What it is: Malware can infect any operating system, including OS X. Just because the macintosh doesn’t have as many malware as Windows doesn’t mean your computer will always be completely safe.
One reason why Windows was so insecure for decades was because Microsoft developed Windows without thinking about security. That’s because few people cared about security since it wasn’t that important at the time.
When malicious hackers started writing viruses, Trojan horses, adware, spyware, and rootlets, Windows (and the rest of the world) were totally unprepared. Suddenly everyone (including Microsoft) had to start taking security seriously and start designing robust operating systems that wouldn’t leave so many vulnerabilities open for hackers to exploit.
Now most modern operating systems are fairly secure, but that doesn’t mean you can get complacent no matter what type of operating system you might use. There are far more malware targeting Windows than OS X, and far more malware targeting OS X than Linux. Despite Apple’s firewalls and programs like Gatekeeper to block most malware from installing on your Macintosh without your permission, the vast majority of malware can infect your computer by tricking you.
Such tricks include seemingly harmless messages with file attachments or links that guide you to a boobytrapped website. Since it’s fairly easy for anyone to get tricked into making a mistake once, every computer is vulnerable to malware. For safety reasons, you might want to install Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes. This company provides free anti-malware programs for both Windows and OS X because their goal is to get more people using their products. Once people start using their products, they’l likely recommend a company pay for the commercial version to protect corporate networks.
For most people, malware won’t be a problem until one day it suddenly will be. Play it safe and install and run some sort of anti-malware program periodically. With Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes, protection for your Macintosh won’t cost you a think and you’ll be able to rule about malware as a possible problem if your Macintosh starts acting flaky. Then you’ll just have to figure out how to fix any possible problems if it’s not caused by malware.
To download a free copy of Anti-Malware for the Mac, click here.