For the first time ever, malware threats on Macs are outpacing those on Windows, despite Macs typically being known as safer and less malware-prone. As of 2019, Mac-specific threats are outpacing PC’s by a rate of 2:1.
Malwarebytes, an antivirus software maker, released a 2020 State of Malware Report; within the report findings show the volume of Mac threats has increased year-over-year by more than 400 percent. Some of this can be attributed to a larger Mac userbase, however, the company has also detected an average of 11 threats per Mac endpoint versus 5.8 threats per Windows PC endpoint. Since 2018, the Mac average increased from 4.8 to the current 11. One reason for this increase is due to the increased market share; with more people using Apple computers, they become more attractive to bad actors. Plus, macOS’s built-in security has yet to sufficiently tackle adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). So, another reason for the increase could be due to Macs facing different threats from PCs. Rather than traditional malware, Macs are facing adware and PUPs on a system not equipped to protect aggressively enough against such threats.
We’ve heard it before, and this report is a reminder that security needs to be taken seriously by all. To learn more, visit here.
