Each and every known virus has its own definition and as more and more viruses are being created all the time (along with other malicious programs known collectively as malware), these virus definitions have to be continually updated and the quicker they are updated the quicker your Mac is protected.Īt this point in time, cloud-based antiviruses have a clear edge over their locally installed counterparts for three main reasons. Virus definitions essentially tell an antivirus program how to identify specific viruses. With that in mind, here are three points to check so you know you’re buying the best antivirus software for your Mac.ġ.Check your antivirus software updates virus definitions in short order XProtect on its own is nowhere near enough. In other words, if you have a Mac, you must protect it with proper antivirus software. Virus-creators know that Macs are powerful machines which are bought by people of good financial standing and so they are becoming increasingly popular targets. The reason for this is that the nature of viruses has changed from being all about causing damage to being mostly about gaining some form of advantage, usually financial. Over recent years Macs have changed from being at minimal risk from viruses to being prime targets for viruses.