XProtect on Mac

Key takeaways

• XProtect is a built-in antivirus technology in macOS for signature-based malware detection
• XProtect is enabled by default on your Mac
• To ensure XProtect is active on Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update > Advanced and put checkmark next to Install system data files and security updates
• To find and access XProtect on a Mac, go to Macintosh HD > Library > Apple > System > Library > CoreServices
• We don't recommend disabling XProtect on Mac computers
• XProtect may not be effective against all online threats

Are you using Apple's built-in antivirus XProtect to protect your Mac?

While it may seem like a convenient solution, XProtect has limitations and may not provide the level of protection you need. That's where MacKeeper's Antivirus comes in. With advanced features and real-time protection, MacKeeper's Antivirus provides you with the peace of mind you need to keep your Mac safe from malware and other threats.

This guide will explain everything you need to know about XProtect on your Mac. Let’s get started by learning what XProtect is in the first place.

A note from our experts:

 

If you have any concerns about XProtect, it’s not superfluous to use a third-party antivirus tool. MacKeeper’s Antivirus provides your Mac with all-time protection.

 

Here’s how to protect your Mac with MacKeeper’s Antivirus:

1. Download MacKeeper.
2. Launch MacKeeper.
3. Select Antivirus from the left side pane.
4. Click Enable to activate real-time protection.
5. Select Start Scan.
6. If you have any threats, they’ll be stated after the scan, and you can remove them.

What is XProtect on Mac?

XProtect, or File Quarantine, is a built-in anti-malware technology that detects malware using YARA signatures, introduced in 2009 with macOS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

XProtect on Mac is a key part of Apple’s cybersecurity strategy for macOS. It comes preinstalled with your Mac, and it runs in the background, using signature-based detection to identify malware. Most of the time, you’ll barely know it’s there.

Unlike other antivirus software, XProtect only executes when you:

• Launch a downloaded app for the first time
• Change an app in the file system
• Update XProtect’s signatures.

Now that we’ve discussed what XProtect is, let’s dive into how Mac’s very own antivirus works.

How does XProtect work?

XProtect automatically updates as part of a routine, ensuring that it's always up-to-speed with the latest security definitions.

Mac’s built-in antivirus has minimal impact on system resources. Unlike other anti-malware programs, XProtect doesn't continuously monitor the system but operates silently in the background.

Its primary function is to scan downloads. Whenever you initiate a download, XProtect will analyze the file, comparing its contents to known virus definitions. If it detects any potential threats, it’ll alert you immediately. This process ensures you’re safe from malicious files without causing any significant disruption to your workflow.

Knowing what XProtect is and how it works is a must-have for this discusssion, but now we’ll explain another important nuance—how to activate it.

How to enable XProtect?

XProtect is a built-in tool on Mac that detects and blocks common threats. Therefore, you should keep XProtect up-to-date to ensure optimal protection against new malware.

Here are the steps to open XProtect on Mac and ensure it's automatically updated:

1. Select the Apple icon in the top left corner and select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.
2. Click Software Update.
3. Select the Advanced button at the bottom of the window.
4. Make sure the Install system data files and security updates option is ticked.
5. Close the System Preferences window.

How does XProtect protect your Mac?

Unlike third-party cybersecurity apps, you don’t need to enable XProtect on Mac. By default, it automatically runs alongside the rest of macOS, quietly protecting you from digital threats.

In any version of macOS, from version 10.15 (Catalina) onwards, XProtect will check for viruses and other malware in these cases:

1. The first time an app is launched.
2. Whenever an app has been changed in the file system.
3. When XProtect’s signatures are updated.

1. Automatic malware scanning when you open apps

Whenever you open an app for the first time, XProtect will scan it for viruses and other malware. If it detects any known malware, it will block it and move it to your Trash. You’ll also see an alert about it from Finder. In some cases, XProtect will also ask you to share malware samples with Apple, which helps the company improve macOS security.

2. Protection during file downloads from web

XProtect is focused on preventing rogue apps from running. If you download an infected app and try to run it, XProtect should work alongside Gatekeeper to prevent the app from running. Together, they’ll give you warnings about unsigned apps and harmful software. However, neither XProtect nor Gatekeeper will scan files as soon as they’re downloaded from the internet, so you’ll need extra protection for that.

3. Always-up-to-date threat definitions

XProtect bases its protection on YARA malware definitions. These are updated automatically, so you don’t need to do anything extra to use XProtect on your Mac with the latest definitions. If there are any substantial updates to XProtect itself, those will be handled by your computer’s normal system updates.

