Do You Need Antivirus for Mac?

First off, yes, Macs do need anti-malware software. Here is how the myth that they don’t likely developed. In the past Apple claimed on it’s website that Mac OS X "doesn't get PC viruses," adding that "a Mac isn’t susceptible to the thousands of viruses plaguing Windows-based computers." This claim threw people off and made some believe that Macs do not need antivirus. Apple later changed their website to say "It’s built to be safe”, "Built-in defenses in OS X keep you safe from unknowingly downloading malicious software on your Mac."

Another theory that supported the claim that Macs don’t need antivirus is that they are more secure than PCs or that there is less malware written for Mac than there is malware for Windows systems. This theory has been debunked because Mac threats outpace Microsoft Windows by two To one. Mac threats outpace Microsoft Windows by two To one

There is no such thing as an operating system that can not be exploited by malware. It isn’t a question of if but a question of when. Every security professional knows this and that is why they deploy the appropriate countermeasures. One of those countermeasures is anti-malware software. Installing anti-malware software is the least you can do to protect your Mac from malware.

Companies with cybersecurity maturity model certification (CMMC) requirements will need to deploy anti-malware software to their systems. This includes both Mac and Windows systems. If you would like to learn more about how to configure your anti-malware software to meet your CMMC requirements then send us an email at info@lakeridge.io.