You would be amazed at how many people believe and how Apple Store representatives perpetuate the following myth;
"Mac's don't need an anti-virus solution". It's a Mac, it's safe by design.
FYI, Macs (5% of marketplace) come with XProtect which is an antivirus(AV) software. XProtect is not well known. It's a lightweight, behind-the-scenes guardian which uses only signature-based (known threats only) rules.
Windows (75% of marketplace) comes with Microsoft Defender is a full-featured antivirus and anti-malware suite and uses signature-based + behavioral analysis + cloud protection rules.
Linux (4% of marketplace) does not have a default AV. The common free (sudo apt install clamav) ClamAV, which is signature-based and has basic heuristic capabilities. ClamAV can perform on-access scanning and process memory scanning, though these features require setup and aren’t enabled by default. ClamAV is open-source but was purchased by Cisco Systems Inc. in 2013.
The problem with signature-based solution is you are always behind and have to play catch-up. Any new malware will easily spread before it's identified and quarantined.
Generally speaking, according to the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) All Time Board (see image below) macOS and Windows are virtually tied for number of vulnerabilities.
TL:DR
Phone Security Brief
Source: Top 50 products having highest number of cve security vulnerabilities (cvedetails.com)
Mac OS X covers a longer historical period, including older versions like Leopard, Snow Leopard, etc.
macOS versions (like Catalina (2019), Big Sur, Monterey) benefit from more advanced security features and sandboxing.
Phone Security Details
Sandboxing implementation for phones, neither promote or have a built-in antivirus, for fear of bad publicity and performance.
Android
Kernel-Level Sandbox: Each app runs with a unique Linux UID, isolating it at the process level using standard UNIX-style permissions.
SELinux Enforcement: Since Android 5.0, SELinux adds mandatory access control, and by Android 9, each app gets its own SELinux context.
Seccomp Filters: Android 8.0 introduced syscall filtering to limit what apps can do at the kernel level.
App Runtime (ART): Replaced Dalvik VM, offering process-level isolation and performance optimization.
iOS
Strict App Sandboxing: Every app is confined to its own directory with limited access to system resources and other apps.
Entitlements System: Apps must declare specific permissions (e.g., access to iCloud or camera), which are cryptographically signed and enforced.
ASLR & Execute Never (XN): Memory protection techniques like Address Space Layout Randomization and marking memory pages as non-executable prevent code injection attacks.
🔐 iOS App Security
Strengths:
Closed ecosystem: Apple tightly controls the App Store, vetting apps for malware and enforcing strict privacy guidelines.
Sandboxing: Apps are isolated from each other and the system, reducing the risk of cross-app data leaks.
Frequent updates: Apple supports older devices longer, ensuring timely security patches.
Privacy-first features: iOS includes indicators for microphone/camera use, approximate location sharing, and tracker blocking in Safari.
Weaknesses:
Limited customization: Users have less control over app permissions compared to Android.
Apple-centric data flow: A study found iPhones send more data to Apple servers than Android does to Google—but less to third parties.
🔐 Android App Security
Strengths:
Customizability: Users can fine-tune app permissions and install apps from outside the Play Store.
Security platforms: Some manufacturers (e.g., Samsung with Knox) offer enhanced device-level security.
Google Play Protect: Scans apps for malware, though effectiveness varies.
Weaknesses:
Fragmentation: Different manufacturers and OS versions lead to inconsistent security updates.
Third-party exposure: Android apps tend to send more data to external servers, including those in countries with questionable privacy laws.
Higher malware risk: Open app ecosystem makes Android more vulnerable to malicious apps.