4. Built-in collaboration with other macOS security tools

As we mentioned earlier, XProtect is a key part of your Mac’s security, but it’s not the only protection you get. It’s actually part of Apple’s three-tiered cybersecurity strategy, which looks like this:

• Prevent malware from launching: This includes the quality controls in the App Store, as well as the Gatekeeper tool, combined with Apple Notarization.
• Blocking malware from running on customer systems: Again, this involves Gatekeeper and Notarization, as well as XProtect.
• Remediating malware that’s already executed: This is solely the responsibility of XProtect.

5. Malware detection logs and background alerts

Although XProtect runs silently in the background, macOS may still log its activity. If macOS does log anything, it will be kept in your Mac’s Unified Logging system, which you can access through the built-in Console tool.

Here’s how we can use Console to check for XProtect Activity:

1. Open Console from Applications > Utilities.
2. Check through the Reports in the side menu. Look for anything that mentions XProtect.

If you can’t find anything in Console, we suggest trying some third-party tools instead. In our tests, we had more luck with the third-party apps Ulbow and XProCheck, which showed us current XProtect activity and when the last XProtect scan was.

A hint from our experts: 

 

While XProtect offers good basic protection for Macs, it’s very limited. It won’t, for example, let you check for malware on your Mac on demand, and it won’t automatically detect malware in downloaded data. For that, we suggest using MacKeeper’s Antivirus solution, which offers both real-time and on-demand detection and removal of malicious software.

 

To run a scan with MacKeeper, simply do as follows:

1. Download, install, and run MacKeeper.
2. Select Antivirus from the side menu, and click the Start Scan button.
3. When the scan is finished, if MacKeeper has found any malware, select it, and click Delete.
4. Confirm the removal by clicking the Delete button in the pop-up.

How to check the XProtect version and status?

To ensure that your XProtect is running correctly and provides optimal protection against malicious threats on your Mac, check its installation status and the current version of XProtect.

Here's a step-by-step guide to finding the XProtect version on your Mac:

1. Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and select About This Mac from the dropdown menu.
2. Select the System Report button.
3. In the System Information window, scroll down to the Software section in the left-hand sidebar and click it.
4. Click Installations.
5. Select the Software Name column header to sort the list by name.
6. Look for XProtectPlistConfigData in the list. The version number next to it indicates the current version of XProtect installed on your Mac.

How to access XProtect?

To access XProtect on your Mac, you don't need to do anything special. XProtect is a built-in feature of the macOS operating system, and it’s automatically enabled and updated in the background.

If you still want to access XProtect, specifically the list of malicious applications that macOS checks when opening a downloaded file, open XProtect with these steps on OS X El Capitan or later:

1. Navigate to Macintosh HD/Library/Apple/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle.
2. Control-click on XProtect.bundle and select Show Package Contents.
3. Click on Contents/Resources and press the Spacebar to open the XProtect.plist file.

Once the XProtect.plist file is open, you can view the list of malicious apps that macOS checks for.

Can the user disable XProtect?

Sure, you can turn off XProtect on your Mac, but it’s not advised, as it could leave your device vulnerable to malware and other security threats.

Although, if you still need to disable the antivirus, follow these steps to deactivate XProtect:

1. Launch System Preferences and click on the Software Update icon.
2. Click Advanced.
3. Uncheck the box next to Install system data files and security updates.
4. Confirm the action by clicking OK.
5. Now, XProtect will be disabled.

Is XProtect secure enough?

XProtect on Mac primarily scans downloaded files and blocks known malware threats, but it may not be effective against new or more sophisticated malware that can evade detection.

As a wiser alternative, MacKeeper's Antivirus provides more comprehensive protection against attacks, including real-time scanning and threat detection, anti-phishing and anti-ransomware protection, and a firewall to prevent unauthorized access.

Here's a comparison table for your convenience:

Overall, while XProtect provides some protection against malware, a more advanced antivirus tool like MacKeeper can give better security for your Mac.

XProtect vs MacKeeper’s Antivirus: Which is better to secure your Mac?

As we discussed, macOS XProtect is an essential built-in security feature that helps protect your Apple device from malware and other threats. However, it's not always foolproof to run XProtect on Mac, and can be easily disabled, leaving your device vulnerable to attack.

To ensure maximum security, MacKeeper's Antivirus is a stronger alternative. It offers real-time protection against malware, ransomware, spyware, adware, and other threats that could harm your Mac.

For more information on how to keep your Mac safe and secure, we encourage you to check out our articles on how to scan Mac for malware, macOS security guide, and do Macs get viruses.