-->
Applies to:
This topic describes how to deploy Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac manually. A successful deployment requires the completion of all of the following steps:
Prerequisites and system requirements
If you need to download the software, log in to the Microsoft software campus EES Agreement with your IdentiKey and password and select the Microsoft Defender ATP software link. After successfully downloading, locate and open the Microsoft Defender package file.
Windows Defender Antivirus. Keep your PC safe with trusted antivirus protection built-in to Windows 10. 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. Mar 22, 2019 Microsoft Defender antivirus for mac download is now available for microsoft business customers. Download antivirus for mac to protect against all types of windows viruses and mac spywares, malwares as well.
Before you get started, see the main Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac page for a description of prerequisites and system requirements for the current software version.
Download installation and onboarding packages
Download the installation and onboarding packages from Microsoft Defender Security Center:
In Microsoft Defender Security Center, go to Settings > Machine Management > Onboarding.
In Section 1 of the page, set operating system to Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android and Deployment method to Local script.
In Section 2 of the page, select Download installation package. Save it as wdav.pkg to a local directory.
In Section 2 of the page, select Download onboarding package. Save it as WindowsDefenderATPOnboardingPackage.zip to the same directory.
From a command prompt, verify that you have the two files.Extract the contents of the .zip files:
Application installation
To complete this process, you must have admin privileges on the machine.
Navigate to the downloaded wdav.pkg in Finder and open it.
Select Continue, agree with the License terms, and enter the password when prompted.
Important
You will be prompted to allow a driver from Microsoft to be installed (either 'System Extension Blocked' or 'Installation is on hold' or both. The driver must be allowed to be installed.
Select Open Security Preferences or Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy. Select Allow:
Microsoft Defender For Mac Download 1
The installation proceeds.
Caution
If you don't select Allow, the installation will proceed after 5 minutes. Defender ATP will be loaded, but some features, such as real-time protection, will be disabled. See Troubleshoot kernel extension issues for information on how to resolve this.
Note
macOS may request to reboot the machine upon the first installation of Microsoft Defender. Real-time protection will not be available until the machine is rebooted.
Client configuration
Copy wdav.pkg and WindowsDefenderATPOnboarding.py to the machine where you deploy Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac.
The client machine is not associated with orgId. Note that the orgId attribute is blank.
Run the Python script to install the configuration file:
Verify that the machine is now associated with your organization and reports a valid orgId:
After installation, you'll see the Microsoft Defender icon in the macOS status bar in the top-right corner.
How to Allow Full Disk Access
Caution
macOS 10.15 (Catalina) contains new security and privacy enhancements. Beginning with this version, by default, applications are not able to access certain locations on disk (such as Documents, Downloads, Desktop, etc.) without explicit consent. In the absence of this consent, Microsoft Defender ATP is not able to fully protect your device.
To grant consent, open System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy -> Full Disk Access. Click the lock icon to make changes (bottom of the dialog box). Select Microsoft Defender ATP.
Logging installation issues
Microsoft Defender For Mac Download Mac
See Logging installation issues for more information on how to find the automatically generated log that is created by the installer when an error occurs.
Uninstallation
See Uninstalling for details on how to remove Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac from client devices.
Microsoft Defender For Mac Download Free
Mac users in years past could look smugly at Windows users, who were plagued by malware that targeted their much more popular platform. Microsoft didn’t even start bundling the Windows Defender antivirus with the operating system until fairly recently, and now it’s expanding to offer Defender to Mac users. Yes, macOS is not the malware-free oasis it once was.
The security suite bundled with Windows is called Windows Defender, but that name wouldn’t make any sense on a Mac. Thus, it’s now called Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) on Apple’s platform. The Windows version will get the same name in an update. This announcement focuses on enterprise tools, but presumably, the consumer version will get the same re-branding.
Microsoft Defender ATP is starting as a preview that runs on macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, or macOS Sierra. The preview is limited to businesses, which gives you a clue as to why Microsoft is bothering to develop these tools for macOS. The preview includes access to the Mac and updated Windows versions of Defender ATP. Running the same software on both platforms could make life much easier for IT professionals. The company does note that it will use its AutoUpdate software on Macs to ensure Defender remains updated.
Like the Windows version, Macs running Defender will have the ability to intercept potential malware before it gains a foothold on the system. In the event there’s already something malicious running, Defender can remove the infection during regular scans of the system. All security alerts feedback into the ATP security suite for IT administrators to investigate.
Windows still has more security threats that macOS, but the prevalence of malware targeting Apple’s platform has increased along with its market share. We’ve seen instances of Mac malware masquerading as popular apps to trick people into downloading, and online fraudsters have even used steganography to sneak malware onto Macs. We also know macOS is not immune to major security flaws that attackers could exploit.
Current Microsoft ATP customers can apply for access to the preview version. It’s unclear if Microsoft will make Defender ATP a consumer download on macOS. While it didn’t have a Linux announcement today, Microsoft’s demo video does seem to indicate a Linux version of Defender is on the way.
Now read: