There's a myth out there that Macs don't get viruses — but it's just that: a myth. Yes, Macs need antivirus software. Macs and MacBooks can get viruses like any other device. And while many people think their Apple computers are protected, your Mac is not immune to malware, and so it's certainly vulnerable to attacks.

As we see more and more computer viruses targeting Macs, it’s increasingly critical to protect your device with Mac antivirus software.

If you start noticing strange pop-ups, unexplained crashes, or slower performance, then your Mac may be infected with a virus or Mac malware. What you can do is use a malware scanner for Mac to easily detect and remove hidden malware. You can also use an advanced antivirus, like Avast Premium Security, to enhance your security. Then run Smart Scan to pinpoint exactly where those threats could be lurking in your Mac.

It’s important to update your antivirus and run regular malware scans to ensure your Mac system is protected against potential threats. You can also boost your Mac performance by using a reliable cleanup tool to clean out junk files, browser cookies, and more.

For more information, check out this essential guide that has everything you need to know about Mac security.

Yes, Avast Free Antivirus is our best free antivirus for Mac. It can protect your Mac and other Apple devices from new and emerging cyberthreats, it includes protection such as real-time scanning, anti-spyware scanner, free malware removal for Mac, ransomware protection, and phishing attack prevention. If you need advanced features, you can upgrade to get access to all our premium security features, so you can fully protect your devices.

If you’ve already been infected, then the best way to handle Mac virus removal is to perform a Mac virus scan with specialized software. You can easily automate this process with Avast’s free Mac virus scanner & removal tool which not only scans for viruses and other malware but removes them as well, so it makes it easy to clear out malware and secure your Mac.

The macOS operating system The macOS, or Mac OS X system, has existed for 40 years in various forms — it’s robust, and because of its regular updates, malware developers find it hard to keep up with the changes and write viruses that will successfully infect the Mac operating system.

XProtect Apple's basic malware detection is built directly into its Mac OS X operating system. XProtect defends Macs against various types of malware, by scanning downloaded files for signs of infection, but it needs to be regularly updated to recognize new or emerging threats — and it won’t help you if you unwittingly land on an infected or unsafe website. 

Digitally signed apps A digital certificate is always seen as proof of a file’s security and a surefire sign that the file contains no malicious code, but cybercriminals can still plant malicious code at the file completion stage, exploit security gaps to sign their malicious files with valid digital certificates, and more.

App Store and Sandbox app security While sandboxing adds another layer of security for Macs, not even the App Store nor sandboxed apps are 100% safe, as highlighted by the attack on the Chinese version of the App Store by the XCodeGhost Virus. Malware authors have frequently found and exploited weaknesses, such as using obscure file formats or large file sizes that the sandbox can’t process, leaving Mac users at risk of infection.