Study: Macs are twice as likely to be infected with adware as PCs
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 10:18 am
Macs used to be virtually immune to malware. This perceived security of Macs has long been a major topic of debate over whether to go with Windows or macOS. However, over time, malware detection on PCs has improved significantly, and Windows itself has become more secure. Today, Windows is no different from MacOS in terms of security —and in some ways, it's even better than Microsoft's.
As the share of Apple computers has grown significantly, they peru number data have become a more attractive target for cybercriminals who develop and distribute adware, as well as other code that Malwarebytes calls "potentially unwanted programs."
Global Desktop Operating Systems Market
OS type Market share
Windows 77.7%
OS X 17.04%
Linux 1.9%
Chrome OS 1.52%
FreeBSD 0%
Other (unspecified) 1.83%
Source: Desktop Operating System Market Share Worldwide. January, 2020
While these threats are not considered as dangerous as traditional malware, they are becoming an increasingly serious problem for Mac users, who can no longer claim that their beloved systems are protected from malware, researchers at Malwarebytes Labs said in a recent report.
If we calculate the number of threats for each system, the number of threats targeting MacOS outnumbered Windows by a ratio of almost 2:1 in 2019.
The full report details a more than 400 percent overall increase in Mac-related threats for consumers and businesses in 2019, as well as a significant increase in the number of malware detections per system, from 4.8 in 2018 to 11.0 in 2019. That’s double the number of similar threats detected on Windows PCs, which saw 5.8 in 2019. Cybercriminals are targeting Macs more aggressively because Apple’s built-in security doesn’t block “adware and potentially unwanted software as effectively as it does malicious code.” This makes it easier for malware to infiltrate MacOS computers.
The most common threats for Mac systems, according to the results of 2019
The most common threats for Mac systems, according to the results of 2019
Overall, the majority of Mac threats are various forms of adware and potentially unwanted software. Malwarebytes notes in its report that a pair of Mac threats topped the list of most common malware, coming in second and third place. This is the first time this has happened. One of them, called PCVARK — a generic term for “system optimizers” or “garbage cleaners” that claim to make your system faster — was only in 31st place on the list in 2018. In total, about 25 million PCVARK attacks on Mac systems have been recorded in the past. At the top of the list was the adware A dware.NewTab, which carried out almost 30 million attacks in 2019 .
Meanwhile, the main threat to Windows PCs was Adware.MindSpark , with infections increasing by 497% from 2018 to 2019. However, the total number of infected PCs was relatively small at just 2 million. Adware.Yontoo accounted for just over 3 million infected business computers. And while Trojans and other more serious forms of malware dominate PCs, Adware attacks are the fastest-growing cybersecurity threat trend in both the PC and Mac sectors. The only difference is that Windows PCs are much better at recognizing these threats.
As the share of Apple computers has grown significantly, they peru number data have become a more attractive target for cybercriminals who develop and distribute adware, as well as other code that Malwarebytes calls "potentially unwanted programs."
Global Desktop Operating Systems Market
OS type Market share
Windows 77.7%
OS X 17.04%
Linux 1.9%
Chrome OS 1.52%
FreeBSD 0%
Other (unspecified) 1.83%
Source: Desktop Operating System Market Share Worldwide. January, 2020
While these threats are not considered as dangerous as traditional malware, they are becoming an increasingly serious problem for Mac users, who can no longer claim that their beloved systems are protected from malware, researchers at Malwarebytes Labs said in a recent report.
If we calculate the number of threats for each system, the number of threats targeting MacOS outnumbered Windows by a ratio of almost 2:1 in 2019.
The full report details a more than 400 percent overall increase in Mac-related threats for consumers and businesses in 2019, as well as a significant increase in the number of malware detections per system, from 4.8 in 2018 to 11.0 in 2019. That’s double the number of similar threats detected on Windows PCs, which saw 5.8 in 2019. Cybercriminals are targeting Macs more aggressively because Apple’s built-in security doesn’t block “adware and potentially unwanted software as effectively as it does malicious code.” This makes it easier for malware to infiltrate MacOS computers.
The most common threats for Mac systems, according to the results of 2019
The most common threats for Mac systems, according to the results of 2019
Overall, the majority of Mac threats are various forms of adware and potentially unwanted software. Malwarebytes notes in its report that a pair of Mac threats topped the list of most common malware, coming in second and third place. This is the first time this has happened. One of them, called PCVARK — a generic term for “system optimizers” or “garbage cleaners” that claim to make your system faster — was only in 31st place on the list in 2018. In total, about 25 million PCVARK attacks on Mac systems have been recorded in the past. At the top of the list was the adware A dware.NewTab, which carried out almost 30 million attacks in 2019 .
Meanwhile, the main threat to Windows PCs was Adware.MindSpark , with infections increasing by 497% from 2018 to 2019. However, the total number of infected PCs was relatively small at just 2 million. Adware.Yontoo accounted for just over 3 million infected business computers. And while Trojans and other more serious forms of malware dominate PCs, Adware attacks are the fastest-growing cybersecurity threat trend in both the PC and Mac sectors. The only difference is that Windows PCs are much better at recognizing these threats.