To provide an additional layer of protection, macOS incorporates a component called Gatekeeper. This feature examines every app for malware during the installation process and also performs periodic checks each time the app is launched. Furthermore, Gatekeeper analyzes non-malicious apps for potential security issues. Starting from macOS Catalina, apps are required to obtain permission before accessing critical areas of the system. Additionally, in Catalina, the operating system is stored on a read-only drive partition that is separate from other programs.

In the macOS environment, apps are isolated and restricted to accessing their own allocated resources. This security measure prevents viruses from modifying other programs and banking Trojans from reading browser memory to steal private data. Even if an app manages to breach this isolation and access another program’s memory, features such as ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) make it difficult to find any valuable information stored in memory.

While many PC manufacturers exist, Macs are solely produced by Apple. This grants the company complete control over the hardware, including the T2 chip found in newer Macs. The T2 chip establishes a Secure Enclave, a highly protected memory region that is inaccessible to any process not associated with macOS. Moreover, it manages features like Touch ID and encrypted storage.

Despite the various security measures in place, macOS malware does exist, and significant attacks have occurred in recent years. For instance, in 2021, the silver Sparrow malware downloader managed to infect 30,000 Macs before it was detected. The notorious LockBit ransomware also expanded its reach to target Apple Silicon Macs. Additionally, potential hackers can acquire malware such as the Atomic macOS Stealer, designed to access keychain passwords and other sensitive data, for just $1,000. There have even been instances of crafty Trojan-style PDF viewers that functioned normally until triggered by a specific PDF file. The list of such incidents goes on.

While Macs are generally considered less susceptible to malware compared to Windows PCs or Android devices, the notion that Macs are immune to malware is undeniably false. Unlike Windows, macOS does not include a built-in antivirus utility. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you obtain antivirus protection for your Mac if you haven’t done so already.

In fact, iOS has become so secure that it is virtually impossible to create antivirus software specifically designed for the platform. A report by Malwarebytes from a couple of years ago noted a significant increase in macOS malware but stated, «On the iOS side, malware exists, but there’s no way to scan for it.» The report further explained that the majority of iOS malware is associated with nation-state efforts rather than posing a threat to the average user.

Even when malware developers or researchers manage to create iOS malware, it tends to have significant limitations. For example, the checkm8 technique discovered in 2019 enables a partial jailbreak of older iPhones from the iPhone 4s to the iPhone X. However, implementing checkm8 requires physical access to the phone, which must be connected to a desktop computer. Another technique called NoReboot allows malware to persist through an iPhone reboot, but it achieves this by deceiving the user into believing the phone has rebooted when it hasn’t.

There is no need to search for a collection of iOS antivirus products because it simply doesn’t exist. If you exclusively use iOS (and iPadOS) devices, you generally do not require antivirus software. However, it is still advisable to use an iPhone VPN in certain moments.

Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS all include protection against malware, in one way or another. For some, protection takes the form of a full-on antivirus. For others, security is baked into the OS thoroughly enough that malware has a hard time doing anything. Either way, you can improve your protection by installing a third-party antivirus.

What should I consider regarding the built-in VPN on my phone?

Many readers have asked about utilizing the free VPN built into their iPhones. While there is a VPN configuration page in the Settings, it cannot be used without manually setting up a VPN profile, which can be a complex process. The key component of this profile is the VPN server you wish to connect to, and to access that server, you will need to subscribe to a paid service that typically comes with its own dedicated app. Therefore, it is recommended to use a reliable VPN app like ProtonVPN or any other app that suits your needs. This same situation applies to Android devices as well.

If you explore the Settings on your iPhone, you will find a section for controlling your VPN, but it ultimately leads to a dead-end. In the case of an iPhone, navigating to the VPN & Device Management settings only directs you to the «Add VPN Configuration» option, without further functionality. On Android devices (at least on the device used for testing), the VPN settings display as «None.» Unfortunately, this means that your phone does not have a built-in VPN client available.

How can you safeguard your devices using antivirus and VPN?

If you are using a Windows computer or an Android device, it is highly recommended to install a third-party antivirus utility. While Microsoft Defender has improved, it still falls short compared to the top competitors, including the best free options. Similarly, Google Play Protect has proven to be ineffective in providing comprehensive protection.

Despite Mac’s reputation for being resistant to malware, Mac users still need protection. Studies have shown that Macs are being infected at a higher rate than PCs. Therefore, it is important to prioritize security on Mac systems as well.

When it comes to iOS devices, such as iPhones and iPads, Apple has implemented robust security measures right from the start. The built-in security features make it extremely challenging for attacks to succeed, although not entirely impossible. Due to the high level of security already present on iOS, it is difficult to develop dedicated iOS antivirus software. Instead, focus on allocating the time and resources you saved from not installing iOS protection towards ensuring the security of your other devices.

