Virus on a Mac is not always detrimental, but yes, Apple computers can be infected with spyware and malicious exploits.
Bearing this in mind, it is therefore important that you check for viruses on your Mac regularly.
It is well known that virus attacks can result data loss easily and this is one of the many drawbacks where Mac antivirus is not installed.
Many users are still unsure how to get rid of viruses on Apple computers as infection symptoms are not always obvious.
On the otherhand, signs of reduced performance and irritating popups are common indications that something is not quite right on your Apple Mac.
Removing virus from an infected Mac is much better before the computer fails otherwise, you are pretty much stuck. Phones are good to work from temporarily, but having a reliable computer that works properly is the best outcome.
For several years, many consumers falsely believed that Apple Macs could not be infected by viruses and this became the main driver for choosing these devices over Windows PCs.
Unfortunately, this is simply a myth and you've been told a lie - can you believe that! Mac operating systems like their Microsoft Windows OS counterpart have security bugs and potential flaws that hackers can exploit. That said, leveraging these cybersecurity loopholes on Mac has in the past, been less profitable when compared to Windows.
Why Apple device users thought Macs couldn’t get viruses?
Since Windows operating was the main operating system on computers and laptops, it was only logical for cyber threats to focus only on such systems. It was the era of computer boom and majority of commercial entities purchased computers running the Microsoft OS, thereby giving hackers a playground to exploit repeatedly. The financial gains to cyber criminals were lucrative with identity theft becoming secondary, but more recently, the ultimate goal.
So, although the myth about Mac not able to get virus has started to wear off, we are still a long way from convincing users who are using Macs for the first time. This concept of ‘immune’ to computer viruses was also proven to be a legitimate claim since very few viruses were developed to target Mac OS. However, even with effective Mac Support from an outsourced IT services partner, the tremendous popularity of Apple desktop and laptop computers makes this once highly-sacred view of them being immune to attack is becoming a distant memory of the past.
What type of viruses can infect Apple Mac?
The Popularity of Apple Macs amongst home and business users has seen a exponential growth of viruses targeting all layers of the application and IT infrastructure domains, particularly within the creative industries. It is now more common to find viruses attempting to exploit flaws in the Mac operating system and in some cases being successful at first attempts.
Mac devices are now prone to infection by malware, trojan horses, spyware and any other variants possible. It is not sure whether Apple had claimed their devices were immune to virus infections with the Intel and PowerPC platform, but this go9ssip has been spreading through the grapevine for quite some time.
Regardless of what was said - true or not - it's not true and the existence of virus on Apple Mac devices easily disprove the case for thinking otherwise. There many people who will swear by their life and many other things that Macs are more secure than Windows, but it’s also true that more and more IT professionals are encountering infected Macs than ever before. Here at Solid Rock IT UK, we’ve seen more Macs that have lost data because of viruses over the last three years than before the pandemic.
How can viruses cause data loss on a Mac?
Viruses work in many ways and its primary function is hinged on the purpose for which it was created. Some virus attacks can render data inaccessible on a Mac for any number of reasons, but the most common culprit to date is encrypted storage via malware. Sometimes even when doing a Mac scan for virus wouldn't normally highlight the underlying issue. Removing virus from an infected can sometimes prove to be an easy task and very difficult in serious scenarios.
Another reason for data loss on Mac is total device failure and hard drive crash. Although there are instances where these faults are linked to natural causes, but at other times, they are entirely the handy work of virus infection. As a data recovery expert in London, we are usually able to recover lost files and corrupted data from Macs.
To those with high hopes, this is a good outcome, but where data is lost forever, just the mere thought about ignoring important system prompts to backup your data just moments before imminent system failure can bring about lingering yet painfully memories for a long time, especially where data on an Apple Mac computer was destroyed due to malicious infection caused by virus.
Statistics in 2021 shows that cybercrime continue to pose serious concerns for businesses, public bodies, charities and individuals alike and there are no signs this trend changing for better in the medium of long-term.
How can you protect against cyber attacks and data loss?
- Firstly, always be vigilant in the use of your device online and when connecting storage media.
- Never connect to public WIFI that you don't trust, even if there was such a thing as clean virus.
- Never allow someone you don’t know to charge their device via your Apple Mac or Windows computer USB port (USB-C or the traditional USB ports).
- Avoid opening suspicious emails that claim to trick, manipulate your emotions or demand urgent attention.
- Keep your antivirus software up-to-date
- Remember that exploits come in different form, so store sensitive data in safely and securely.
Doing so will not guarantee your device will be immune from the threat of virus infections, but every step in the right direction certainly helps to mitigate against cybersecurity risks.
Do I need Antivirus for Mac?
Yes. Based on our experiences of helping customers with virus removal on Intel Mac, Apple computers are not completly immune to malware. Although Apple claimed to have built in protection for the underlying operating system, there are numerous Mac-targeted attacks on the rise.
The new M1 chipset is a completly new design from the ground up, so although there are claims that Apple does a pretty good job of keeping on top of vulnerabilities and exploits with updates to their macOS, the outcome remains to be seen in time.
With that said, updates for the new M1 silicon chipset should be able to protect your Mac with auto-update that are pushed out by Apple very quickly.
What can I do if I have an infected Apple Mac computer or my lost data because of a virus infection?
If your system has been infected by malware or other security exploits, simply get in touch with Solid Rock IT UK for removal of virus from your Mac. We offer Mac Support in London and surrounding areas for business and home users. Where your system has been compromised to the point of no return, we can run a full virus check for Mac and where necessary, undertake any required data recovery services before restoring your Apple Mac to normal operation.
Here are some questions for you to consider?
- When was the last time you check your Mac for virus infection?
- How do you know if your Apple Mac is infected with virus or malware?
- Does Apple recommend antivirus for Mac?
- Is the new Apple M1 model vulnerable to virus attacks?
- Does iPad ransomware exist, or can we safely consider Apple tablets to be protected?
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