The data was collected during 2020, and while it shows a 37% dip in the prevalence of Mac malware compared to the previous year – in which the pace of Mac malware outran that of Windows – the worst category of malware jumped by 61% in 2020.īut there is some good news. Apple didn’t respond to a request for quantification of their executive’s revelation.īut for evidence, take a look at the 2021 State of Malware, this year’s release of an annual report produced by Malwarebytes, which makes security software for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Chrome OS. The creators of malware are porting their Windows malware to the Mac.”Īpple, which is the only entity that would really have the big picture on Mac malware, doesn’t talk about it. “What’s interesting is that half the malware samples targeting Macs are samples that worked before on Windows. “There are millions more Mac users now, so hackers are targeting Macs more,” Wardle said.

Like what you see? Sign up for my Release Notes newsletter, bringing you consumer tech insights, help and practical tips. But the bottom line is that there’s a lot more malware aimed at Macs than there used to be, and it’s growing more sophisticated. The macOS 11.4 update released Monday fixes the issue, and if you're a Mac user who has not updated yet, you should do so right away.Īpple and its fans will say that the macOS’ architecture makes it more difficult for malware to take hold on a Mac. There are indications the bug is being exploited now. On Monday, Forbes cybersecurity writer Thomas Brewster reported on a flaw in macOS Big Sur that could allow hackers to bypass Apple's own antimalware features. Wardle said that some of that has to do with the historically smaller installed base of Mac systems Windows is a bigger and thus a more lucrative target. What is more correct to say is that there is a lot more malware in the world targeting Windows PCs than Macs. Technically proficient users of Apple’s computers have known this for a long time.

That Macs are not immune to malware is not really news. He described Apple’s past marketing messages that “Macs don’t get malware” as being “very dishonest.” “The problem is worse than the majority of people realize,” Wardle said. Pretty bad, according to Patrick Wardle, an independent security researcher who specializes in macOS and is the author of a book called “ The Art of Mac Malware.” He also develops a line of free, open-source security tools called Objective-See.

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