For comprehensive guidance on initiating the security measures for your devices, please refer to the article «How to Check Your Security Software, Settings, and Status.»

Each of these antivirus solutions offers a range of features to provide users with optimal protection and security. These features include advanced malware protection, real-time scanning, boot time scans, rootkit detection and prevention, firewall protocols, web browser protection, and more. The antivirus software will automatically update itself regularly to block any newly discovered malware.

Furthermore, these antivirus solutions allow users to customize their protection settings according to their unique needs and preferences. Users can choose from various customizable options, such as scheduling scans and detecting suspicious activity. Additionally, most of these programs provide additional layers of security by utilizing features like firewall protocols and web browser protection.

The findings of the report revealed that AhnLab achieved the highest overall score of 97%, followed by Avast with 96%, AVG with 95%, Avira with 94%, Bitdefender with 93%, ESET with 92%, F-Secure with 91%, G DATA with 90%, K7 Computing with 89%, Kaspersky with 88%, Malware Bytes with 87%, McAfee with 86%, Microsoft with 85%, Microworld with 84%, Norton with 83%, PC Matic with 82%, Protectednet with 81%, and Trend Micro with 80%.

These antivirus programs offer comprehensive protection against online and offline malware and viruses without causing noticeable performance impact or excessive resource usage when running alongside other applications.

The report also noted that while most of these antivirus programs have free versions with basic features included, some paid versions may provide additional features like advanced malware detection or parental controls. These added features can be beneficial for specific users or households with young children who require extra security measures while browsing the internet or downloading files from unfamiliar sources.

Overall, antivirus software is essential for all computer users, and it offers a range of features and options that can be tailored to fit any budget or security requirements. Whether opting for the free version or investing in a more advanced paid version, staying informed and utilizing available tools is crucial to protect your computer from potential threats. With the right antivirus software in place, you can have peace of mind knowing that your computer is safe and secure while maximizing your online experience.

This is usually a certificate that complies with Google’s services and ensures the security of your phone. There are exceptions, but it is available on most Android devices. Here’s how to check if you have a device and how it works to protect it.

What does Play Protect mean and how to check if you’re on mobile 

Start at the end to check if the device has this certification. Note that there are exceptions only if you have installed or imported a system ROM, as it is generally included with all manufacturers. However, there is a Google list that you can check to see if you have a terminal or not. Although they claim that if you change the ROM you can lose the certificate.

And what does it mean to be certified?

Well, judging by what Google says, all licensed Google apps and services will be installed on your device. It also means that the device has successfully passed the Android compatibility test.

The absence of this certification usually comes with certain risks, such as not having a security system. And this may prevent you from receiving updates for your system or applications and services, and therefore security patches that companies periodically release to ensure the security of their mobile operating systems.

Similarly, other features, such as backups, may not be available. Regardless of where you downloaded it, you may not be able to run the application correctly in Terminal.

Lately there have been a few cases of Android virus infections infiltrating through Google Play apps. On the other hand, it is normal for Google Play to be a safe place.

The fact that the mobile device is Play Protect certified and the app can be downloaded from Google Play means that the company itself is behind these public apps. As such, it sets a number of security requirements and filters that prevent the intrusion of malicious apps.

In fact, a look at the recently discovered malware found in Google Play apps shows that these apps are secure from the get-go. In fact, cybercriminals use other methods to infiltrate Trojans.

The most common one, and the one Play Protect is ultimately not interested in, is for apps to prompt victims to download expected updates. It runs on a server outside of Google, so it ends up at the end of the corporate filter. In fact, to improve stability, it sometimes features a download interface that mimics Google Play, but this is not Google.

However, Google’s security policy is strict in this regard and does not seem to allow such applications that indirectly endanger users. And even if such an app sneaks in, the company will remove it from the store as soon as it finds out.

For security reasons, you should update everything.

Many attacks are caused by security flaws in devices. These are vulnerabilities that can appear, for example, in computers or cell phones. This can affect your privacy as they can access your computer and steal your data. They can even get inside a virus and crash everything.

These vulnerabilities affect not only the operating system, but also all installed applications. Extensions used by your browser can also contain security flaws. Therefore, it is very important to keep everything updated so that these errors can be repaired so that cybercriminals do not take advantage of them.

One of the security issues is keeping everything up to date. We have seen many examples of attacks using Windows bugs, routers with vulnerabilities that allow attackers to get into systems, security cameras with outdated firmware found on networks and more. Failure to update everything can cause problems.

Several computer security experts warn that simply installing an antivirus often gives a false sense of security. We think this is the only way we can be protected online. The truth is that you can be cyber-attacked simply because there are unpatched vulnerabilities. So our advice is to review and update everything you have installed.

