Apple MacBook Users Are Getting Antivirus Software From Microsoft

This is probably the first time when a Windows-grade antivirus software will be available for Mac users.

Windows anti-virus software running on MacBook? It’s happening now. 

(Photo: Microsoft altered by The Quint)

Microsoft is rolling out its Windows Defender anti-virus software to Apple's operating system MacOS, with full virus and threat protection along with the usual ability to perform quick or full scans.

No, this is not an early April Fools Day prank. In fact, Microsoft has not only decided it’s time to cater to Apple users, it has also renamed its existing software for users across platforms.

Defender is Microsoft’s default protection against viruses, built into Windows 10 devices already and delivering satisfactory results.

While in the process of creating a dedicated Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for Mac, the software giant has renamed its Windows Defender ATP to Microsoft Defender ATP, the company informed via a blog-post on Thursday.

The ATP for Mac OS is limited to businesses for now, and even they’re getting access to a ‘limited preview’ version for trying out the anti-virus protection in environments that have both Windows PCs and Macs.

Microsoft hasn’t said if it’ll bring a consumer version of Microsoft Defender to the Mac.

Beginning today, we’re extending our endpoint protection platform to support additional operating systems with Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for Mac, available now in limited preview.

<a href="https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2019/03/21/microsoft-defender-atp-for-mac-new-threat-and-vulnerability-management-capabilities/?ranMID=24542&amp;ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw&amp;ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-3yL.MkuapbJbUWlKq40sFw&amp;epi=TnL5HPStwNw-3yL.MkuapbJbUWlKq40sFw&amp;irgwc=1&amp;OCID=AID681541_aff_7593_1243925&amp;tduid=(ir__ojycubmgn9kfrxhyxmdf30kppu2xm3txvmbw6sjf00)(7593)(1243925)(TnL5HPStwNw-3yL.MkuapbJbUWlKq40sFw)()&amp;irclickid=_ojycubmgn9kfrxhyxmdf30kppu2xm3txvmbw6sjf00">Microsoft Blog</a>

To keep the client up to date on MacOS, the software giant is using its Auto update software, available on Apple devices that are running MacOS Mojave, MacOS High Sierra, or MacOS Sierra currently.

According to Microsoft, “Windows Defender Antivirus delivers comprehensive, ongoing and real-time protection against software threats like viruses, malware and spyware across email, apps, the cloud and the web.”

(With IANS inputs)