Reasons for Mac Users to get Antivirus Software

Macs aren’t immune to viruses anymore. Perhaps they never really were and the legend of Apple just got a bit carried away.

Every now and then viruses have been found, even in the latest wonder that is OS X. Still, the threats are so minimal when compared to Windows-based viruses that many Mac users scoff at the idea of installing antivirus software. Besides, there are so few viruses that have passed through Macs that it wouldn’t be hard for the average computer student to recite them all by heart.

Still, antivirus software for Mac platforms is becoming more popular. The companies that have been making antivirus applications for Windows for over a decade are starting to really push the idea of people picking up their Mac based software as well. As it stands, there are nearly as many antivirus titles available for Macs as there are for PCs. If you aren’t convinced that you need any of those applications though, consider the following.

Antivirus applications for Macs aren’t as draining:

One of the reasons that people hate having to use antivirus software is that they are so hungry for the computers resources. This is true on Windows PCs partly due to design but also due to the fact that there are literally thousands of virus signatures that those programs need to be on the lookout for. At this time there are, as said, very few virus threats to the Mac world and the antivirus software can actually run somewhat less obtrusively as a result.

There are other threats:

While the jury is still out on just how serious the threats of viruses are to Macs, there is little doubt that other threats are increasing. Trojans and spyware that get installed onto a computer without the knowledge of the user, yet don’t behave like an actual virus, are becoming more common. These are also often designed with criminal intent to steal passwords and personal information. Antivirus software will typically protect against those threats as well, so long as you buy the right one.

It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune:

Antivirus software really isn’t that expensive in the first place, but to make things easier there are free options available for download. Do some research first to make sure you are getting something trustworthy and something of value, and then install that on your Mac and save your bucks for iTunes.

There are more Macs out there than ever before this is one of the main reasons the antivirus threat has increased

As for why Macs were long considered impervious to viruses, there is no real consensus. One theory though has to do with the idea that there were never really enough Macs out there for virus programmers to waste their time with. Now there is a great market share for Macs and malicious software makers are taking notice. Also, the intent of viruses is no longer to annoy but to steal and so the criminals feel anyone is up for grabs. The bottom line? The real threat might be coming very soon.

Apple says so:

Apple has actually released statements in the last year or so suggesting their customers start using some form of antivirus software on their systems. They would know, wouldn’t they?