Online security is a sensitive and controversial issue. On the one hand, we all want to protect ourselves from possible viral threats, because this is fraught not only with wasting time, but sometimes with significant financial expenses. If for Windows users The dilemma “to be or not to be” is practically absent on a computer (of course, to be), then for owners of Apple technology everything is more complicated.

Viruses for Macs - a reality

Many users of Apple devices believe that there is no such thing for them at all; the operating system is not as popular as Windows, so they say there are no threats. Even the statistics say this. And in general - “this is Apple!” But the reality is not quite like that. Before talking about the small number of Mac OS virus infections compared to , you need to take into account their ratio - infected computers to the total number of computers on a given OS, and not just compare the total number of infected. Then the results will be completely different. And according to the latest information, believe it or not, the operating system from Cupertino is considered the leader in terms of vulnerability.

According to the Macrumors website, in 2014 the average Mac user encountered 9 virus threats (malware, as they are called). According to the above study, for last year 1,500 new threats were discovered for OS X, which is 200 more than in the previous year 2013.

So the situation with viruses is not at all as cloudless as it might seem. It should be noted that Apple has done a good job on the reputation of Macs as devices that are reliably protected from any threats. The company’s desire for impeccability and perfection of its products played a significant role. Cupertino residents claim that the system itself already includes everything needed for safe work on the Internet. Is it true? Or do you just not really want to admit that even the “ideal” Mac OS has “holes” for viruses, and for protection it wouldn’t hurt to use third-party software?

The problem of malware on Macs was first discussed loudly in 2011. Thousands of Mac users then became victims of deception by downloading a fake Mac antivirus Defender, which sent its authors information about the owners' credit cards. In the same year, hundreds of thousands of Apple computers were hit by the Flashback Trojan, posing as an installer Flash Player. Mac OS X Lion did not know how to play Flash videos, which is what enterprising attackers took advantage of. The lion's share of threats are so-called adware - that is, programs whose purpose is to display advertisements on the computer. They can change the default browser, open tabs and pages without permission, and perform other actions.

This is all clear, but what should the user do? Run headlong for an expensive antivirus? Or should we serenely continue to think that viruses are only for Windows? The popularity of bullseye technology is growing, and accordingly, the interest on the part of attackers is also increasing. At the very least, this is worth thinking about.

What to do?

Our colleagues from the imore thematic resource believe that the problem malware Although it exists on Mac (in the form of two main groups - viruses and Trojans), it differs from a similar problem on Windows. The main reason for the appearance of threats is the downloading and installation of programs from unreliable sources on the Internet.

If you install software exclusively from trusted publishers, then it is quite possible to get by with the built-in protection systems of the Mac, provided correct settings security parameters and timely updating of the operating system.

From a security point of view, it is best to set permission to use programs only from App Store for Mac, the middle option will give a little more freedom - with additional permission from installed developers, and the third allows you to install any programs from all sources, but no one can guarantee the consequences...

In addition, it is advisable to configure a firewall controller network connections. It is enabled in the security settings. It would be a good idea to enable “invisible mode”, which will prevent the computer from responding to network requests from test programs in order to identify the vulnerabilities of your system. For your convenience, activate the “Automatically allow incoming connections to signed software” option to protect yourself from answering frequently pop-up questions about permissions for a particular program.

Who needs an antivirus?

If you are an experimenter by nature and like to take risks, this will undoubtedly be reflected in your online behavior. Downloading and trying a program from an unknown publisher is interesting, but fraught. In this case, it is still better to use antiviruses - at least sometimes. Today, thank God, there are enough of them, both paid and free. Among the paid ones you can choose, for example: BitDefender, Intego Mac Internet Security or the good old Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac.

If you feel sorry for money and are afraid of viruses, you can take one of the free ones: ClamXav, AdwareMedic or another. If you really like it, the developers will be happy to make a voluntary contribution.

Starting and checking your computer from time to time certainly won’t hurt. In my case, none of free antiviruses I didn't find a single threat on my Mac. Either they are searching poorly, or I’m a careful user and didn’t pick up anything :)

By the way, you also need to be careful with antiviruses; it’s better to download only verified and reliable ones - don’t forget about MacDefender in 2011.

Viruses are a very big threat to computers, including Macs. Do you need to install an antivirus on your Mac to stay protected?

This is the question we get asked most often. With the popularity of Mac computers on the rise and security stories making headlines. Mac owners are increasingly concerned about security.

Mac is not a computer on which you can become infected with a virus like Windows. But this does not mean that you are in complete safety. Mac computers can become infected with a virus only when users start installing unauthorized applications from the Internet.

BitDefender is one of the commercial antivirus programs that runs on Mac. There are other options, such as Intego Mac Internet Security or Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac.

