sarahmwilton

Q: Has anyone used Malwarebytes or anything similar to protect Mac from virus etc

Has anyone used Malwarebytes or something similar to scan Mac for virus and other security and effiency problems?

Mac Pro

Posted on Apr 26, 2014 4:20 PM

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Q: Has anyone used Malwarebytes or anything similar to protect Mac from virus etc

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  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Nov 1, 2015 7:46 AM in response to Tussmann
    Level 6 (13,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 1, 2015 7:46 AM in response to Tussmann

    Yep, MBAM (Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac) is the way to go. Much better than manually inspecting numerous files and directories.

  • by machow2,

    machow2 machow2 Mar 7, 2016 1:57 AM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 1:57 AM in response to sarahmwilton

    Malwarebytes for Mac doesn't actually protect your Mac from malware, it just removes malware if it finds it on your Mac when you perform a scan. It is however the best tool currently available on Mac for detecting and removing malware and is extremely easy to use. Note that malware, adware and viruses are all different things. Malwarebytes will remove both adware and malware but it won't remove viruses (which are extremely uncommon on Mac anyway). As a few people have already noted, it's not recommended to install Virus software on your Mac in general as they can cause problems with OS X and can be difficult to remove. Plus they generally only detect viruses - they don't detect adware or malware. If you want to read an independent review of Malwarebytes and how it works, hope this helps! (disclaimer: I am affiliated with this site):

     

    http://machow2.com/malwarebytes-for-mac-review/

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Mar 7, 2016 5:40 AM in response to machow2
    Level 7 (30,944 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 7, 2016 5:40 AM in response to machow2

    machow2 wrote:

     

    Malwarebytes will remove both adware and malware but it won't remove viruses (which are extremely uncommon on Mac anyway).

     

     

    Actually, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac will detect all kinds of malware. Although it is technically accurate to say it won't remove viruses, that is because there are NO viruses (by the strict definition of the term) for OS X, and thus there is nothing to detect. If there should ever be a true virus released for OS X, we'll detect it.

     

    Thomas Reed

    Director of Mac Offerings, Malwarebytes

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Mar 7, 2016 5:53 AM in response to machow2
    Level 7 (30,944 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 7, 2016 5:53 AM in response to machow2

    I notice there are some misconceptions with regard to viruses and malware in that review. Malware is an all-encompassing term for malicious software. Malware may steal data, provide back doors, turn your computer into a "bot" (for example, to "mine" BitCoins or to commit DDoS attacks), and most recently, encrypt your data and hold it for ransom. Trojans, viruses, worms, etc are all malware.

     

    The term "virus" refers to the method of transmission for a particular kind of malware, which is able to spread on its own and which injects itself into existing apps. Viruses are malware, but not all malware is a virus.

     

    Adware - software that injects ads where they don't belong or manipulates your search engine - is generally not considered to be malware, although there are exceptions where adware has crossed the invisible line and is now considered malware. (As an example, the Genieo adware crossed the line last year when it used vulnerabilities in OS X to get itself installed, and at Malwarebytes, we now consider it to be malware.)

     

    Thomas Reed

    Director of Mac Offerings, Malwarebytes

  • by Dick Fong,

    Dick Fong Dick Fong Apr 3, 2016 8:14 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 3, 2016 8:14 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Thanks for making clear the meaning of malware. Also, thanks for Malwarebytes. Unfortunately, I had inadvertently opened a file which installed MacKeeper. I did force quit the process of opening the file before it had finished. But, trashing it and MacKeeper, seemed to require trashing thousands of other files! But, annoyingly, I still kept getting the adware popup from Offerz4u and it was through Malwarebytes that it was removed, very simply and without fuss. Trying to do it manually proved awkward and was ineffective.

     

    However, I think I had noticed a post which would suggest using, together with Malwarebytes, a more specific anti-virus app, one which, it would seem, would dig deeper into the files on the computer? But, your comment would suggest that that is not necessary. I had once used ClamXav and that did seem to take ages!

     

    Finally, I was wondering why your app is not featured on Apple's App Store, as that would be a natural place for mac users to go.

