'''Mac Defender''' (noto anche come '''Mac Protector''', '''Mac Security'''<ref name=how-to-avoid>{{Cita web|titolo=Come evitare o rimuovere il malware Mac Defender|url=httphttps://support.apple.com/kb/HT4650?viewlocale=it_IT|opera=Apple Support|accesso=29 maggio 2011|data=25 maggio 2011}}</ref> e '''Mac Guard'''<ref>Intego ''Mac Security Blog'' 25 May 2001, http://blog.intego.com/2011/05/25/intego-security-memo-new-mac-defender-variant-macguard-doesnt-require-password-for-installation/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527094155/http://blog.intego.com/2011/05/25/intego-security-memo-new-mac-defender-variant-macguard-doesnt-require-password-for-installation/ |data=27 maggio 2011 }}</ref>) è un [[malware]] mascherato da un programma [[antivirus]] che gira su computer con [[Mac OS XmacOS]]. Le prime "indiscrezioni" di tale software sono emerse nel maggio 2011<ref name=wisniewski>{{Cita web|cognome=Wisniewski|nome=Chester|titolo=Mac users hit with fake anti-virus when using Google image search|url=httphttps://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/05/02/mac-users-hit-with-fake-av-when-using-google-image-search/|opera=Naked Security|editore=Sophos|accesso=24 maggio 2011|data=2 maggio 2011}}</ref>. Il software è stato descritto come la prima minaccia assoluta [[malware]] per la piattaforma [[Macintosh]]<ref>"Macs face first virus threat" 4th May, 2011, https://www.techday.co.nz/netguide/news/macs-face-first-virus-threat/20020/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009063519/http://www.techday.co.nz/netguide/news/macs-face-first-virus-threat/20020/ |data=9 ottobre 2011 }}</ref><ref>"Say hello to MAC Defender, the first major widespread piece of Mac based malware." {{cita web |url=http://www.left-click.us/news/blog/mac-defender |titolo=Copia archiviata |accesso=27 maggio 2011 |urlmorto=sì |urlarchivio=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626231144/http://www.left-click.us/news/blog/mac-defender |dataarchivio=26 giugno 2012 }}</ref><ref>"Mac Defender has been making a lot of noise as one of the first major Mac security threats" Adam Dachis, 25 May, 2011, "How to Protect Your Computer from Mac Defender and Its Counterparts" httphttps://lifehacker.com/5805609/how-to-protect-your-computer-from-mac-defender-and-macguard</ref><ref>"By and large, Mac users have been able to escape the onslaught of malware that their Windows counterparts suffer from." May 2, 2011 2:34 pm by Dan Moren "New Mac Trojan horse masquerades as virus scanner" httphttps://www.macworld.com/article/159595/2011/05/macdefender_trojan_horse.html</ref><ref>"The old saw that Macs don't get viruses is under fire as a piece of malware called Mac Defender is rampaging across the Web." Rich Trenholm, 19 May 2011, ''Cnet.com'', "Mac Defender fake antivirus software is first major attack on Apple computers
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/mac-defender-fake-antivirus-software-is-first-major-attack-on-apple-computers-50003812/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722084915/http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/mac-defender-fake-antivirus-software-is-first-major-attack-on-apple-computers-50003812/ |data=22 luglio 2011 }}</ref>.