Avoid using obsolete software

Many programs, such as operating systems, have reached the end of their useful life and are no longer updated. If this creates vulnerabilities, they will be outdated without security patches. For example, if you have an old program that you installed, an unsupported Chrome extension, or an older version of Windows that no longer receives patches.

Ideally, you should avoid using software that may not be up-to-date. Always install the latest software and make sure all browser extensions are up to date. If for some reason the application you are using is no longer updated, it is best to install an alternative application.

However, additional security measures should be taken. Do not make browsing mistakes, for example, by clicking on dangerous links or downloading potentially fraudulent files. In many cases, hackers want you to make mistakes.

As you can see, security requires everything to be up-to-date. This is much more important than using an antivirus. However, you should always follow basic security rules and use your device effectively. You can also use browser isolation for added security.

The problem arises when you start thinking that installing two different antiviruses on Windows will give you double protection. Well, the truth is that no, our PCs would not be more secure and would not be more difficult to infect, except that they could cause problems with the system.

It is technically possible, no doubt, and there is antivirus that can even have Windows Defender active at the same time, so you might think you already have two, but they are not the same thing.

You can also have two antiviruses installed on your computer. As long as both antiviruses are not running at the same time.

The moment they both run at the same time, the error starts. So, we tell you why you should not install more than one antivirus on your Windows PC.

Detection conflict

To protect your pc from viruses and malware, any antivirus software should be able to access the high-level system. It should also be able to determine file types and areas within the kernel, as many threats often target this part of the system.

A self-respecting antivirus installs event interceptors to detect and protect the system from suspicious activity, analyses event information and forwards suspicious files through malware scanners.

The problem with two antiviruses running at the same time is that they can step on each other’s toes and allow malware to escape and cause serious damage to your computer.

False Positive

Having two antivirus programs on your computer may seem to work, but in reality many results can be false positives.

This could be the case, for example, if one of your antivirus programs detects and quarantines a suspicious file, and another software that detects the file tries the same operation, arrives late and places the file.

This makes it difficult to remove infected files, resulting in many false virus warnings.

Too much pressure on resources

An antivirus program must always be running. That is, it runs in the background most of the time. This puts a significant strain on system resources, especially if you don’t have a powerful computer.

Now imagine what simultaneous operation of two antivirus programs can do in this regard. This resource «consumption» can multiply if the two pieces of software start to compete with each other and give false positives, as we saw in the previous point.

Wasting time

The first thing to think about is that having two programs doing what one can do is a waste of time.

Another obvious fact that everyone should understand is that it is much better to properly configure and manage one antivirus program than to manage two programs in between.

Perhaps this waste of time is imperceptible, especially if you have a powerful computer, but it is true because nowadays you are wasting resources and at the same time valuable time.

Exceptions

Even with programs from different manufacturers, we can talk about exceptions when several parts that are often included in complex security systems are installed independently.

For example, you may have an antivirus from the manufacturer, and the rest may be a firewall, VPN or password manager from another company.

In this case, as long as the installed tools are not duplicated and cannot be stepped on, the computer can run smoothly, and we will talk about exceptions.

The truth is that you would like to think that doubling the number of antivirus programs installed will double your level of protection, but unfortunately this is not true and will cause a lot of problems for your computer.

Organizations such as the National Institute for Cyber Security (Incibe) help to prevent and deal with «cyber incidents» that may occur. To avoid accidents and make safe and responsible use of the Internet, the Asociación de Autoayuda Sanitaria (anefp) joins INCIBE in good cybersecurity habits and recommends a series of recommendations for good digital health.

Tips

Device updates: hardware updates are required to avoid accidents. It is very important to keep all apps updated and check the permissions they request before installing them.

Use complex passwords: some websites allow six-digit passwords, but we recommend that they be a bit more complex. It is also good advice to make changes from time to time and not to share.

Don’t connect to open Wi-Fi networks: IT experts agree that these types of networks open to the public are one of the main ways in which strangers access mobile devices and computers. Therefore, it is always better to use mobile data and VPNs (Virtual Private Network) and avoid using these public Wi-Fi networks to carry out operations that require the use of private data.

Check the URLs: before clicking on the Internet addresses that reach the furniture and transport it is advisable to check their legitimacy, being particularly careful when changing some of them, such as the L for the I.

Pay attention to SMS from banks and shipping companies: Lately it has become popular to impersonate entities. They send a warning about urgent matters such as that a package has been confiscated in customs or that you owe money.

Keep an eye on what we post: Almost everyone on the planet has an account on Twitter, Facebook, or other social networks. The problem is that we often do not think or pay attention to what we post, offering a lot of sensitive information about our private lives. It is very important to keep your profile private.

