Apple Computers are Safer than PCs: Fact or Myth?

Before starting down this road, it would be good to clarify the question. PC stands for personal computer, so essentially all Macs are PCs, but not all PCs are Macs. To look like the most knowledgeable geek on the block, it would be better to ask, “Are Apple computers safer than Windows PCs?”, because the comparison is really Apple (aka Mac) vs. Windows.

Okay, now we can get to the nitty gritty of this topic. After working with both of these types of computers professionally since 2005, I have a good deal of data on this issue. The short answer is, both computers can get infected but Macs are definitely more resilient. But why is this the case?

Macs are generally safer than Windows systems, because:

• Windows computers are used more in the financial and corporate sector, so hackers aim to get more valuable dark web data.
• Apple computer infections are easier to rout out since viruses generally attack only one program.
• Windows computers have something called a Registry, where all commands go through. An infection can spread more easily.

That’s really the long and short of the comparison between the two. Don’t be fooled to think that you can use a Mac and do whatever you want on the Internet or download unknown files with reckless abandon. I’ve seen a number of infections from people who happened onto the wrong website and clicked on tempting things, to then call me to de-louse their system.

Anti-Virus and other Malware programs can definitely help, but they are certainly not bulletproof. The analogy I use is this: “You may line your doorway with garlic, but if you invite the vampire in, you’re gonna get bit.”
The garlic is the anti-virus program, the vampire is the virus (of course), and getting bit is clicking on “Ok” or “Yes” when something asks you to run or install something. When in doubt, a moment of pause is much better than trying to undo a spreading infection that can steal passwords and valuable data from you and your computer. It’s best to have a computer professional on call so you can ask if something you’ve run into is dangerous.