MacPaw Introduces Moonlock — a New Cybersecurity App for Mac Users
On October 28, the MacPaw team announced a brand-new release — Moonlock, a cybersecurity service for macOS. Moonlock protects Mac computers from malware in real time, continuously scanning the system in the background and blocking threats before they cause harm. This marks MacPaw’s first major release since 2022, when the company introduced SpyBuster. However, security isn’t entirely new territory for MacPaw. In 2023, the company launched a dedicated cybersecurity division, Moonlock, to focus specifically on digital protection.
The Scroll.media editorial team spoke with Oleg Stukalenko, Head of Product Management (Moonlock) at MacPaw, to learn more about the new product.
Moonlock is entering a category that most Mac users probably didn’t expect from MacPaw. There’s still a strong belief that macOS is immune to malware — and that «antivirus» is a Windows-only concept. So, why launch a security product for Mac?
The myth that Macs are completely protected from malware is gradually fading. Our recent survey of Mac users showed that 66% encountered cyber threats in the past year. MacPaw’s own malware detection rates in 2024 increased by 20% compared to 2023. One major reason is the growing popularity of the Mac.
In the last quarter alone, Mac shipments outpaced global PC market growth by almost 2×, making macOS an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals.
That’s why the demand for high-quality, easy-to-understand protection not only exists — it’s growing. Our mission is to meet that demand and raise awareness of real cyber threats among Mac users.
When Moonlock Lab launched two years ago, was a separate app already part of the plan?
Yes. From the start, our goal was to create a standalone product. When we introduced the Moonlock cybersecurity division and Moonlock Lab, our mission was to make cybersecurity accessible to everyone. We knew that to fully realize this mission, we’d need a focused, independent app.
This decision made perfect sense for two reasons, he says:
- Market need: Threats targeting Macs are increasing.
- MacPaw’s expertise: With over 15 years of experience developing for macOS, the team has a deep understanding of the system.
According to the company’s press release, Moonlock Lab previously added features to CleanMyMac, but now there’s a standalone app. Why not keep everything under one roof?
Moonlock Engine, which still provides basic protection for CleanMyMac users, was launched to help millions of users as quickly as possible. Moonlock itself is the next step in our cybersecurity evolution. Security is a complex issue that deserves full focus.
Merging products would have made CleanMyMac too heavy. Millions of people know CleanMyMac as a tool for cleaning and optimizing macOS. Integrating a full security suite would change its essence and complicate the simple experience users value.
MacPaw wanted to challenge the conservative cybersecurity market by making protection «more understandable, accessible, and human.» Building that vision required «a clean slate.»
A Moonlock subscription costs more than the company’s flagship product, CleanMyMac. Why?
Working on cybersecurity is essentially a never-ending race with malware creators. Moonlock isn’t just an app — it’s a continuous service. Moonlock Lab researchers monitor new threats daily, analyze them, develop countermeasures, and immediately integrate improvements into the product. The team also updates educational materials to keep users informed, because people are a critical part of cybersecurity.
This ongoing work requires significant resources and deep expertise. And when it comes to security, we don’t compromise. We don’t offer limited plans; every subscription gives users 100% of Moonlock’s capabilities, ensuring complete and up-to-date protection.
MacPaw has its own VPN, ClearVPN, but Moonlock also includes one. Should users expect the two products to merge?
For now, ClearVPN remains a separate product. We added VPN to Moonlock because it’s an important tool for digital privacy.
There are numerous cases where public Wi-Fi networks in cafés or airports lead to data leaks, so VPN encryption naturally complements Moonlock’s protection suite.
Tell us about investments in Moonlock, please.
MacPaw doesn’t disclose the amount invested in developing Moonlock, and that information remains confidential.
What are the KPIs for the new product? How many downloads are you aiming for by the end of the year and by the end of 2026?
I can’t share specific figures, but our main goal is clear — to protect as many Mac users as possible and raise their awareness of current threats.
Could Moonlock eventually become part of Eney?
We don’t rule that out. But for now, our focus is on successfully launching Moonlock and providing the best possible experience for our first users.
Tell us about the team behind Moonlock — how many people work on it, and what expertise do they have?
The Moonlock team includes engineers building and supporting the app, malware detection specialists, threat researchers, reverse engineers, designers, marketers — over twenty people in total. Everyone works together to make cybersecurity not only effective but also understandable for everyone.
