If you have got an Apple iMac, MacBook, Mac Pro, or Mac Mini, you may be wondering if you need to install an anti-virus program to remain safe.

Macs have enjoyed a reputation for being immune to viruses and other nasty malware. Mac OS is secure by design. With several security features and a highly scrutinized ecosystem it is difficult for malicious programs to become published on the App Store. Typically, it takes several steps and requires user interaction for any program, be it a virus or otherwise, to run and gain access to critical system files.

It is fair to say that there is a lower risk of malware attacks on a Mac than a Windows PC, but this does not mean that you should skip anti-virus altogether. No computer is immune from cyber-attack and with the increased popularity of Apple devices in recent years the financial motivation for bad actors to exploit these devices means the threat is a growing problem.

There is nothing to stop criminals targeting any platform. Like any business model, what matters for these criminal activities is the return on investment, how much can be gained and how much effort is required. Windows PCs make up roughly 90% of the market, making them a much more attractive target to malware makers.

Malwarebytes reported that they saw a: “Significant rise in the overall prevalence of Mac threats in 2019, with an increase of over 400 percent from 2018”.

While Macs do have some great built-in tools that protect you out of the box, there is more to anti-virus than simply protection from viruses.

For example, protection against phishing attacks, where websites masquerade as legitimate websites to steal data, controls over blocking unknown removable media devices and if you are using Macs within a business, having central management over your anti-virus protection. This can help to manage multiple systems against threats while alert the required parties such as your IT department if something is not quite right.

Speak with BlueRockIT to find out how we can help protect your business.