Editing MacOS (section)

=== Malware and spyware ===
{{Main|macOS malware}}

In its earlier years, Mac OS X enjoyed a near-absence of the types of [[malware]] and [[spyware]] that have affected [[Microsoft Windows]] users.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Welch |first=John |date=January 6, 2007 |title=Review: Mac OS X Shines In Comparison With Windows Vista |url=https://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196800670&pgno=4 |url-status=live |magazine=Information Week |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209090401/https://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196800670 |archive-date=February 9, 2007 |access-date=February 5, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granneman |first=Scott |date=October 6, 2003 |title=Linux vs. Windows Viruses |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907054536/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |access-date=February 5, 2007 |website=The Register |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gruber |first=John |author-link=John Gruber |date=June 4, 2004 |title=Broken Windows |url=https://daringfireball.net/2004/06/broken_windows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904003214/https://daringfireball.net/2004/06/broken_windows |archive-date=September 4, 2011 |access-date=April 24, 2006 |publisher=[[Daring Fireball]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> macOS has a smaller usage share compared to Windows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2009 |title=Operating System Market Share |url=https://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125022803/https://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8 |archive-date=January 25, 2010 |access-date=April 10, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Computer worm|Worms]], as well as potential vulnerabilities, were noted in 2006, which led some industry analysts and anti-virus companies to issue warnings that Apple's Mac OS X is not immune to malware.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=February 21, 2006 |title=New Safari Flaw, Worms Turn Spotlight on Apple Security |url=https://www.eweek.com/security/new-safari-flaw-worms-turn-spotlight-on-apple-security |url-status=live |magazine=[[eWeek]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927142109/https://www.eweek.com/security/new-safari-flaw-worms-turn-spotlight-on-apple-security/ |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2022}}</ref> Increasing market share coincided with additional reports of a variety of attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conneally |first=Tim |date=August 28, 2009 |title='Macs don't get viruses' myth dissolves before public's eyes |url=https://www.betanews.com/article/Macs-dont-get-viruses-myth-dissolves-before-publics-eyes/1251493625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830174605/https://www.betanews.com/article/Macs-dont-get-viruses-myth-dissolves-before-publics-eyes/1251493625 |archive-date=August 30, 2009 |publisher=BetaNews |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In early 2011, Mac OS X experienced a large increase in malware attacks,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grimes |first=Roger A. |date=May 23, 2011 |title=7 questions about the Mac malware scare &#124; Security |url=https://www.infoworld.com/d/security/7-questions-about-the-mac-malware-scare-811 |url-status=live |magazine=InfoWorld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607094531/https://www.infoworld.com/d/security/7-questions-about-the-mac-malware-scare-811 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and malware such as [[Mac Defender]], MacProtector, and MacGuard was seen as an increasing problem for Mac users. At first, the malware installer required the user to enter the administrative password, but later versions installed without user input.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2011 |title=Mac Security Boasts Threatened by Malware Surge – International Business Times |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/articles/152612/20110526/mac-security-boasts-threatened-by-malware-surge.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808024312/https://www.ibtimes.com/articles/152612/20110526/mac-security-boasts-threatened-by-malware-surge.htm |archive-date=August 8, 2011 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |publisher=Ibtimes.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Initially, Apple support staff were instructed not to assist in the removal of the malware or admit the existence of the malware issue, but as the malware spread, a support document was issued. Apple announced an OS X update to fix the problem. An estimated 100,000 users were affected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trenholm |first=Rich |date=May 20, 2011 |title=Apple tells support staff not to confirm Mac Defender infections |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-tells-support-staff-not-to-confirm-mac-defender-infections |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622224013/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-tells-support-staff-not-to-confirm-mac-defender-infections/ |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |access-date=March 21, 2020 |publisher=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Seltzer |first=Larry |date=May 25, 2011 |title=Mac Defender 2.0 Released – Security Watch |work=PC Mag |url=https://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2011/05/mac_defender_20_released.php |url-status=dead |access-date=July 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717145838/https://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2011/05/mac_defender_20_released.php |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple releases security updates for macOS regularly,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2009 |title=Apple security updates |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205004031/https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2009 |publisher=Apple |df=mdy-all}}</ref> as well as signature files containing [[signature-based detection|malware signatures]] for [[Xprotect]], an anti-malware feature part of [[File Quarantine]] present since Mac OS X Snow Leopard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2015 |title=XProtect Explained: How Your Mac's Built-in Anti-malware Software Works |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/217043/xprotect-explained-how-your-macs-built-in-anti-malware-works |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030541/https://www.howtogeek.com/217043/xprotect-explained-how-your-macs-built-in-anti-malware-works |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |publisher=How-To Geek |df=mdy-all}}</ref>