But you can get protection for your Mac without spending a lot of money. For example free application CalmXav (which asks you to donate if you think it does its job well) also removes viruses from your computer. There is also a free antivirus called AdwareMedic, which will also ask you for donations, just like ClamXav. To avoid infecting your computer with a virus, we recommend downloading applications from trusted sources such as the Mac App Store.

It’s also a good idea to make sure that your Mac’s security system (Gatekeeper) is turned on. This will reduce the chances of running unauthorized applications that cause the most problems.

So do you need an antivirus for Mac?

It depends on how you use your computer. For those people who rely on Gatekeeper and download applications from the Mac App Store, antivirus is not needed. But if you download applications from an unknown source and then see that your computer behaves strangely and opens some third-party sites. Then you should think about safety.

360 Total Security for Mac – a free antivirus for Mac with a set of applications to optimize the operation of the device.

How is it different from the rest? Because it provides 100% protection from malicious sites and phishing links, as well as the safety of your confidential information. After all, today it is your personal data and cash– this is a tasty morsel for Internet scammers.

What 360 Total Security for Mac does for you

• Checks the system for security threats and eliminates them
• Frees the device from unnecessary files and programs, freeing up resources for fast work
• Provides safe surfing on the Internet (supports Chrome browsers, Safari and Firefox)

And all this is fast, convenient and with minimal consumption of system resources.

Features of 360 Total Security for Mac

• Virus Scan: An antivirus scanner will quickly scan your Mac for viruses and malicious files;
• Junk Cleaner: Removes digital junk from your device: system cache, browsers and applications, log files, downloaded files and trash contents;
• App Uninstaller: In one click you will get rid of all unused programs and applications;
• Web Shield: Online security service blocks phishing sites for safe browsing, banking and online shopping;
• Hardware: Provides useful information about the current status of your device

Among users operating system Mac OS There are many opinions on the question of whether owners of this operating system should use antivirus software or not. In this article, we will try to sort out this issue and find free and shareware antivirus options for those who are not ready to risk the uninterrupted operation of their gadget.

Manufacturers of Apple technology assure users that they have nothing to fear. This confirms the fact that it is most widespread among users Windows systems, which is subject to millions of attacks every year. It would seem illogical for hackers to get involved with the Mac because users of this OS are now in the minority.

And until 2010, users of this “OS” really had nothing to worry about. But over the years, the situation has changed: hacker attacks on Apple gadgets are no longer news.

Here are some frightening statistics: in 2011, about 30 thousand people suffered from viruses, and in 2012 – 500 – 700 thousand. In 2015, more than 180 malicious programs were recorded, and in 2016 there were more than 9,000 of them. Then both Apple manufacturers and users themselves began to think about protection against unauthorized attacks.

Downloading an antivirus for Mac OS for free is not difficult. If a user wants to save money, he should pay attention to the following solutions:

• Kaspersky Security;
• Norton antivirus;
• Doctor Web;
• Avast;
• Eset node 32;

Free antivirus for mac os x from Kaspersky allows the user not to worry about viruses entering the system. This program can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website for a month or six months.

Norton assumes free use by the user for 180 days, during which functionality will not be limited.

Dr. Web provides users with the opportunity to download utilities with current virus database updates and scan their device. It’s especially pleasing that these utilities can work even with banners blocking the screen. You can download a full version of the antivirus and then purchase it.

Avast is a full-fledged antivirus software, with the ability to install it for a year for free. In it you can select several levels of system verification - from superficial to deep.

Eset nod 32– another successful solution for the modern user. You can use it for a month, after which the manufacturer offers to buy it full version.

Owners of Apple gadgets should also use:

• firewall;
• account ordinary user;
• gadget administrator passwords.

Whether you need an antivirus for Mac OS is up to you to decide.

Apple gadgets definitely have higher reliability and protection against malware.

But you need to consider the possibility of your device becoming infected with viruses. You can always protect yourself from this - there are many solutions to this problem.

Many MacBook owners are accustomed to not paying attention to the possible infection of their computer with viruses, although the likelihood of this is quite high. Only a small percentage of Macintosh users really care about whether they need an antivirus on their Mac, due to the belief that hackers rarely pay attention to this operating system, looking towards the much more popular Windows. After all, a relatively small percentage of people use MacBooks for work and entertainment.

But this does not mean that the hacker threat has bypassed Mac OS. From time to time, some problems arise with it, so you can’t do without an up-to-date and effective antivirus. Not every antivirus for Mac can reliably and comprehensively protect against infection. The choice of a defender must be based on the purpose for which the computer is used. You need to regularly monitor your antivirus ratings.

BitDefender Antivirus

This antivirus is considered one of the most powerful, as it is able to easily detect and stop all common attacks. This program uses proven security algorithms recognized by well-known companies Checkmark, ICSA Labs, TUV, Virus Bulletin and Checkvir.

BitDefender is also used to detect and monitor spyware activity. It allows:

The most important feature of BitDefender Antivirus is its ability to protect the owner's computer from phishing. It is as follows:

• Control of visited sites.
• Significantly reducing the risk of confidential information from the owner’s computer falling into the hands of fraudsters (passwords, details, data bank cards etc.).

