Should I add additional security to my 2024 Mac. I’ve read pros and cons but haven’t read anything to sway me one way or another. If anyone has an opinion and would like to share, let me know what you think and what you would recommend.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Mac Security
iMac 24″, macOS 26.2
Third-party Anti-Virus, Protection and Cleaning software is not required to keep a Mac Secure.
Check out the following Apple Support articles and then decide for yourself.
Apple Platform Security - Apple Support
Safely open apps on your Mac - Apple Support
Protect your Mac from malware - Apple Support
Outside of endpoint security where appropriate, and VPNs for directly connecting into associated networks, no.
Some related reading: Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community
Scan the problem reports and the pleas for help posted around here.
Scan for the many months of spurious false-positive reports against a legitimate macOS component.
Scan for the issues with “coffee shop” VPNs, ignoring the privacy and overhead issues arising there.
Scan for how the built-in anti-malware has defanged various of the dumber attempts to corrupt macOS itself by malfunctioning add-on security.
But it is your Mac. Load whatever you want.
Should a problem then arise after install, do please first remove the add-on security app, and attempt to reproduce the issue. That’ll save you a cycle of posting the report here, when you will usually get asked to remove any add-on security apps and then reproduce the issue.
The idea that a third party, with no special knowledge of the inner workings of MacOS, can somehow find a simple way to protect or speed up your computer — that is not already being done by MacOS itself — suggests that the MacOS developers are somehow "holding out on you". That is absurd.
You should remove any and all (other than Apple built-in) virus scanners, speeder uppers, optimizers, cleaners, App deleters or VPN packages you installed yourself, or anything of that ilk.
Your exceptionally well-crafted Macintosh computer does not accumulate filth that needs any third-party anything to clean it. Everything needed to run it efficiently was included in the box, except ONE: a drive on which to store a second copy of your files in case the first copy is damaged or deleted by accident. The backup software, Time Machine, is already present -- integrated deeply into MacOS.
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MacOS shares a lot of the lock-down mechanisms developed for the iPhone. Applications are all sand-boxed with a list of the resources they require, and they cannot ask for anything outside their sandbox without crashing. Signed Applications are checked that they are from legitimate Developers, and Notarized Applications are delivered with the assurance that they have NOT been modified since their release by the Developer.
From MacOS 11 Big Sur onward, the system is on a Separate, cryptographically—signed ‘sealed System Volume’. The Mac runs off read-only snapshots of this volume, which is not writeable using ordinary means. Any unauthorized changes to the crypto-signed volume are very quickly detected and you are alerted.
So you could store just about every malware known to mankind on your Mac, and your Mac would not get infected spontaneously. Scanning for virus-like patterns might make you feel a little better now, but non-stop scanning is outdated nonsense, and a tremendous waste of resources.
Nothing can become Executable Unless/Until you supply your Admin password to "make it so".
There is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac. This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.
There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs. There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.
Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear. They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware. Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.
Unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they provide false security from a privacy standpoint. Read these two articles: Public VPN's are anything but private and Security Risks: The Dangers of Using Free VPNs (eccu.edu).
Additionally, a new study ("Apple Offers Apps With Ties to Chinese Military”) is specifically about VPN apps in Apple’s App Store.
Unless you're referring to Apple-created updates, no.
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How do I decide on additional security for my 2024 Mac?
