Do Macs Need Antivirus Software? Busting the "Macs Don't Get Viruses" Myth

For as long as Macs have been around, one piece of tech folklore has followed them everywhere: “Macs don’t get viruses.” Maybe a friend told you this when you bought your first MacBook, or a salesperson used it to talk you out of paying for security software. It’s one of the most repeated claims in personal tech — and it hasn’t been true for a long time.

Myth vs. Fact

Myth: Macs are immune to viruses and malware (malicious software designed to steal data or damage a device), so you never need to think about security software.

Fact: Macs can and do get infected. Apple builds real protection directly into macOS, but it isn’t a forcefield. Security researchers tracked Mac-targeting malware growing through 2026, with “infostealers” — malicious programs that quietly copy your saved passwords, browser data, and files, then send them to a criminal — becoming the most common threat on the platform. Attackers increasingly disguise this malware as legitimate, Apple-approved (“notarized”) apps to slip past your Mac’s defenses. (Source: Moonlock Lab, “6 Key Trends to Watch in macOS Malware in 2026.”)

Where the Myth Came From

The myth started from something that used to be mostly true. Criminals who write malware go where the most victims are, and for most of computing history that meant Windows PCs, which vastly outnumbered Macs. Apple also builds in protections — more on those below — that Windows didn’t always match by default. That combination made Mac infections rare enough to feel impossible.

But the gap has been closing. A 2026 analysis by the security company Surfshark found Windows PCs still face roughly six times more malware overall than Macs — yet Macs already account for a share of detected malware that’s larger than their share of computer users worldwide. In plain terms: Macs are safer than Windows PCs on average, but “safer” is not the same as “safe,” and the trend is moving in the wrong direction.

What Your Mac Is Actually Doing to Protect You

macOS quietly runs several layers of defense every time you use it. XProtect is Apple’s built-in antivirus engine: it checks apps against a regularly updated list of known malware and blocks them before they can run, without you ever seeing a pop-up. Gatekeeper checks whether a new app comes from a developer Apple has verified and reviewed (“notarized”); if not, it warns you before letting you open it. And sandboxing keeps each app boxed into its own space, limiting what files, photos, or camera and microphone access it can reach without your explicit permission.

These tools are genuinely effective, and they’re a big reason Macs have historically had fewer problems than Windows PCs. Even Apple has acknowledged the threat is real, though: software chief Craig Federighi said publicly in 2021 that the company sees “a level of malware on the Mac that we don’t find acceptable,” and nothing about the 2026 threat landscape suggests that’s improved.

How Mac Infections Actually Happen

Modern Mac malware rarely breaks in through a technical flaw. Instead, it talks its way in. Common tricks include fake software updates, pirated or “cracked” apps, phony PDF-converter tools, and phishing emails or texts (messages designed to look legitimate that trick you into clicking a link or entering a password) that lead to a convincing fake login page. This matters because no antivirus software can stop you from willingly typing your real password into a page that looks real but isn’t — that protection has to come from you, not your Mac.

So, Do You Actually Need Antivirus Software?

For most everyday users who keep macOS updated, download apps only from the App Store or well-known developers’ own websites, and think twice before clicking links in unexpected messages, Apple’s built-in protection is a reasonable baseline on its own.

Third-party antivirus is worth considering, though, if you regularly download unfamiliar software, freelance and receive files from many different people, handle sensitive financial or client data, or frequently share files with Windows users. That last point catches people off guard: a Mac can carry a Windows-targeted virus in a file without ever getting sick itself, then pass it along the next time that file lands on a Windows PC.

Habits That Matter More Than Any App

Whatever you decide about antivirus software, a few habits do more for your Mac’s security than any single app: install macOS updates promptly (Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update), be suspicious of any pop-up that urgently claims your Mac is “infected” and demands you call a number or download a tool, and use a password manager so a single stolen password can’t unlock everything else you own. Stolen passwords remain the entry point for a huge share of the attacks hitting Mac users right now — no antivirus software fixes that, but good habits do.