExpressVPN is best known as a VPN, but its apps also include a set of browsing protection tools that block ads, trackers and dangerous websites. Called Advanced Protection (it grew out of the earlier Threat Manager…
- Norton Adblocker
Norton Ad Blocker is a browser-based ad blocker from Norton, one of the best-known names in consumer security. It removes many ads, pop-ups and trackers while you browse, helping pages load faster and look cleaner. Read…
- Surfshark Adblock
Many virtual private networks (VPNs) include ad-blocking features, but Surfshark CleanWeb stands out from the crowd. Once activated, it effectively blocks ads, trackers, and malware, ensuring your browsing remains…
- Total Adblock
Total AdBlock was created and developed by TotalAV, an award-winning antivirus and security Software. It is a comprehensive solution designed to block intrusive advertisements and unwanted content across various online…
Password managers
- 1Password
One of the most popular password managers with over 15 million users, 1Password is trusted by the biggest names in the software industry: IBM, PagerDuty, AppSec Consulting, Inc., GitLab Inc., and more. It uses the best…
- ExpressVPN Keys
ExpressVPN Keys is a password manager built into the ExpressVPN apps and offered as part of ExpressVPN subscriptions. It stores your logins in an encrypted vault, fills them in for you and helps you replace weak or…
- Keeper Security
Winner of Global Infosec Awards for 2021, Keeper Security is a leading zero-knowledge and zero-trust cybersecurity platform. It protects against data leaks, security breaches, and even ransomware attacks with multiple…
- NordPass
NordPass's promise is simple — for users to securely store their passwords in a single place, and log in to their favorite websites and apps with a single click. With NordPass, you can retrieve your passwords safely on…
- RoboForm
Released by Siber Systems in 1999, RoboForm is perhaps one of the oldest password managers. It's more than two decades old, but it doesn't mean it's outdated! It has always been a reliable one-stop repository for all…
- Total Password
Total Password is the password manager from TotalAV, the security company best known for its antivirus software. It keeps your logins in one encrypted vault, fills them in automatically and helps you create strong,…
Parental control
- eyeZy
In this review, we take a closer look at Eyezy, a leading parental control and monitoring app. It's designed to help parents keep tabs on their children's online activities, providing a solution when you can't be there…
- Mspy
With mSpy installed on your children's phones, you can monitor their mobile activity from afar. The program provides data about calls, social media activity, instant messengers, locations, and much more. It runs…
- Parentaler
Parentaler is a parental control and phone monitoring app that helps parents keep an eye on how their children use their phones. From a single online dashboard, you can see a child's location, the apps they use, their…
Identity protection
- Aura
With the long list of online and device security considerations people have to deal with today, Aura offers streamlined software that does it all. The Aura platform is ideal for those who want to ensure they have all…
