October 2019 • Macworld 77BUYING GUIDEoverconfident, at least. Across 2018, there were 14
new instances of Mac malware, with some finding
new and innovative ways to infect their targets.
Macs are generally more secure than their
Windows brethren for two reasons. On the
technical side, macOS is a Unix‑based operating
system. As a Unix‑based operating system macOS
is sandboxed. Sandboxing is like having a series
of fire doors: even if malware gains access to
your Mac, it is unable to spread to the heart of
the machine. Macs are not unhackable, but they
are more difficult to exploit than Windows PCs.
Another reason is that there are fewer Macs
than there are Windows PCs. Fewer targets, and
these are harder to hack. Is it any wonder that
cybercriminals focus on the Windows world?
Macs are not entirely safe though, and as they
grow in popularity and cybercriminals become
smarter and greedier, the risk is increasing. As a
result, cybersecurity is more important than ever,
and good antivirus software is the best place to
start if you want to stay safe.Selecting an app
Features fundamental to all are two ways for the
app to find viruses: on‑demand protection, and via
always‑on protection. The former finds viruses by
examining one file after another during scheduled
scans, or when you choose to undertake a scan,
perhaps because you’re worried you’re infected.
The speed at which the anti‑malware app can
do this is important, because some take a longOctober 2019 • Macworld 77BUYING GUIDEoverconfident, at least. Across 2018, there were 14
new instances of Mac malware, with some finding
new and innovative ways to infect their targets.
Macs are generally more secure than their
Windowsbrethrenfortworeasons.Onthe
technicalside,macOSisa Unix‑basedoperating
system.Asa Unix‑based operating system macOS
is sandboxed. Sandboxing is like having a series
of fire doors: even if malware gains access to
your Mac, it is unable to spread to the heart of
the machine. Macs are not unhackable, but they
are more difficult to exploit than Windows PCs.
Another reason is that there are fewer Macs
than there are Windows PCs. Fewer targets, and
these are harder to hack. Is it any wonder that
cybercriminals focus on the Windows world?
Macs are not entirely safe though, and as they
grow in popularity and cybercriminals become
smarter and greedier, the risk is increasing. As a
result, cybersecurity is more important than ever,
and good antivirus software is the best place to
start if you want to stay safe.
Selecting an app
Featuresfundamentaltoallaretwowaysforthe
apptofindviruses:on‑demandprotection,andvia
always‑on protection. The former finds viruses by
examining one file after another during scheduled
scans, or when you choose to undertake a scan,
perhapsbecauseyou’reworriedyou’reinfected.
Thespeedatwhichtheanti‑malware app can
do this is important, because some take a long