The number of malware infections is increasing! Introducing malware protection unique to Mac

Have you ever heard that "Macs are less susceptible to malware infections"?It's true that Macs are less susceptible to malware infections due to their hardware and software design. However, this is only a matter of comparison,It is true that Macs are also affected by malware infections.is. In order to continue using your precious Mac for a long time, it is important to accumulate knowledge about the types of malware that can infect you and countermeasures.

MacAbout malware infections and their types

Mac security is unique

Macs use Apple's proprietary system, so the content is different from Windows computers.

Apple's proprietary security systems include, for example, a system that encrypts and stores personal information such as passwords and credit card information, a system that restricts applications to only perform their intended actions, and an online fraud scan within Safari. system, etc.

in this way,Because Macs develop their software and hardware in-house, they have a uniform design regarding personal information and privacy, and are less susceptible to malware infections than Windows computers.It has been with.

The number of malware infections is on the rise

According to a report released by two major companies that develop and provide computer security software, both companies state that ``Macs suffer fewer attacks than Windows.'' But at the same time"The number of Mac malware infections is on the rise."It also calls for caution and countermeasures.

Due to the uniqueness of Mac systems, it is rarely talked about in general malware countermeasures, but damage is actually occurring and is on the rise, so you need to be careful. Probably.

How to scan your Mac for malware infections

Before we talk about malware countermeasures, we will first introduce the types of malware that target Macs and the details of their attacks.

Types of malware that infect Macs

Apple maintains its own list of potentially dangerous malware, and the list is updated daily. The most famous malware that Apple lists on its homepage is"MacDefender"is.

This malware redirects users to illegal sites and then displays a message such as ``Your computer is infected with a virus.'' Therefore,Tricks people to download fake security software, leading to malware infectionIt is.

In addition to MacDefender, there are other malware that infects using similar methods."MacProtector" "MacSecurity"is the representative.

What is the damage caused by malware?

The most common damage caused by malware that infects Mac is"Credit card information is stolen and misused"This is the content.

Macs store personal information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card information in the form of IDs. Therefore,Once your computer is infected with malware, your personal information is easily stolen.It is.

Recommended anti-malware measures for Mac users

So, here are two ways to prevent malware that Mac users can do themselves.

Keep your OS up to date

When introducing malware protection on its homepage, Apple says, ``The best way to keep your Mac safe is to keep your software up to date.''

Malware attacks by exploiting vulnerabilities in security systems.If the OS is old, there may be gaps in the system or programs that can be exploited may be developed, making your defenses weaker.

Macs have a system that notifies you when new OS updates are available.When you receive a notification informing you of an update, please respond as soon as possible.

Install security software

Mac has a malware detection and isolation function in the OS itself (Snow Leopard and later). In addition, Lion and later versions have the Gatekeeper function developed by Apple, which Apple officially recommends as a malware prevention measure.

If you would like to install dedicated antivirus software, check the malware detection comparison results of each software such as AV-TEST.Choose products you can trustIt would be good to do that.

Complete malware protection for Mac

How was it? There is a saying that "Macs are less susceptible to viruses," but in reality, there are many cases where Macs have been damaged by viruses.Computer viruses can infect anyone's computer.Please refer to the information introduced this time and check your own security measures, such as keeping your OS up to date and installing security software from a reliable company.

[Reference site]
・How to avoid malware and harmful apps on Mac │Apple
・Tips for safely using email attachments and content downloaded from the Internet │Apple