The History of Mac Viruses (and Why People Thought They Didn’t Exist)
There are certain questions you are often asked when people find out that you write about technology for a living. Which smartphone should I buy? Can you come and fix my Wi-Fi? And, of course, the timeless classic: should you install antivirus software on your computer?
That last question has always been a tough one to answer because it really depends on how much risk you’re willing to take and how careful you are about the files you open and download. You’ll always be safer if you have additional security software installed, but you don’t necessarily need it in the same way that you need a hard drive and operating system.
In other words, sticking to the speed limit while driving is safer than speeding, but you won’t necessarily get into an accident every time you break the rules. Of course, it’s true that browsers and email apps are more secure than ever, and are constantly being updated to protect you from anything nasty.
One way of thinking that has persisted over the years is that when it comes to viruses, Macs are safer than Windows PCs. However, in reality, the same rules apply to both desktop platforms.
Mac Virus Myth vs. Reality
The idea that Mac computers are virus-free has been around for decades , but it is only partially based on truth. While the claim that macOS is virus-free is a myth (a myth partially perpetuated by Apple itself ), the belief that Macs are safer than Windows has a basis in reality, and there are several reasons for this.
Let’s start with the fact that there have always been many more Windows machines than MacOS machines: So, if you are an avid malware programmer, you need to aim for the highest possible target. For many years, writing viruses for the Mac simply wasn’t worth the effort in terms of risk and reward, so Windows took the brunt of it.
There is also a built-in approach to security. This is not the case today, as Microsoft has more or less caught up with Apple in this regard, but historically speaking, Macs were safer than PCs. This is partly due to the fact that macOS is based on the ultra-secure Unix , and partly due to Apple’s tight control over its software.
Windows needs to be programmed to run on many more desktop and laptop computers, and it has always given users more control over system settings, program installation, etc. All this means that it is more vulnerable to viruses than macOS (by the way, today you you can see the same dynamics in iOS and Android).
You can, of course, still argue that macOS is safer than Windows because Apple continues to block its software more tightly than Microsoft, and there are still many more viruses targeting Windows . However, Macs are by no means immune to viruses, and Windows is now much more secure than before.
Known Mac threats
Viruses, malware, and other threats that have successfully attacked Mac computers are few and far between for the reasons we’ve listed above. The macOS operating system remains well protected from rogue code, even if it is not completely virus-proof, and any problems found are usually quickly resolved by Apple.
The Leap malware is believed to be the first known Mac virus, and it spread via iChat (a true blast from the past). Like many viruses before and after it, it tricked users into clicking on something they shouldn’t have, which is a warning to us all. However, it did not cause much damage and did not have a large impact on the number of machines affected.
If you have a good memory, you may also remember the 2011 Flashback worm . It infiltrated Mac systems through a fake Adobe Flash Player installer and redirected Google searches to generate advertising revenue for the worm’s developers. Before it was stopped, it infected more than half a million Mac computers.
In 2015, we had the FREAK exploit , a reminder that Apple devices still need to connect to the outside world and can therefore be affected by security flaws in web protocols. The FREAK bug was one such flaw, and although it was not specific to macOS, it left the operating system vulnerable and led to Apple releasing patches to protect against it.
More recently , a hardware exploit known as PACMAN was discovered that can leave MacOS computers with Apple processors unprotected. However, this remains a proof-of-concept attack, tested only by researchers: Apple has stated that on its own, without other associated vulnerabilities, it does not pose a credible threat.
Keeping your Mac safe
So, back to the question posed at the beginning of this story: Do you need an antivirus app on your Mac? As you can see from the list above, the operating system has a good reputation for security, and for most people, the built-in security features, including Gatekeeper and XProtect , should be enough to keep you safe.
However, this does not mean that you should be satisfied with the security. It’s important to always keep macOS up to date to apply the latest security patches released by Apple. The same principle applies to the web browser you choose and the rest of the programs you have installed.
Also, keep in mind that Apple is not responsible for your various digital accounts and cannot be blamed if you suddenly find that your Google or Instagram account has been hacked. You should always use strong passwords for them , enable two-factor authentication where available, and be careful about when and where you log in.
In general, standard security rules apply: Always be careful with anything you download and launch from the Internet, anything attached to an email, or anything that comes to you in a direct message. Mac malware certainly exists , but thanks to a combination of user vigilance and Apple’s expertise, few achieve their goal.
And yes, you can install an antivirus program on your Mac if you want even more security (just like you can drive under the speed limit to stay safer on the roads)—it certainly won’t make macOS any less secure. Our friends at PCMag have a list of the best antivirus apps for Mac right now.