  • by mclaxton41,

    mclaxton41 mclaxton41 Apr 3, 2016 9:16 AM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 3, 2016 9:16 AM in response to sarahmwilton

    Screen Shot 2016-04-03 at 12.10.08 PM.pngI had "McAfee all access" on my IMAC 27' 5k for almost a year and have had no problem's!

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Apr 3, 2016 7:52 PM in response to Dick Fong
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Apr 3, 2016 7:52 PM in response to Dick Fong

    The rules imposed by Apple for all applications available from the App Store would not allow MalwareBytes Anti-Malware for Mac to be nearly as effective as it is at detecting and removing malware.  That's why there are so few A-V offerings on MAS and those that are there are quite limited.

  • by quilluser,

    quilluser quilluser Apr 4, 2016 3:03 AM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 4, 2016 3:03 AM in response to MadMacs0

    I have had Avast on my iMac for some time now and it has trapped a few malicious files when some web sites have been visited. It runs perfectly in the background and I would recommend it. I am not and have never been an employee so this isn't an ad disguised.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Apr 4, 2016 9:08 AM in response to quilluser
    Level 9 (54,065 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 4, 2016 9:08 AM in response to quilluser

    I strongly recommend against the installation of Avast. All I have ever seen it do is cause problems. The only thing it report on is PC virus that have no effect on a Mac.

     

    With your posting of this so many times, you are are certainly looking like a shill for them.

  • by rhonda1129,

    rhonda1129 rhonda1129 Apr 4, 2016 2:49 PM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 4, 2016 2:49 PM in response to sarahmwilton

    Is there any way I can I can install the MBAM on my Mac 10.7.5. It says it needs to be 10.8 or higher.

  • by rhonda1129,

    rhonda1129 rhonda1129 Apr 4, 2016 2:57 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 4, 2016 2:57 PM in response to thomas_r.

    Is there any way I can install the MBAM on my 10.7.5 Mac? It says it needs to be 10.8 or higher.

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Apr 4, 2016 3:20 PM in response to rhonda1129
    Level 6 (13,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 4, 2016 3:20 PM in response to rhonda1129
  • by Lori in the hills,

    Lori in the hills Lori in the hills Jul 12, 2016 1:38 PM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 12, 2016 1:38 PM in response to sarahmwilton

    I'm perplexed that the only information I can find on the Apple website about whether it's wise to have anti-virus or malware protection on a Mac are threads in a user forum. Many Mac users state, with a great tone of authority, that "Macs can't get viruses; never install any anti-virus or anti-malware software on a Mac," while others present a more nuanced "that's not true anymore; anti-virus protection may be worthwhile" position, e.g.: http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/are-macs-safe-virus-hackers-malwar e-antivirus-ransomware-3454926/

    My question is, does Apple have a support article, or any statement anywhere, weighing in on this question? If anyone knows of one, please share the link!

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Jul 12, 2016 2:14 PM in response to Lori in the hills
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    Jul 12, 2016 2:14 PM in response to Lori in the hills

    Lori in the hills wrote:

     

    My question is, does Apple have a support article, or any statement anywhere, weighing in on this question? If anyone knows of one, please share the link!

    No, they do not. Several years ago there were statements and advertisements along those lines, but since that is no longer absolutely true (as outlined in that article), they have refrained from saying much of anything about Malware or the use of Anti-Malware software.

     

    And nobody here can tell you whether to use an A-V product or not, it's strictly up to you based on your making an educated decision on the benefits vs. penalty paid by their use.  Some products extract a significant amount of CPU time or RAM while in operation. Some users are careless or even reckless when it comes to safe computing and need that safety net to prevent disaster.  You also need to pay attention to any current threats that may come up in the future.  In short, there is no easy, one-size-fits all answer to "whether it's wise to have anti-virus or malware protection on a Mac".

  • by Millbrook2014,

    Millbrook2014 Millbrook2014 Aug 21, 2016 10:42 AM in response to sarahmwilton
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 21, 2016 10:42 AM in response to sarahmwilton

    I was told you never get MalWare on a Mac. Wrong, my Mac was infected six months ago. I called Apple support and they said it happens, nothing is perfect. They had me to download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. It took a few scans but it did clean up my problem.

     

    Randy

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