Microsoft Defender antivirus now available of macOS

Windows 10's default antivirus is coming to Mac devices, and an preview is available now.

Microsoft Defender ATP for macOS
Microsoft Defender ATP for macOS

Microsoft’s Windows Defender antivirus is now available for macOS users. According to a new post at the Microsoft Tech Community site, the company reveals that is renaming “Windows Defender” Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to “Microsoft Defender” Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), and with the new name, the anti-malware protection is now coming to Mac devices.

The security software has a similar interface to the one found on Windows 10, and it offers virtually the same features, including protection for viruses, spyware, ransomware, and other types of malware. In addition, macOS users can also perform quick and full scans.

The final product will be available for devices running macOS Mojave, High Sierra, and Sierra. Also, Microsoft is leveraging its AutoUpdate service to keep devices up-to-date with the latest definitions for Microsoft Defender.

At the time of this writing, the anti-malware solution is only available as a preview for businesses with a mixed environment running Windows and Mac devices. However, the company hasn’t mentioned if it has intentions to make the Microsoft Defender ATP available to home users.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].