Mac malware is exploding, and Apple just weakened one of its key defenses
I spend most of my time in Windows, so I’m used to thinking about malware as a fact of life. You stay patched, you avoid sketchy downloads, and you accept that a bad attachment or sloppy update can ruin your day. macOS has always felt different to me. I only use it when work requires it or when I’m in my home studio recording, and in all the years I’ve owned a Mac, it has stayed blissfully untouched by anything resembling a virus.
Lately, though, I’ve started to worry that this streak won’t last. Reports of Mac malware have been climbing, and the tone from researchers is shifting from “rare but possible” to “growing fast and more profitable than ever.” To make matters worse, Apple is cutting the payouts it gives to the people who find and report macOS security flaws. As someone who relies on my Mac for creative work, the idea that attackers are getting bolder right as Apple becomes less generous with its bug bounties is not exactly comforting. This feels like a moment when Mac users should pay closer attention.
Why shrinking bug bounties matter right now as macOS threats keep rising
Apple’s decision to cut its bug bounty payouts for macOS vulnerabilities might save the company money, but it could cost users their security. Hunting down a serious flaw is usually time-consuming and rarely glamorous work. A lower payout reduces the incentive to report problems to Apple rather than keeping or selling them privately. That gap makes it more likely vulnerabilities remain undisclosed or get disclosed too late.
For everyday Mac users this matters even if they never think about bug bounties. Fewer incentives for researchers means fewer eyes on macOS security. Since macOS is already seeing more malicious activity from adware and browser hijackers to credential-stealing trojans, that drop in active scrutiny could let more issues slip through the cracks. If Apple hopes to rely on outside researchers to catch serious bugs, cutting the reward payouts is the opposite of what macOS users need.
How macOS went from a low-priority target to a growing one
For years, Mac users have enjoyed a kind of unspoken confidence that most malware simply wasn’t written for them. That’s changing. Security firms are seeing more threats aimed directly at macOS, and the tone of their reporting is noticeably different than it was a few years ago. Jamf, for example, recently noted that credential-stealing malware is now showing up far more often on Macs than it used to, and SentinelOne says it’s tracking more new macOS malware families than in prior years. These aren’t fringe blog claims; both companies regularly publish data on macOS and work with enterprise customers who depend on that data.
A lot of this shift comes down to simple math. As Macs keep gaining market share, attackers see more value in writing malware that actually targets macOS. Info-stealers in particular have become extremely popular because they go after whatever criminals can quickly turn into money: saved passwords, browser cookies, crypto wallets, and account tokens. Attackers used to rely mostly on shady adware or browser hijackers to make a buck off Mac users. Now they’re increasingly treating macOS the same way they treat Windows, as simply another platform with enough users to justify putting in the work.
What Mac users should do as threats continue to rise
The good news here is that most Mac users do not need to overhaul their entire setup to stay safe. I recommend starting with the basics that matter most. Keep macOS and your apps updated, and let those updates install automatically. Apple’s built-in protections do a solid job when they are current, but they lose a lot of their effectiveness when you fall behind. Gatekeeper should stay set to “App Store and identified developers,” and if you regularly override that prompt to install something questionable, that is the habit most likely to get you into trouble.
It also helps to treat downloads with the same skepticism you would on Windows. Avoid pirated apps, fake installers, and utilities that promise big performance boosts or miracle cleaning features. Stick to well-known sources, and pay attention to what your browser or macOS warns you about. Finally, keep a realistic view of the threat. You do not need to panic or install five security suites, but you should assume that Macs can be targeted and act accordingly. A few simple, consistent habits go a long way toward keeping your Mac secure.
Macs may still enjoy a safer experience over the average Windows PC, but the landscape is changing fast enough that Mac users should no longer assume they’re under the radar. With more attackers targeting macOS and Apple scaling back the incentives that help uncover security flaws, a little extra awareness goes a long way. You don’t need to treat your Mac like a ticking time bomb, but staying updated, being selective about what you install, and paying attention to the signals macOS gives you will keep you ahead of most threats. A few smart habits are still the best defense while the rest of the ecosystem catches up.