01/24/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/24/2023 08:04
It's a long-standing question. Can Apple computers get viruses?
While Apple does go to great lengths to keep all its devices safe, this doesn't mean your Mac is immune to all computer viruses. So, does what Apple provide in terms of antivirus protection? Let's take a look, along with some signs that your Mac may be hacked and how you can protect yourself from further threats beyond viruses, like identity theft.
Signs that your Mac may be hacked
Whether hackers physically sneak it onto your device or by tricking you into installing it via a phony app, a sketchy website, or a phishing attack, viruses and malware can create problems for you in a couple ways:
Some possible signs of hacking software on your Mac include:
Performance issues
Maybe you've seen some of the signs we mentioned earlier. Is your device operating slower, are web pages and apps harder to load, or does your battery never seem to keep a charge? These are all signs that you could have malware running in the background, zapping your device's resources.
Your computer feels like it's running hot
Like the performance issues above, malware or mining apps running in the background can burn extra computing power (and data). Aside from sapping performance, malware and mining apps can cause your computer to run hot or even overheat.
Mystery apps or data
If you find apps you haven't downloaded, along with messages and emails that you didn't send, that's a red flag. A hacker may have hijacked your computer to send messages or to spread malware to your contacts. Similarly, if you see spikes in your data usage, that could be a sign of a hack as well.
Pop-ups or changes to your screen
Malware can also be behind spammy pop-ups, changes to your home screen, or bookmarks to suspicious websites. In fact, if you see any configuration changes you didn't personally make, this is another big clue that your computer has been hacked.
What kind of antivirus do Macs have?
Macs contain several built-in featuresthat help protect them from viruses:
Similarly, all apps that wish to be sold on the Apple App Store must go through Apple's App Review. While not strictly a review for malware, security matters are considered in the process. Per Apple, "We review all apps and app updates submitted to the App Store in an effort to determine whether they are reliable, perform as expected, respect user privacy, and are free of objectionable content."
Do I need antivirus for my Mac?
There are a couple reasons why Mac users may want to consider additional protection in addition to the antivirus protection that Mac provides out of the box:
In all, Macs are like any other connected device. They're susceptible to threats and vulnerabilities as well. Looking more broadly, there's the wider world of threats on the internet, such as phishing attacks, malicious links and downloads, prying eyes on public Wi-Fi, data breaches, identity theft, and so on. It's for this reason Mac users may think about bolstering their defenses further with online protection software.
Further protecting your Mac from viruses and attacks
Staying safer online follows a simple recipe:
Reading between the lines, that recipe can take a bit of work. However, comprehensive online protectioncan take care of it for you. In particular, McAfee+ includes an exclusive Protection Score, which checks to see how safe you are online, identifies any gaps, and then offers personalized guidance to seal up any gaps-in all, walking you through that safety recipe and helping you know exactly how safe you are.
Protect more than your Mac-protect yourself
An important part of a Protection Score involves how well you protect your identity and privacy, which illustrates how staying safe online requires more than just antivirus. Antivirus protects your devices, whereas identity and privacy protection looks after you.
Online threats have evolved, so has online protection software. While malware and viruses will always be a threat and antivirus will always be needed to counter that threat, today's hackers, scammers, and thieves increasingly target you. They're after your personal info, online banking accounts, financial info, and even your social media accounts, so that they can commit identity theft and fraud in your name.
Further, companies and third parties collect data from your devices and the things you do on them. Personal data from public sources that can include records about you that involve bankruptcies, real estate sales, and birth records. It's also gathered from private sources, like the health and wellness apps you use, the shopping record on your supermarket discount card, who you chat with in messaging apps, and so on. This information can end up with data brokers who'll sell it to anyone, like background checkers, advertisers, private investigators, and practically anyone who wants to know more, lots more, about you. And that includes hackers, scammers, and thieves.
The fact is, we go about so much of our day online, and online protection like our own McAfee+ helps you do it more privately and more safely. It's quite comprehensive, and the various plans for McAfee+ include:
Consider your security options for your Mac
So, Macs can and do get viruses and are subject to threats just like any other computer. While Macs have strong protections built into them, they may not offer the full breadth of protection you want, particularly in terms of online identity theft and the ability to protect you from the latest malware threats. Consider the threats you want to keep clear of and then take a look at your options that'll help keep you safe.