The list of malware is also very limited, with the XProtect file containing 49 definitions at the moment. But it doesn’t take care of cleaning up any existing infections and doesn’t check to make sure your Mac is clean in the background. XProtect is just a convenient way for Apple to blacklist individual pieces of malware. ![]() RELATED: How to Open Apps from "Unidentified Developers" on Your Mac This allows Apple to put the brakes on any bit of Mac malware before it gets too out of control and ensures your Mac is protected from downloading any old pieces of malware out there. It’s just looking for a handful of bad files Apple has specifically listed. Unlike other antivirus applications, XProtect doesn’t use any sort of advanced heuristics. It only checks downloaded files run through File Quarantine, which makes it similar to the SmartScreen feature on Windows. It’s designed to sit between your Mac and the web, preventing you from running a few known-malicious applications. RELATED: Mac OS X Isn’t Safe Anymore: The Crapware / Malware Epidemic Has Begun If you disable it, your Mac won’t update its XProtect file with the latest definitions from Apple. Ensure the “Install system data files and security updates” option is enabled. To view this setting, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, and click the App Store icon. ![]() ![]() ![]() Malware definition updates arrive through Apple’s normal software update process. Like other software updates on Mac OS X, these are enabled by default, but can be disabled.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |