Do Macs Need Antivirus in 2026?

What protection is built into macOS?

macOS has five built-in layers against malware, described in Apple’s Platform Security guide and AV-Comparatives’ 2026 Mac report.

• XProtect: Apple’s built-in antivirus. It detects known malware by signature, removes it, and checks for new signatures daily by default, separately from system updates.
• Gatekeeper: before a downloaded app first opens, Gatekeeper checks that it comes from an identified developer and is notarized, then asks for your approval.
• Notarization: Apple scans developers’ software for known malware before issuing a notarization ticket, and can revoke the ticket for apps later found to be malicious.
• System Integrity Protection: locks system files and folders so that even processes with root access can’t change them.
• Background Security Improvements: on macOS Tahoe 26.1 and later, Apple can ship small security fixes for Safari, WebKit and system libraries without a full update.

Can Macs get viruses?

Yes, Macs get malware. AV-Comparatives’ 2026 Mac report says a surge of information-stealers, led by Atomic Stealer (AMOS) and offshoots such as Odyssey, dominated new macOS threats in 2023 and 2024. Those stealers go after browser cookies, saved passwords, Keychain data and crypto wallets. By late 2025, newer stealers such as MacSync were being distributed as signed and notarized apps to get past Gatekeeper, the same report says.

Mac malware is still far less common than Windows malware, the same report notes. That is why the built-in layers cover most people, and why your own download habits matter most.

When do Macs need antivirus?

A Mac antivirus earns its place when your habits go around Apple’s checks.

• You often install apps or plug-ins from websites rather than the App Store.
• You share files with Windows users and don’t want to pass on Windows malware.
• You browse mostly in Chrome or Firefox and want phishing warnings there.
• You manage Macs for a family member who clicks through warnings.

If none of these fit, macOS’s own defenses and the habits in the last section are enough.

Free and paid Mac antivirus options (not ranked)

Free Mac antivirus exists: Avast One Free and AVG AntiVirus Free both scored 99.9% against Mac malware in AV-Comparatives’ April–May 2026 test. The list below is alphabetical, not a ranking.

Malwarebytes’ free Mac app scans and removes malware on demand; real-time protection, web protection and scheduled scans need a paid plan. AV-Comparatives built its 1,500-sample set by dropping samples every product caught, so the test set is deliberately hard. For the Windows side of the same question, see whether Windows Defender is enough, and for the two biggest paid brands, how Norton and McAfee compare. Chromebook owners can check whether ChromeOS needs antivirus.

How do you protect a Mac without extra software?

Your Mac’s built-in protection works best with a few habits.

1. Install macOS updates when they arrive, and leave Background Security Improvements on.
2. Get apps from the App Store where you can; Apple calls it the safest place to get Mac apps. Otherwise, use identified developers.
3. Don’t override a Gatekeeper warning for an app you didn’t expect.
4. In Safari settings, keep “Warn when visiting a fraudulent website” on.
5. Back up with Time Machine, so a bad download can’t take your files with it.

iPhones and iPads work differently from Macs; read our guide to iPhone antivirus apps for those.