Today, the belief persists that Macs, smartphones and tablets are somehow immune to viruses. When these devices do get a virus, the common reaction is that it’s a total rarity. Do you remember the old Mac versus PC ads? They included such claims as “PCs have to deal with viruses, while Macs do not.” While this claim may have been somewhat true at one point, it was never completely true. Read on to find out exactly what the threat is to these groups in terms of viruses and malware, and what you can do about it.

The Truth about Macs and Malware

The claim that Macs never get viruses was once slightly true because Macs represented such a small percentage of market share. This meant computer hackers and malware designers did not see the necessity in targeting that group. But with the rise in Apple market share up to nearly 13%, we have increasingly seen Macs become targeted over time. Malware Labs, the research division behind antivirus software Malwarebytes, recently released a study accounting that 16% of their total threats detected were for Mac malware threats. While this may not seem like a large number, the fact that Macs represent only 13% of market share means that they are now more likely to get a virus than the average computer. While these numbers may be inflated due to the fact that most Apple users do not use any form of antivirus while almost every PC user does, the fact that it is a greater number is still something to be concerned about.

The aforementioned study also showed that the average Mac had 9.8 instances of threats detected, which was nearly twice what Windows computers had. In addition, while the types of threats found on Macs may have been less severe in nature, that does not mean that no action needs to be taken. It is highly recommended that you install antivirus software and, especially for offices and businesses, look into hiring a professional to take a look at your risk, backup your computer and protect your network.

The Dangers of Personal Devices

Even if you or your business do not provide devices for employees, electronic devices are inherently personal and represent a possibility for intrusion into your network. In addition, they tend to have loads of personal information. Take smartphones for example. Until recently, most people did not consider the security implications of failing to take proactive steps to avoid viruses on their mobile devices. In 2019, the number of attacks using mobile software nearly doubled. Some of the biggest tells that a smartphone has malware are random ads, seeing data spikes, unexpected apps opening or batteries draining faster than expected. You can get these viruses through downloading unauthorized apps outside of an official app store, downloading PDFs or other pirated material, or even through the web.

Unlike with computer viruses, however, smartphone viruses are usually not created for profit or to build bot networks. Oftentimes, foreign governments are loading spyware on devices through seemingly innocent apps. The Chinese government has been one of the biggest offenders, but others have as well. And while domestic apps have often raised privacy concerns, these specific new apps can provide back doors for entities that are going to do more with your information than try to sell you things.

Even if there is no foreign government involvement, an infected smartphone represents a huge risk to both businesses and networks. It is highly recommended that you download either a virus or malware scanning app and avoid 3rd party downloads and less than reputable websites, since you potentially may have to purchase a new device if yours has become infected.

More from Your Austin Managed IT Service Providers

Looking for more tips on improving your business’ device and network security? Find more articles like this in our information technology blog, or contact the small business cyber security experts at tekRESCUE. We can help you secure and improve the performance of your devices and the network they share.

If you have a mac, you know most of the time it’s a fantastic experience. When things run smoothly, work is easier, creating is a breeze, and staying connected is a blast. Because macs often run for long periods with seemingly no issue, it can be nerve-wracking when a problem surfaces. Issues arise from time to time, but no need to fear!

For many years it was rumored that Macs were immune to things like network issues, bugs, or poor app behavior. While macs are incredible machines, that isn’t true. Similar to a vehicle, your computer may run for a while without attention and maintenance, but eventually, things will slow down and need attention. Taking time to maintain your equipment can add years to its life. Here are some simple steps for maintenance on your Mac:

Uninstall Apps You No Longer Use

Every application you have installed on your computer is taking up space. One application at a time, your Mac begins to fill up with all sorts of apps. Over time, download after download, the performance of your Mac will start to slow.

A significant first step in cleaning your Mac is to remove applications you no longer need. Sending an app to trash is not enough. Leftovers from the application remain on your computer, taking up a lot of storage. Avoid this issue and uninstall applications properly. Need help uninstalling applications? Click here!

Install Anti-Virus Protection

Keeping your device safe and secure is important, and even Macs need protection. Installing a reputable anti-virus software that works with your Mac will help keep it, and your information, safe. A secure anti-virus program used by many today is Bitdefender. This established leader in cybersecurity offers trustworthy protection for desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and more. Check here for more information on Anti-Virus for Mac.

Clean Up Files

Once unneeded applications are gone, the next step to tackle is unwanted files. You can use Mac’s Optimized Storage feature which can erase trash automatically or manually drag items to the trash, emptying it once finished. Both methods are effective and will help you free up space quickly. To permanently remove old files, applications specially made to scan your system and detect all broken or outdated files for removal can be extremely useful.

Restart Your Mac Periodically

Because Mac allows you to close the computer to put it to sleep, people can tend to go long stents of time without a full shutdown and reboot. Switching a Mac on and off again is one of the best ways to fix a problem. Restarting your Mac from time to time will free-up RAM and quit unnecessary applications running in the background. A great rule of thumb is to restart your system every two weeks or anytime a noticeable slow down in performance occurs.

Back Up Your Data

Our last tip is an absolute must, and this cannot be overstated. Backing up your data must be a top priority. Macs are unfortunately not indestructible. If something goes wrong and you have a backup in place, all of your hard work and precious photos will be safe and sound, and that should let you rest easy.

Here is what you need to do! Start using the Time Machine! Yes, you heard that right. Mac has a Time Machine that will routinely backup every file to an external storage device so they can quickly be restored. Set up the Time Machine by connecting an external hard drive to your Mac. Once that is complete, scheduling a backup is easy:

• From the Apple menu select System Preferences > Time Machine.

• Click Select Backup Disk, Select Disk, or Add or Remove Backup Disk.

• Select your disk from the list, then click Use Disk.

So take some time today, follow these simple maintenance tips and you’ll prevent your system from running into trouble and continue to enjoy the excellence of your Mac for years to come! For questions about repairs or advanced maintenance, contact tekRESCUE, a San Marcos IT company, to speak to an expert.