Does malware exist on the Mac OS X platform?

The answer is yes. Apple's built-in security system does a reasonable job in keeping malware at bay, and there are indeed fewer viruses and malware on the Mac OS. However, with the increase of Macs on the market, they are vulnerable to some malware.

What is Malware, and why should I care?

Malware, or Malicious Software, is used to either gather information or gain access to your system or network. It is incorporate all forms of computer attacks, as opposed to merely referring to them all as computer viruses. Because different types of attacks often have different motivations and infect your system in entirely different ways. The most common malware is:
 
       ●Viruses
       ●Worms
       ●Adware
       ●Trojan
       ●Rootkits
       ●Ransomware
 
A Virus is usually hidden within another program or file that will attempt to replicate itself in an attempt to destroy data and corrupt your system. The virus will only start to replicate when the folder that contains it is moved or opened. Germs are often built with the intent of destroying your machine.
 
A Worm behaves similarly to a virus. However, a worm will not require any human interaction. It is a standalone program and can replicate itself within your system with no social interaction or help. The purpose of the Worm is to destroy data and corrupt the system.
 
Adware is the type of malware with which the majority of users are most familiar with. Adware is what will automatically display advertisements while you are online, and often these ads are unwanted and unwarranted. It will continuously slow down websites, and hackers can infect your system if clicked. And then the hackers will input different types of viruses, worms, rootkits, or Trojans to your computer, which is so terrible. So we suggest using an ad blocker when online to help keep you safe from potential attacks.
 
A Trojan horse attack is a type of attack that will appear as a useful or needed utility or software to get a user to download the file. To keep you protected from Trojan attacks, you only need to download files from reputable websites and do not click on any links in spam emails. Besides, many antivirus software offers the ability to verify single downloaded files quickly so that you can quarantine and check a folder is safe before opening.

Read more? Do You Need Install Antivirus for Mac OS?