When macOS was just gaining its current popularity, one of the main arguments of Mac fans was the almost complete absence of viruses and other malicious software. At some point it was. The protection built into the operating system was more than enough to ensure the safe functioning of the computer. Provided, of course, that you have not downloaded applications and files from obscure sites. But the more Apple sold its computers, the more malware and viruses became.
As a result, many users even began to install antivirus programs on Macs to ensure greater security. However, this state of affairs did not suit Apple, and Cupertino took seriously the protection of macOS and began to regularly release updates for its security systems. All this is aimed at greater security of users and their personal data.
antivirus for mac
Howard Oakley of the Eclectic Lighting Company has kept track of all the updates Apple makes to keep its computers safe. It turned out that over the past six months, significant changes have been made to the tools for tracking malware.
What has changed? With the launch of macOS 12.3 Monterey, Apple introduced a new tool called XProtect Remediator. It has become part of the XProtect service, which allows you to detect malware on your computer in the background. At the same time, Remediator scans the operating system much more often and allows you to neutralize more malware.
Previously, the Malware Removal Tool (MRT) was used for the same purposes in conjunction with XProtect. But the latter was limited to checking applications, files, and code against a list of known malware that was not always updated on time, and MRT was simply launched quite infrequently. In this regard, XProtect Remediator has gone far ahead. It scans the system at least once a day, and under certain conditions, it can run even once an hour. At the same time, the list of various virus software is now updated much more frequently.
As you can see, the new security utility is more aggressive than before. At the same time, it is available not only on macOS Monterey but also on Big Sur and Catalina. Unfortunately, older versions of macOS did not receive this innovation. For users, the most important point should be that XProtect Remediator works completely automatically and in the background. It does not have to be launched manually or made any additional configuration.
It does not scan while you are using your Mac. Everything happens when the computer is active but performs some background tasks. For example, creating a backup copy or downloading an email. That is, there will be no performance loss. For many, this is a very important point, because we all know and remember how antivirus software can slow down the overall operation of a computer.
Authorization without a password
In the new version of macOS Ventura , Apple is even more concerned about the security of users and their data. In a separate article, we analyzed how the new system will allow you to log in to various sites or applications without using passwords. This feature is called Apple Passkey . In a nutshell, let me remind you of its essence.
If we omit all the technical points, then it will work as follows. When registering on a site that supports this technology, in addition to the login, you will be asked to create not a password, but an access key Passkey . When you decide to sign in to your account, all you have to do is put your finger on the Touch ID sensor on a laptop or use Face ID on a smartphone, and you will have no problem accessing your data. Outwardly, it will be very similar to how the login and password are currently filled out from the keychain. Only now the password itself will not look like some kind of text. At the same time, the Passkey itself will be stored on your device, and the resource will not have access to it. He will only receive confirmation in an encrypted form that it is really you, and will launch you to the site.
This authorization method is the future. Not only is it trivially very convenient, it is also safe. You don’t have to store or remember any passwords. Even if your computer catches a malware that steals them, there is simply nothing to steal when using Passkey. I really hope that the penetration of this authorization method will be as complete and fast as possible. And most developers will support it.
In the meantime, once again I propose to see how hard Apple tries to maintain security on its operating systems. Both XProtect Remediator and Apple Passkey are all designed to ensure that you don’t have to worry about your personal data being leaked somewhere. Microsoft should have done well with the guys in Cupertino and worked hard on Windows security . At least on the quality of malware detection and how to respond to new threats.
