spectra9

Q: what is the best antivirus for my mac?

Just wondering what the best antivirus would be for my macbook?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 15, 2012 8:01 PM

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Q: what is the best antivirus for my mac?

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Feb 26, 2013 3:45 PM in response to ronfromtoronto
    Level 9 (50,861 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 26, 2013 3:45 PM in response to ronfromtoronto

    You are welcome to guess.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Feb 26, 2013 3:55 PM in response to ronfromtoronto
    Level 8 (49,654 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 26, 2013 3:55 PM in response to ronfromtoronto

    Which one of the security products you mentioned prevented that from occurring? Go ahead, guess.

  • by Michael Booth1,

    Michael Booth1 Michael Booth1 Feb 28, 2013 10:47 PM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 28, 2013 10:47 PM in response to MadMacs0

    MadMacs0- please refer to Wired Magazie's article on Mr Kaspersky. He does all kinds of work for the present KGB and the Russian Government. Please read the article.MB

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Feb 28, 2013 11:31 PM in response to Michael Booth1
    Level 5 (4,791 points)
    Feb 28, 2013 11:31 PM in response to Michael Booth1

    Thanks for pointing it out. Good read. Especially since I was watching this weeks episode of "The Americans" http://www.fxnetworks.com/theamericans when your note arrived.

  • by ale1964@gmail,

    ale1964@gmail ale1964@gmail Mar 12, 2013 6:47 AM in response to spectra9
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mar 12, 2013 6:47 AM in response to spectra9

    any computer connected to the internet can be as risk. even macs. viruses are not a big problem on the mac (yet), but macs can get spyware and perhaps malware. get a program called macscan and run it. Odds are it will find some spyware. http://macscan.securemac.com/

     

    Ive used macs for 22 years online, never had a virus that i've known of. I've always used some free AV program for protection.

     

    macs certainly don't have all the issues that windows has, but it's not wise to assume the mac is 100% safe.

     

    by the way, if you have an iphone or ipad, my understanding is that those devices have zero security. none. It be very leary of logging into my bank account using an iphone or ipad.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Mar 12, 2013 7:08 AM in response to ale1964@gmail
    Level 9 (53,766 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 12, 2013 7:08 AM in response to ale1964@gmail

    Maybe you should check out software before recommending something like Macscan.

     

    As ia stated at http://www.thesafemac.com/macscan-disappoints/ which I concur with Macscan is not recommended.

     

    I would also like to know where you managed to find information for yoor claim of zero protection on iPod, iPhone and iPad because I certainly can't find anything to support that claim.

     

    Allan

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 12, 2013 7:07 AM in response to ale1964@gmail
    Level 9 (50,861 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 12, 2013 7:07 AM in response to ale1964@gmail

    I have to agree with Allan here, MacScan is useless, and by imparting a false sense of security it could be harmful.

  • by ale1964@gmail,

    ale1964@gmail ale1964@gmail Mar 12, 2013 7:32 AM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mar 12, 2013 7:32 AM in response to Allan Eckert

    Ok so my info on macscan could be wrong. very possible. I don't claim to know it all.

     

    so the question continues? in 22 years I've never been able to answer it. Do macs need virus protection?

     

    I've always used it because it's free. whether it's needed or not I still don't know.

     

    a friend of mine who works in IT told me about the iphone and ipad. where they got the info from I have no idea.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Mar 12, 2013 7:41 AM in response to ale1964@gmail
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 12, 2013 7:41 AM in response to ale1964@gmail

    so the question continues? in 22 years I've never been able to answer it. Do macs need virus protection?

     

    Not really, not now. I've tested both Sophos and ClamXav and never had a problem with either - so I consider them 'safe' to run, and they both tested pretty well in Thomas Reed's malware 'shootout'. If you feel that you must have av software, I can recommend them both from personal use. Unlike most av software, both work pretty well and have no ill effects on your system. I tested Sophos for nearly three months - now I'm back to using ClamXav Sentry to scan my Downloads and email folders only. I'll likely leave it running for three months, as I did Sophos, just to see if there are any 'bugs' and to see if I can reasonably recommend it to others (I just don't like recommending something that I haven't tried out personally).

     

    So if you must have av software, either Sophos or ClamXav are the only two that I can personally recommend. Although neither has actually ever found any malware, trojans, viruses, etc.

     

    Note that I DO use av software on Windows 7 - but just the built-in Microsoft Security essentials. I don't do a lot of downloading on the Windows side...

     

    Clinton

  • by ale1964@gmail,

    ale1964@gmail ale1964@gmail Mar 12, 2013 8:07 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mar 12, 2013 8:07 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    Ive used ClamX for years, but the interface is not too great and it's hard to tell if it's downloading the updates or not. I'm using sophos now... and the update files seem to be large and take time to download with my basic slow dsl.

     

    Frankly I wonder if the AV apps for the mac are just smoke and mirrors, or are they really protecting me from something?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 12, 2013 8:15 AM in response to ale1964@gmail
    Level 9 (50,861 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 12, 2013 8:15 AM in response to ale1964@gmail

    ale1964@gmail wrote:

     

    Ive used ClamX for years, but the interface is not too great and it's hard to tell if it's downloading the updates or not. I'm using sophos now... and the update files seem to be large and take time to download with my basic slow dsl.

     

    Frankly I wonder if the AV apps for the mac are just smoke and mirrors, or are they really protecting me from something?

    Not really, they may help you to not send Windows viruses on to other users (maybe) but will do little else other than waste time and space.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Mar 12, 2013 8:26 AM in response to ale1964@gmail
    Level 8 (49,654 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 12, 2013 8:26 AM in response to ale1964@gmail

    ale1964@gmail wrote:

     

    so the question continues? in 22 years I've never been able to answer it. Do macs need virus protection?

     

    As you know this question is asked every day, but the implied assumption is that OS X is not already engineered with protection against viruses and malware. It is. You do not need to use anything else.

     

    The next unstated assumption is that downloading and installing some magic wizard shield will protect you from all potential threats. They can't.

     

    All software that you install requires knowledge aforethought regarding what it is, what it does, its limitations and potential for undesirable effects on your system. Such software includes anti-virus utilities. Like anything else, use them at your own risk. Since there are no viruses for OS X - zero - such risk is avoided altogether by simply letting OS X work the way it is intended to work.

     

    Whatever you heard about the iPhone or iPad is just nonsense. It is common to hear similar, ludicrous claims from so-called IT experts. When pressed for details they have none, only stories they heard from similarly qualified IT experts.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Mar 12, 2013 8:19 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 9 (50,861 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 12, 2013 8:19 AM in response to John Galt

    I think you mean ITshirt experts.

  • by Joshwright10,

    Joshwright10 Joshwright10 Mar 12, 2013 9:49 AM in response to spectra9
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2013 9:49 AM in response to spectra9

    Sophos is a great AntiVirus and its free for personal use.. This costs a fortune for our business needs.. Bargin!

     

    http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-mac-home-ed ition.aspx

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