Antivirus: Always have an antivirus installed and updated.

If you follow these habits you can avoid big problems in the future and thus be able to enjoy and have a good digital health.

Despite the fact that we have been hearing about computer viruses for decades, infection of personal devices remains a real and constant problem that can affect anyone at any time and at any moment. That’s why David Amrani, infrastructure protection specialist at Telefónica, says that having an antivirus is «a strong recommendation, even for people who use their devices responsibly and carefully». Despite the security built into today’s operating systems, they still do not cover «all the fronts that need to be protected,» he said.

Specifically, antivirus companies specialize in blocking all the doors through which viruses can enter. Because if it is true that no antivirus software can «guarantee absolute security», Amrani pointed out, then «they offer more than superior protection». «A computer without antivirus software is only a matter of time before it becomes infected with a virus, with consequences ranging from theft or deletion of information to damage to the device or misuse of the device,» he warned. such as online crime or cryptocurrency mining. 

For all of the above, cybersecurity experts recommend looking at three basic keys when choosing between one antivirus or another:

PC capacity. «The best antivirus software is the one that consumes most of the computer’s resources,» says Amrani. Even so, we must know the RAM memory, processor and storage capacity of the device to know what kind of antivirus software is worth installing without affecting the device’s performance.

What you use the device for. Most computer viruses are found on the Internet, in the files we download and the websites we visit. Therefore, the expert points out that «the more you use the Internet, the better antivirus software you should have». 

Main vulnerabilities. Not all computer threats work in the same way or gain access to computers through the same place. Therefore, we must take into account the most sensitive aspects that we want to protect as users. «For example, if you want to avoid being tracked, you should hire an antivirus with a good firewall and a Trojan service that prevents suspicious connections. On the other hand, if you have very important files that should not be deleted in any way, apart from creating backup copies, you should hire an antivirus that is particularly good at detecting viruses,» said Amrani.

Among the many areas of software that we can use today, there are many programs that aim to help us clean and optimize the Microsoft system. Basically, what we are looking for with all of these is to improve the overall functionality and performance of Windows.

However, the applications we are discussing are not always the best suited to achieve the goals we are discussing. In fact, the sheer number of titles associated with this type of search, both free and paid, can be a bit confusing at times.

At first and by default they promise to optimize the system and improve the speed of system operation. But once we fall into their net, we soon realize that those promises were ultimately not fulfilled. Moreover, in some cases, this so-called Windows cleaner and optimizer actually harms our computer in some way. That’s why we are now going to talk about some of the main reasons why you should not trust or use this kind of software tools.

Many functions do nothing

These types of Windows cleaning and optimizing applications usually do not speed up your computer or increase its performance. It is true that these promises are very attractive to a large number of users, but in reality, they end up emptying the Recycle Bin and deleting temporary files or some Internet files. This information takes up only a small amount of disk space, but does not affect the overall performance of Windows.

Windows already has its own optimization functions

Over the years and with the appearance of new versions of Microsoft’s operating system, its functionality has increased exponentially. Currently, we can find several tools that take care of solving the problems encountered in Windows by themselves. In addition, in parallel, we can use a multitude of functions that also take care of PC maintenance without the need for third-party software.

Among the most notable are the hard disk defragmentation tool, another tool to remove unnecessary content, administrative tools and more.

A problem with the antivirus

It should also be noted that some of these cleaning and optimization tools start to give problems from the first minute. And is that the antivirus software that we have installed on our computer can begin to detect it as malicious from the first moment. In fact, many such solutions have been discovered that include their own hidden malware, which is why the antivirus warns us.

Not all programs are reliable.

We must also remember that one of the biggest dangers of using cleanup tools is that not all of them are trustworthy. Some attackers take advantage of the trust of less experienced users and inject malicious code into their projects.

For example, on many occasions we have encountered applications that come with ransomware to hijack the system and claim rewards for unlocking your files.

Rather than helping, they harm Windows

Undoubtedly the downloading and installation of these programs is done to improve overall system performance. However, on certain occasions they do more harm than good when we put them to work. For example, there are tools of this type that make changes to the registry in principle to clean it but end up damaging it.

Also, many of these solutions include additional programs in their installation that end up being detrimental to the Microsoft system. We are talking about applications that we did not expect and that are responsible for launching advertisements and are constantly running in the background.

Undoubtedly, downloading and installing such programs is done to improve overall system performance. However, in some cases, they do more harm than good when we use them. For example, there are such tools that initially modify the registry to clean the registry, but end up corrupting the registry.

In addition, many of these solutions include other additional programs in their installation process, which will eventually damage the Microsoft system. We are talking about applications that we do not expect to be responsible for launching ads and constantly running in the background.