MacPaw Introduces Moonlock — a New Cybersecurity App for Mac Users
On October 28, the MacPaw team announced a brand-new release — Moonlock, a cybersecurity service for macOS. Moonlock protects Mac computers from malware in real time, continuously scanning the system in the background and blocking threats before they cause harm. This marks MacPaw’s first major release since 2022, when the company introduced SpyBuster. However, security isn’t entirely new territory for MacPaw. In 2023, the company launched a dedicated cybersecurity division, Moonlock, to focus specifically on digital protection.
The Scroll.media editorial team spoke with Oleg Stukalenko, Head of Product Management (Moonlock) at MacPaw, to learn more about the new product.
Moonlock is entering a category that most Mac users probably didn’t expect from MacPaw. There’s still a strong belief that macOS is immune to malware — and that «antivirus» is a Windows-only concept. So, why launch a security product for Mac?
The myth that Macs are completely protected from malware is gradually fading. Our recent survey of Mac users showed that 66% encountered cyber threats in the past year. MacPaw’s own malware detection rates in 2024 increased by 20% compared to 2023. One major reason is the growing popularity of the Mac.
In the last quarter alone, Mac shipments outpaced global PC market growth by almost 2×, making macOS an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals.
That’s why the demand for high-quality, easy-to-understand protection not only exists — it’s growing. Our mission is to meet that demand and raise awareness of real cyber threats among Mac users.
When Moonlock Lab launched two years ago, was a separate app already part of the plan?
Yes. From the start, our goal was to create a standalone product. When we introduced the Moonlock cybersecurity division and Moonlock Lab, our mission was to make cybersecurity accessible to everyone. We knew that to fully realize this mission, we’d need a focused, independent app.
This decision made perfect sense for two reasons, he says:
- Market need: Threats targeting Macs are increasing.
- MacPaw’s expertise: With over 15 years of experience developing for macOS, the team has a deep understanding of the system.
According to the company’s press release, Moonlock Lab previously added features to CleanMyMac, but now there’s a standalone app. Why not keep everything under one roof?
Moonlock Engine, which still provides basic protection for CleanMyMac users, was launched to help millions of users as quickly as possible. Moonlock itself is the next step in our cybersecurity evolution. Security is a complex issue that deserves full focus.
Merging products would have made CleanMyMac too heavy. Millions of people know CleanMyMac as a tool for cleaning and optimizing macOS. Integrating a full security suite would change its essence and complicate the simple experience users value.
MacPaw wanted to challenge the conservative cybersecurity market by making protection «more understandable, accessible, and human.» Building that vision required «a clean slate.»
A Moonlock subscription costs more than the company’s flagship product, CleanMyMac. Why?
Working on cybersecurity is essentially a never-ending race with malware creators. Moonlock isn’t just an app — it’s a continuous service. Moonlock Lab researchers monitor new threats daily, analyze them, develop countermeasures, and immediately integrate improvements into the product. The team also updates educational materials to keep users informed, because people are a critical part of cybersecurity.
This ongoing work requires significant resources and deep expertise. And when it comes to security, we don’t compromise. We don’t offer limited plans; every subscription gives users 100% of Moonlock’s capabilities, ensuring complete and up-to-date protection.
MacPaw has its own VPN, ClearVPN, but Moonlock also includes one. Should users expect the two products to merge?
For now, ClearVPN remains a separate product. We added VPN to Moonlock because it’s an important tool for digital privacy.
There are numerous cases where public Wi-Fi networks in cafés or airports lead to data leaks, so VPN encryption naturally complements Moonlock’s protection suite.
Tell us about investments in Moonlock, please.
MacPaw doesn’t disclose the amount invested in developing Moonlock, and that information remains confidential.
What are the KPIs for the new product? How many downloads are you aiming for by the end of the year and by the end of 2026?
I can’t share specific figures, but our main goal is clear — to protect as many Mac users as possible and raise their awareness of current threats.
Could Moonlock eventually become part of Eney?
We don’t rule that out. But for now, our focus is on successfully launching Moonlock and providing the best possible experience for our first users.
Tell us about the team behind Moonlock — how many people work on it, and what expertise do they have?
The Moonlock team includes engineers building and supporting the app, malware detection specialists, threat researchers, reverse engineers, designers, marketers — over twenty people in total. Everyone works together to make cybersecurity not only effective but also understandable for everyone.