This antivirus for Mac works according to the “install and forget” scheme beloved by many users. And the opportunity automatic update when accessing the Internet, this program can rightly be considered one of the best for protecting Mac OS.

Avast

The action of this anti-virus program is aimed primarily at finding and neutralizing viruses that have already leaked into the computer. The search is carried out not only on the machine’s hard drive, but also in its memory, boot sectors and letters received by e-mail. At the same time, suspicious scripts are blocked. The virus database is regularly updated and can be downloaded via the Internet.

Avast is intuitive because it has simple interface with support for various skins. The program is available as a free Mac antivirus (Home Edition for private use), and in a professional modification designed to protect computers of companies and enterprises (Professional Edition).

Kaspersky Internet Security

Kaspersky Anti-Virus is considered a comprehensive solution to the problem of viruses in the Mac operating system. It is able to protect your computer from all potential threats and guarantees the security of every transaction made on the Internet.

When creating this program we used Newest technologies, which have proven their reliability and effectiveness in protecting against Trojans, viruses, bots, etc. Even little-known virus programs, recognized by their specific behavior in the operating system, cannot hide from modern heuristic technologies.

Antivirus for Mac OS Kaspersky Internet Security has the following features:

• Constant availability of up-to-date malware databases, regularly updated via cloud service Kaspersky Security Network.
• Advanced anti-phishing technologies.
• The presence of a link module that provides the owner with data on the reputation of each site. Information is displayed on a special indicator located near the link in search engines popular browsers.
• A virtual keyboard that allows you to enter confidential data, which is especially important when conducting financial transactions via the Internet.
• Availability of module parental controls, with which you can set time restrictions for accessing the Internet, create a list of sites you do not want to visit, monitor and limit correspondence on social networks, and control the downloading of files.
• High performance with extremely low processor load, not exceeding 1% of its resources.

Dr.Web CureIt

This is perhaps the best antivirus for Mac, allowing you to quickly scan and effectively treat your computer without installing Dr.Web. The program is updated twice an hour to the latest version of the virus database.

With its help you can identify and remove:

• mail and network worms;
• file viruses and Trojans;
• polymorphic, disembodied virus programs;
• stealth and macro viruses;
• viruses that infect MS Office documents;
• various spyware;
• dialer programs and programs that steal passwords;
• spyware, adware, and third-party software potentially dangerous to the computer and data stored on it;
• hacker utilities;
• joke programs and trapdoor programs;
• malicious scripts and other codes that pose a threat.

VirusTotalUploader

This free antivirus for Mac is primarily designed to search and scan suspicious files for viruses and other malicious codes. Using this program, the user can send a file that seems suspicious to him from his MacBook to a server on which it will be scanned by fifty different anti-virus products. There is only a limit on file size - no more than 50 MB.

After scanning, the antivirus will provide the user with information about the number of viruses detected and show a link to the VirusTotal service website for detailed information on the results of the scan.

Norton AntiVirus

This popular antivirus program has five degrees of protection, through which you can quickly and highly effectively detect and neutralize spyware. Main purpose Norton AntiVirus- provide the owner of the MacBook safe work and Internet data exchange.

To the main distinctive features programs include:

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011

The antivirus rating cannot be called complete without the presence in it of another brainchild of Kaspersky Lab, capable of maximizing data security. The antivirus constantly scans files and downloads from global network email attachments, which ensures that malware is neutralized before it can reach your MacBook.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus also conducts a deep scan of the system to search for and remove malicious files.

The program provides:

• protection against worms, Trojans and viruses;
• reliable protection against adware and spyware;
• thorough checking of files downloaded from the network, incoming mail, Internet traffic in real time;
• protection against viruses when working with instant messaging services;
• protection from any type;
• prompt detection and blocking of rootkits;
• automatic updating of the virus database.

ProtectMac AntiVirus

The program seems to “sit” in memory and vigilantly monitors all processes and operations carried out on the MacBook. If a virus is detected that infects the computer, it is immediately blocked, and the program notifies the user about this.

Zebra scanner

This is one of the best scanners that detects viruses. The program even detects Trojans masquerading as music and graphic files, videos or folders. Extensions of files to be scanned can be specified manually by the user.

Virex

This antivirus scans HDD in search of Trojans, viruses and malicious codes, it looks at every disk, every folder and file. It is also possible to individually check any element that seems suspicious to the user. It is also possible to configure the start time automatic check, upon completion of which will be provided detailed information indicating the problems found.

Using the above programs, you can be completely confident in the reliable protection of your MacBook. Which antivirus to choose for Mac depends on the characteristics of the device and the tasks assigned to it. Despite the low popularity of this operating system among hackers, protection is necessary to effectively use the MacBook without the risk of infection and subsequent troubleshooting. service centers or on your own.