How to protect your Mac® from hackers
Macs are vulnerable to a host of troublesome cyberattacks, just like PCs.
For years, Windows® PCs were the prime targets for hackers and malware, which is a blanket term for any type of malicious software. But as Mac® computers continued to grow in popularity, so did the cyberattacks on Apple products. Today, all Mac users should remain just as vigilant as PC users. In fact, it was recently reported that the amount of malware on Mac computers is outpacing PCs for the first time ever.1 The overall prevalence of Mac threats in 2019 also reportedly increased over 400% from the previous year.2
That said, most of the Mac threats are not yet considered as malicious or dangerous as traditional malware.2 However, it’s still smart to educate yourself on cyberthreats and the security tools that can help prevent them––and know that as an Apple user, Mac computers aren't invincible. They're vulnerable to a host of troublesome cyberattacks, just like PCs.
Protect Your Mac Computer Like You Would a Windows PC
Mac computers aren’t the impermeable machines many believe them to be. Today’s Mac users are vulnerable to cyberthreats just like their Windows counterparts. Educating yourself on those threats, whether ransomware, malicious adware or spyware, will help keep you prepared. Your Norton subscription offers anti-spyware, antivirus, malware, and ransomware protection for your Mac computer.
1 Morrison, Sara. “Apple's Malware Problem Is Getting Worse.” Vox, Vox, 12 Feb. 2020, www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/12/21134681/mac-pc-virus-malware-malwarebytes.
2 Baig, Edward C. “Mac Software Threats Climbed 400% in 2019, More than Microsoft Windows, Report Says.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 13 Feb. 2020, www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/02/12/mac-computer-threats-rise-security-firm-says-more-than-windows/4741222002/.
3 Mathews, Lee. “Pirated Security Apps Are Being Used To Spread New Mac Ransomware.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 2 July 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/leemathews/2020/07/02/mac-ransomware-thiefquest-torrent/.
4 Newman, Lily Hay. “New Mac Ransomware Is Even More Sinister Than It Appears.” Wired, Conde Nast, 2020, www.wired.com/story/new-mac-ransomware-thiefquest-evilquest/.
5 NortonLifeLock. “What Is Spyware? And How to Remove It.” Official Site, 2020, us.norton.com/internetsecurity-how-to-catch-spyware-before-it-snags-you.html.
6 Written by Alison Grace Johansen for NortonLifeLock. “What Is a Trojan? Is It a Virus or Is It Malware?” Norton, us.norton.com/internetsecurity-malware-what-is-a-trojan.html.
7 Ivanov, Anton V. “Shlayer Trojan Attacks One in Ten MacOS Users.” Securelist English, 2020, securelist.com/shlayer-for-macos/95724/.
8 Balaban, David. “Shlayer Trojan: Malware Removal from Mac - MacSecurity.” Macsecurity.net, MacSecurity, 18 Nov. 2020, macsecurity.net/view/327-shlayer-trojan-mac.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. Our offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about Cyber Safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses. The Norton and LifeLock brands are part of Gen Digital Inc.
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