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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Amber Bouman

Mac users once skipped antivirus software — here’s why that’s no longer a good idea

A padlock resting next to the Apple logo on the lid of a gold-colored Apple laptop.

Though it's often thought that Apple users with a Mac are exempt from worrying about viruses and malware, that isn't the case anymore and these days, more and more malware is being developed specifically for macOS. According to a blog post from security researcher Patrick Wardle who specialized in Apple products, there were 22 new Mac malware families in 2024 – up from 13 in 2022.

Even without the surge of new malware being developed for Apple's operating system, much of the viruses and scams that are designed to infect Macs rely on user error, like phishing, cryptojacking or USB jacking. There are ways to protect yourself against those threats too, but they rely on, well, you.

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