Why Your MacBook Pro Needs Antivirus Software

When you’re considering purchasing antivirus software for your MacBook Pro, you might ask yourself if you really need it. After all, aren’t Macs immune to viruses, malware, or other forms of digital threats? The answer to that question is “no.” MacBook Pros are indeed vulnerable to viruses, malware, and other risks in the digital landscape. Read on to learn how antivirus software can protect it.

Macs (Including MacBook Pros) Are Hacker Targets

When Macs first came on the market, their install base was quite small. So, it wasn’t worth hackers’ time to create viruses for them. That’s changed. Macs (including MacBook Pros) are popular, and the number of Mac users is constantly growing.

Mac users still believe their computers can’t possibly be targeted because outside of security organizations, viruses for Macs don’t appear in the wild. That belief won’t protect them from security issues inherent in third-party apps that enable hackers to infiltrate their computers and steal vital information. Antivirus software protects Macs and the information stored on them from these attacks.

[Read also: Top 10 Myths About Computer Viruses]

Antivirus Offers More Than Just Mac Protection

There might not be that many viruses written for Macs. However, that doesn’t mean MacBook Pros are invulnerable to threats written for other platforms.

Your MacBook Pro could actually fall prey to a virus or malware written for a machine running Windows or Linux. Even if the threat won’t run on your computer because of the platform discrepancy, it still isn’t good for those programs to take up space on your computer.

Moreover, a threat intended for Windows or Linux that finds its way onto your MacBook Pro could use your computer as a way station to infect another computer. It could weasel its way into an email or onto a USB stick, and then wreak havoc on another system. Your friends, family, and coworkers with computers that run Linux and Windows definitely won’t appreciate it if you’re the one to give them a virus.

Built-in Security Isn’t Good Enough

Another reason that Mac users persist in believing that their computers won’t fall prey to viruses is because Apple builds in security programs to every device (including the MacBook Pro). However, that built-in security isn’t enough. Tests have shown Apple’s programming doesn’t protect against malware and other threats.

Your MacBook Pro was an investment. In order to keep it safe, you need the best antivirus for a MacBook Pro on the market.

You Are the Weakest Link

You may remember the TV show “The Weakest Link,” hosted by Ann Robinson. Her favorite phrase to say to losing contestants was, “You are the weakest link. Goodbye!”

Love or hate the show, Robinson’s catchphrase applies to computer security. Users (those with MacBook Pros) are only human. And as a result, they make errors that frequently jeopardize their computers’ safety.

Hackers rely on humans’ capacity for making mistakes. They’ve developed tricks such as social engineering and phishing to dupe unwitting computer users into downloading files that will harm their machines.

All it takes is one click on the wrong link or opening up an email with a suspicious attachment to download a file that will infect your MacBook Pro. Antivirus software can detect and repair threats, and it’s a set-and-forget software, so you don’t even have to think about it.

Antivirus Software Won’t Slow Down Your Computer

One of the reasons MacBook Pro owners hesitate running antivirus software on their computers is because they’re worried it will slow them down. That’s the last thing they want, given as they’ve invested in a machine built for performance.

High-quality antivirus software won’t slow down your computer. Its goal is to run in the background unobtrusively, so you don’t notice it. Again, antivirus software protects your investment. You wouldn’t buy a Lamborghini without purchasing insurance, so don’t neglect to do so for your MacBook Pro.

When you purchase a MacBook Pro, you intend to use it for years. As such, you should take precautions to protect it from threats, such as running antivirus software. In the short and long term, you’ll be glad you did when your computer continues to run, regardless of what digital threats lurk online.

[Image via: Google Images]