Mac malware doesn't need a security flaw when users do the work
Bitdefender's latest Mac threat report shows adware gaining ground as attackers increasingly use browser scams to trick users into bypassing Apple's security protections. MacBook Air M5 Bitdefender's September 2026 macOS Threat Landscape Report analyzes more than 1.5 billion security events collected between August 2025 and July 2026. Excluding web and document threats, adware rose from 22.6% of detections in the previous report to 34.4%. Trojans remained the largest category at 45.2%, down from 51.8%. Potentially unwanted apps also fell from 25.3% to 20.4%. The shift reflects the growing prominence of malicious ads , browser redirects, and deceptive software installers that trick users into compromising their Macs. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
What happened?
Bitdefender's latest Mac threat report shows adware gaining ground as attackers increasingly use browser scams to trick users into bypassing Apple's security protections. MacBook Air M5 Bitdefender's September 2026 macOS Threat Landscape Report analyzes more than 1.5 billion security events collected between August 2025 and July 2026. Excluding web and document threats, adware rose from 22.6% of detections in the previous report to 34.4%. Trojans remained the largest category at 45.2%, down from 51.8%. Potentially unwanted apps also fell from 25.3% to 20.4%. The shift reflects the growing prominence of malicious ads , browser redirects, and deceptive software installers that trick users into compromising their Macs. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Story details
Bitdefender's latest Mac threat report shows adware gaining ground as attackers increasingly use browser scams to trick users into bypassing Apple's security protections.
MacBook Air M5 Bitdefender's September 2026 macOS Threat Landscape Report analyzes more than 1.5 billion security events collected between August 2025 and July 2026.
Excluding web and document threats, adware rose from 22.6% of detections in the previous report to 34.4%.
Why it matters
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