-->
Applies to:
What is Mac Defender? Mac Defender is a fake antivirus program that tries to trick you into installing it on your OS X system (there is also a Windows variant). The program can be automatically.
Want to experience Defender for Endpoint? Sign up for a free trial.
This topic describes how to deploy Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on macOS manually. A successful deployment requires the completion of all of the following steps:
Prerequisites and system requirements
How to avoid or remove Mac Defender malware in Mac OS X v10.6 or earlier Learn how to avoid or remove Mac Defender malware in Mac OS X v10.6 or earlier. A phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. Mac Defender doesn't mark the beginning of the Mac Malware Apocalypse. But Mac users should still pay attention and be prepared to change their computing habits.
Before you get started, see the main Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on macOS 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:
Kogent Defender Mac Os Download
In Microsoft Defender Security Center, go to Settings > Device Management > Onboarding.
In Section 1 of the page, set operating system to macOS 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.
Application installation (macOS 10.15 and older versions)
To complete this process, you must have admin privileges on the device.
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:
The installation proceeds.
Caution
If you don't select Allow, the installation will proceed after 5 minutes. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint 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 device upon the first installation of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Real-time protection will not be available until the device is rebooted.
Application installation (macOS 11 and newer versions)
To complete this process, you must have admin privileges on the device.
Navigate to the downloaded wdav.pkg in Finder and open it.
Select Continue, agree with the License terms, and enter the password when prompted.
At the end of the installation process, you'll be promoted to approve the system extensions used by the product. Select Open Security Preferences.
From the Security & Privacy window, select Allow.
Repeat steps 3 & 4 for all system extensions distributed with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Mac.
As part of the Endpoint Detection and Response capabilities, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Mac inspects socket traffic and reports this information to the Microsoft Defender Security Center portal. When prompted to grant Microsoft Defender for Endpoint permissions to filter network traffic, select Allow.
Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy and navigate to the Privacy tab. Grant Full Disk Access permission to Microsoft Defender ATP and Microsoft Defender ATP Endpoint Security Extension.
Client configuration
Copy wdav.pkg and MicrosoftDefenderATPOnboardingMacOs.py to the device where you deploy Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on macOS.
The client device isn't associated with org_id. Note that the org_id attribute is blank.
Run the Python script to install the configuration file:
Verify that the device is now associated with your organization and reports a valid org ID:
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 for Endpoint 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 for Endpoint.
Run an AV detection test to verify that the device is properly onboarded and reporting to the service. Perform the following steps on the newly onboarded device:
Ensure that real-time protection is enabled (denoted by a result of 1 from running the following command):
Open a Terminal window. Copy and execute the following command:
The file should have been quarantined by Defender for Endpoint on Mac. Use the following command to list all the detected threats:
Run an EDR detection test to verify that the device is properly onboarded and reporting to the service. Perform the following steps on the newly onboarded device:
In your browser such as Microsoft Edge for Mac or Safari.
Download MDATP MacOS DIY.zip from https://aka.ms/mdatpmacosdiy and extract.
You may be prompted:
Do you want to allow downloads on 'mdatpclientanalyzer.blob.core.windows.net'?
You can change which websites can download files in Websites Preferences.
Click Allow.
Open Downloads.
You should see MDATP MacOS DIY.
Tip
If you double-click, you will get the following message:
'MDATP MacOS DIY' cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verifier.
macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware.
[Move to Trash][Cancel]Click Cancel.
Right-click MDATP MacOS DIY, and then click Open.
The system should display the following message:
macOS cannot verify the developer of MDATP MacOS DIY. Are you sure you want to open it?
By opening this app, you will be overriding system security which can expose your computer and personal information to malware that may harm your Mac or compromise your privacy.Click Open.
The system should display the following message:
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint - macOS EDR DIY test file
Corresponding alert will be available in the MDATP portal.Click Open.
In a few minutes an alert named 'macOS EDR Test Alert' should be raised.
Go to Microsoft Defender Security Center (https://SecurityCenter.microsoft.com).
Go to the Alert Queue.
Look at the alert details and the device timeline, and perform the regular investigation steps.
Kogent Defender Mac Os X
Logging installation issues
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 for Endpoint on macOS from client devices.
Back in March, Microsoft first announced that it will release Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac. Following internal testing and private preview, Microsoft yesterday announced the public preview of Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac. Based on the feedback from customers during the private preview period, Microsoft has made the following improvements to the product.
- Enhanced accessibility
- Improved performance
- improved client product health monitoring
- Localization into 37 languages
- Improved anti-tampering protections
- Feedback and samples can now be submitted via the interface.
- Product health can be queried with JAMF or the command line.
- Admins can set their cloud preference for any location, not just for those in the US.
Microsoft Defender ATP on Mac can run on devices running macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, or macOS Sierra. During the preview period, Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac will allow end users to review and perform configuration of their protection, including:
- Running scans, including full, quick, and custom path scans (we recommend quick scans in nearly all scenarios)
- Reviewing detected threats
- Taking actions on threats, including quarantine, remove, or allow
You can learn more about Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac here.
Source: Microsoft