Have a safe shopping with a Mac antivirus

Even though Macintosh designed the first personal computer which, since then, changed people’s lives forever, when it comes to current statistics, Apple doesn’t have too much to brag about. As one of the most reputed, well-known and successful IT companies in the world, Apple, has always fought for the market’s supremacy and leadership main opponent, Microsoft. While it holds several thousand unique patents and is responsible for some of the most popular gadgets of today – from the first personal computer (Lisa and then Macintosh) to the first tablet (the iPad) – Apple cannot seem to be able to compete in the OS domain.

A Look at the market

In 2012 alone, Apple Inc. managed to sell more than 35 million units of its most popular product, the iPhone, generating $11.6 billion in revenues. Also, the company is still the market leader seller for tablets while iPad 3 alone was sold in over 12 million units. However, when it comes to computers and especially personal computers (PCs), Apple tends to argue that their era is gone. According to the top Microsoft Executive, Ray Ozzie, the world has moved along, especially in the last couple of years, leaving behind the personal computers.

Now, in the era of speed and technology, almost each person has access to Internet and is handling most of his job and school projects with the use of a laptop. Moreover, with the invasion of tablets and smart phones on the market, it comes as no surprise that fewer people have the time to log into their personal computer.

Sales confirm what Tim Cook, new chief-executive at Apple and Ray Ozzie were talking about – the worldwide sales of smartphones have already overtaken those of PCs, while tablets are catching up fast and are soon to overtake the sales of smartphone units as well. Even so, Apple still fights to gain supremacy in the only one field he failed – that of operating systems.

There are over 100 million users of Apple laptops and desktop computers in the world; however, the irony stands in the fact that more than 80% of the worldwide computer users appeal to Microsoft’s most popular service, Windows OS rather than Apple’s OS. The reasons are variable and yet without understanding for Apple developers who constantly struggle to come up with improved variants and user-friendly interfaces. No matter the efforts, it seems that Windows will continue to win this round and battleship over and over again while Apple has to admit its defeat.

The question remains whether, with about 10% of the market, Apple requires an antivirus application? At a glimpse, most IT specialists tend to answer “no” to this challenge. First of all, the number of viruses an Apple OS user is exposed to is very small, also due to the system’s unpopularity. If we were to express this less plastically, not even hackers or virus creators make efforts into creating really dangerous and harmful viruses for the Mac OS.

Moreover, the latest version of the operational system, OS X comes already equipped with a high performance built-in Mac antivirus software. The only threats Mac users are exposed to, are malware and minor malicious applications, which, the built-in antivirus successfully blots out. More or less credible statistics show that hacker’s future attacks will most likely target the smartphone and tablets markets, leaving aside damages caused to computer users. However, for those extra cautious Mac users around the world, a secondary antivirus program cannot harm and is, therefore, a rather safe future investment. As for its necessity, only time will tell. Only additional antivirus programs can offer 100% Internet protection, especially for those who are used to “swim outside the tank”.

What are the options?

Among the most popular antivirus programs for Mac users one can quote Kaspersky and MacKeeper. And while Kaspersky will charge up to $66 for a one year subscription for three desktops, MacKeeper has the advantage for selling itself cheaper – free. For that matter MacKeeper offers a basic protection kit which includes real-time safe browsing, real-time virus scan and automatic security updates. Moreover it offers full and nonstop support for its users so it is really the only thing a Mac user would need.

Robert Woods is a tech blogger who writes about various subjects including Mac security. You could check out antivirus for Mac for more information.

Further Reading

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• Taking a Look at the HTC Desire
• Technology: What can we expect for 2013?
• Microsoft reveals Office 2013
• Is Mobile Search Set to Overtake Desktop Search?
• Cheap as (smartphone) chips: Could Apple be planning a budget iPhone?
• What’s it worth? Google’s value outstrips Microsoft’s