bobmax1

Q: what is the best anti virus cleaner for the mac

What is the best antivirus for mac book pro,  osx

cheers

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on May 3, 2014 11:23 AM

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Q: what is the best anti virus cleaner for the mac

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  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy May 3, 2014 11:25 AM in response to bobmax1
    Level 10 (271,392 points)
    Desktops
    May 3, 2014 11:25 AM in response to bobmax1

    The best is none because you really have no need for it.

     

    Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection

     

    An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.

    Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.

    See these Apple articles:

     

              Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection

              OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware

              OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware

              About file quarantine in OS X

     

    If you require anti-virus protection Thomas Reed recommends using Dr.Web Light from the App Store. It's free, and since it's from the App Store, it won't destabilize the system. If you prefer one of the better known commercial products, then Thomas recommends using Sophos.(Thank you to Thomas Reed for these recommendations.) If you already use Sophos, then be aware of this if you are using Mavericks: OS X Mavericks- Sophos Anti-Virus on-access scanner versions 8.0 - 9.1 may cause unexpected restarts

     

    From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:

     

    The facts are:

     

    1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.

    2. There is no anti-malware that can detect anything targeting the Mac because there

         is no Mac malware in the wild, and therefore, no "signatures" to detect.

    3. The very best way to prevent the most attacks is for you as the user to be aware that

         the most successful malware attacks rely on very sophisticated social engineering

         techniques preying on human avarice, ****, and fear.

    4. Internet popups saying the FBI, NSA, Microsoft, your ISP has detected malware on

        your computer is intended to entice you to install their malware thinking it is a

        protection against malware.

    5. Some of the anti-malware products on the market are worse than the malware

        from which they purport to protect you.

    6. Be cautious where you go on the internet.

    7. Only download anything from sites you know are safe.

    8. Avoid links you receive in email, always be suspicious even if you get something

        you think is from a friend, but you were not expecting.

    9. If there is any question in your mind, then assume it is malware.

  • by ainflorida,

    ainflorida ainflorida Dec 15, 2014 11:07 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2014 11:07 AM in response to Kappy

    This is 100% not true. I have two macbooks pros and three iMac. You have to have protection and a removal program. Nothing in this world is 100% including a Mac. Which I am a huge dan of. I run on whole company on them.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Dec 15, 2014 11:11 AM in response to ainflorida
    Level 9 (53,793 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 15, 2014 11:11 AM in response to ainflorida

    ainflorida wrote:

     

    This is 100% not true. I have two macbooks pros and three iMac. You have to have protection and a removal program. Nothing in this world is 100% including a Mac. Which I am a huge dan of. I run on whole company on them.

    Your comment doesn't make a bit of sense.

     

    I would like to say that I concur with Kappy's reply.

     

    So far it has been my experience that AV software on a Mac is good only for lining the vendors' pockets with gold and causing problems on Mac.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 15, 2014 11:11 AM in response to ainflorida
    Level 9 (50,871 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 15, 2014 11:11 AM in response to ainflorida

    ainflorida wrote:

     

    This is 100% not true. I have two macbooks pros and three iMac. You have to have protection and a removal program. Nothing in this world is 100% including a Mac. Which I am a huge dan of. I run on whole company on them.

    Have to disagree with that, 100%

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Dec 15, 2014 11:12 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 9 (53,793 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 15, 2014 11:12 AM in response to Csound1

    I might have disagreed also but I felt I had to understand it first before I could.

  • by natteaap,

    natteaap natteaap Mar 9, 2015 3:29 AM in response to bobmax1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2015 3:29 AM in response to bobmax1

    so while that may be true and all, I have recently had an outbreak of safari crap. Every time that I click on a safari page (to start a clip, to link to another site, to open a picture, ...) I'm redirected to some other site that tries to sell me stuff. Often it just floats on the articles I like to read. Trying to sell me t-shirts, shoes and puppy food.

     

    That's not malware/adware then? How do I get rid of that rubbish? Is there an app for that?

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Mar 9, 2015 3:30 AM in response to natteaap
    Level 9 (73,937 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 9, 2015 3:30 AM in response to natteaap

    Please review the options below to determine which method is best to remove the Adware installed on your computer.

     

    The Easy, safe, effective method:

    http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

     

    If you are comfortable doing manual file removals use the somewhat more difficult method:

    http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

     

    Also read the articles below to be more prepared for the next time there is an issue on your computer.

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7471

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-8071

    http://www.thesafemac.com/tech-support-scam-pop-ups/

  • by brigittegreece,

    brigittegreece brigittegreece Mar 9, 2015 3:42 AM in response to natteaap
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 9, 2015 3:42 AM in response to natteaap

    HI,

     

    I have exactly the same problem. I was wondering what action you took.

     

    Did you download the adwaremedic as suggested to you ?  Did this solve your problem ?

     

    Thanks for coming back to me.

     

    Regards,

     

    Brigitte

  • by natteaap,

    natteaap natteaap Mar 9, 2015 5:35 AM in response to stedman1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2015 5:35 AM in response to stedman1

    Thanks Stedman1, adwaremedic did the trick for me.

     

    I tried the manual removal also, but that couldn't find any of the adware. So I guess that adwaremedic has it's finger on the development practices of these lowlifes. I really don't get it, is there anybody that has ever bought something from an adware scam? Myeah, probably, it does generate money or it wouldn't exist anymore, right?

     

    So Brigitte, there's your answer, adwaremedic helped me.

     

    cheers and thanks again.

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Mar 9, 2015 5:37 AM in response to natteaap
    Level 9 (73,937 points)
    Apple Watch
    Mar 9, 2015 5:37 AM in response to natteaap

    You are welcome.

  • by ekpruna,

    ekpruna ekpruna May 27, 2015 2:14 PM in response to natteaap
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 27, 2015 2:14 PM in response to natteaap

    I haven't backed up my work, should i do it?

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 May 27, 2015 2:21 PM in response to ekpruna
    Level 9 (73,937 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 27, 2015 2:21 PM in response to ekpruna

    Yes, you should ALWAYS have at least one complete backup of your data.