Do Macs Get Viruses?

Do Macs get viruses?


Yes and no.  (I'll explain):


MacOS is based on UNIX which, in quick review, has some inherent extra security layers built within it.  The same kinds of viruses that can infect a Mac do not typically have the same effect in Windows.  Also, with Mac OS being seen as having a significantly smaller user base than Windows, there isn't as much of a dedicated push to have viruses created for it.  Mac OS also has a bit of a stricter application digital signature requirement.


While these things make a virus much less frequent on a Mac, they do not protect it from attack.  Here is one example: (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202458) , Apple posted a support article about malware that made it on to systems running OS X Lion and OS X v10.6 via Java.


While Apple used to suggest third-party antivirus software, they have not in recent memory.  Still, just like any machine with personal information, it's always a good idea to use anti-virus protection.

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