Threats to macOS users ()Īttackers will likely increase their focus on the operating system, but the platform is still far from a popular target … Currently, only 3% of WatchGuard’s network devices encountered malware targeting Mac OS. The vast majority of threats for macOS in 2019 were in the AdWare category. During the first half of 2019, we registered 1.8 million attacks of this kind. The number of attacks on macOS users through malicious and potentially unwanted programs has been increasing annually since 2012, and in 2018 it exceeded 4 million attacks. However, starting in 2018, the number of attacked users began to decrease, and in the first half of 2019, it only amounted to 87,000.
Mac Security Test & Review 2019 ()įrom 2012 to 2017, the number of macOS users who have experienced attacks from malicious and potentially unwanted programs grew, approaching 255,000 attacked users per year.
Whilst it is certainly true that the population of macOS malware is very tiny compared to that for Windows and Android, there have been instances of macOS malware getting into the wild. Although there’s a lot less malware for macOS than for Windows, it does exist.
Mac Malware ExistsĪny software can be compromised, and macOS is no exception. The term antivirus is often used for software that’s anti-malware, because it fights not only viruses but other forms of malware. It’s software that prevents and/or removes malware (malicious software) from a device. I try to base my advice on data rather than on marketing, so let’s look at the data.īefore we continue, allow me to define anti-malware. I hope you haven’t been a victim of malware!ĭo you need antivirus (anti-malware) for your Mac ( MacBook, iMac, or Mac Mini)? Unsurprisingly, makers of Mac security software are happy to tell you about all the malware that could be targeting your Mac. I’ve seen firsthand the damage malware can do. The extension also displays a content rating system, identifying news, technology, pornography, or piracy.Īvast! Online Security makes an extra function available for users of the program Avast: SiteCorrect, an automatic redirection service that brings you from incorrectly-typed URLs to the intended site.Early in my IT career, I removed countless pieces of malware from consumer and business Windows PCs. Meanwhile, it will warn you when you visit sites with a bad reputation or inadequate security.
In addition to viewing the level of security of websites and webpages, you'll also be able to add your own rating to any site you want, voting with a single click on the Avast icon that will be added to your Chrome web browser.Īvast! Online Security compiles information from phishing sites and allows you to create your own trusted pages using the reputation of websites that have information compiled by more than 160 million users. This is a plugin from avast! that brings its security features online, thanks to which you can see ratings that other users of the extension give to each search result, information that will help you make better decisions when you're searching the web. If you trust in the security and services of avast! Antivirus, this Chrome extension is for you.