A lot of people consider the Apple products to be the safest ones in the world, but just like any other device, gadget or software, they can be hacked when connected to the Internet. The Apple gadgets came as sophisticated items no one could get in. Years ago, unlocking an iPhone was impossible. Today, a lot of people do it. The same goes for Mac OS, which came out as a solid and impressive operating system, but it took Apple a couple of years to realize that it required some protection.
Compared to other operating systems, the number
of harmful applications is insignificant. With a little over three hundred
malicious scripts, they cannot compete with the one million viruses for
Windows.
However, you are still exposed to some risks, and
although many of these malicious codes are demonstrative and developed as
concepts, there are others who can entirely ruin you. When your online banking
session is intercepted and hackers take advantage of your bank account, you
will realize how important an antivirus is. When all the Mac systems in your
office get hacked and your entire network is compromised, getting an antivirus
is a priority once you clean your computers. Therefore, nothing can be fully
protected. A good hacker can step inside your computer, but in order to prevent
it from happening, you need protection.
How malicious software can enter your Mac:
There are a multitude of myths and facts around
the Mac systems. The claims vary widely from one expert to another, but some
ideas are common and general. For instance, the malware scripts use the same
operating principles and tricks the Windows viruses use. Or, you can get a
virus by checking out a website. You don't even know when it gets automatically
installed and run. Some websites hide scripts for Windows, while others attack
Mac exclusively. You may think it is safe to download particular programs for
online live streaming, for example. Are you sure the software is safe? What if
it downloads other components from different servers?
Some applications get inside your computer as
your fault. Sometimes, you download a software only to be able to see a video
of your favorite celebrity naked or to crack a particular program. When you
upgrade your computer to play a free game, hack the registration process of a
program or see a video, you have no clue what hides behind them. Some other
programs are different though. They are harder to observe, since they are
included in source codes and they are run as soon as you load a particular
website.
Being safe requires loading trustful and safe
websites only, but also refusing any files from people who are not among your
friends. Even your friends may send infected files too, without even being
aware of it.
So, what's the solution?
There are definitely some unwritten rules for a
safe experience over the Internet, but since you are not always in control of
your experience, an antivirus or a security package is a necessity. The Mac OS
may be among the safest in the world, but it can still be penetrated pretty
easily by hackers. From many points of view, the safety of your information,
data and secrets depends on you only. You need some education and the right software.
About the Author
Robert Woods writes about different
tech-related subjects including Apple products and Mac security. You could
visit some of his articles at "www.antivirusformac.org"
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