Antivirus need or not for MacBook user?

Rule 1 of Macs is don't install junk.

If you want your Mac to perform poorly, or not at all, "McAfee" will certainly do it.

Antivirus need or not for MacBook user?

macOS already includes all the protections it needs. Installing non-Apple "anti-virus" products will increase its exposure to malware and other threats of various descriptions. Read Effective defenses against malware and other threats.

jackarcher0099 wrote:

Mac computer or MackBook, iPhone user's do not need use antivirus protection,

I am a professional Mac user, as of my experience Antivirus not required

, a Mac user can access default antivirus software, but

if you use your computer commercial level then its required antivirus but not free version best recommended for use paid and total security antivirus,

I had used McAfee free antivirus on my MacBook Pro (2013), and I had faced uninstallation issue and my iOS not worked properly.

The MacbookPro runs the macOS the iDevices in comparison run the iOS for clarity

Is there a question(?)

AV is not recommended, it only causes issue with Apples own built in security.

ref: macOS - Security - Apple

https://www.apple.com/macos/security/

please advise...

[Link Edited by Moderator]

All AV software is useless garbage on a Mac. There are no Mac viruses, and no AV software will even attempt to stop you from installing the numerous Trojans you may download.

I've been using my Mac at a "commercial level" for 20 years in my home office. Not once have I ever even considered installing AV software. It simply isn't needed.

What does work very well is:

1. Never download anything from P2P, file sharing or pirate sites.
2. Trash email attachments you weren't expecting, no matter who the sender supposedly is. Or, at least contact that person to see if they really sent it.
3. Avoid aggregate download sites such as softonic.com. Yes, they have lots of legally available freeware, shareware and commercial demo software, but they also often install adware. If there's something on such a site you see that you want to try, find the actual vendor's site and get it directly from them.

You/we are not the stewards of Windows users. Yes, it's possible for you to forward Windows malware that's attached to an email, but that's their problem, not yours. For you, your only responsibility is to at least recognize the attachment is possible malware and not intentionally forward it.

The only exception on the Mac to "all AV software is junk" is MalwareBytes for Mac. Its main function is to attempt to find and remove malware/adware you've already installed, not prevent it.

jackarcher0099 wrote:

Mac computer or MackBook, iPhone user's do not need use antivirus protection, I am a professional Mac user, as of my experience Antivirus not required, a Mac user can access default antivirus software, but if you use your computer commercial level then its required antivirus but not free version best recommended for use paid and total security antivirus, I had used McAfee free antivirus on my MacBook Pro (2013), and I had faced uninstallation issue and my iOS not worked properly.

[Link Edited by Moderator]

Do we need to keep piling on here jackarcher0099 ?

please advise or you could close out the thread...You are not going to find detailed information on X-protect outside the walled garden of Apple.

Apple uses its Software Update service (which also drives the system software updates that show in the App Store) as a mechanism for installing “background and critical” updates that are installed silently in the background with no notifications to the user.

The macOS uses these to combat malware:

Gatekeeper mechanism, central to security services, which tries to ensure that any code loaded is ‘safe’. Code signatures are only part of this.

XProtect checks the security and integrity of files, including in broader ways too, vulnerable document types, such as JPEG images, are also screened to ensure that they’re not malicious.

Apple’s Malware Removal Tool (MRT) an app which often complements XProtect’s signature-based screening, and can automatically remove all traces of many different species of malware.

System Integrity Protection (SIP) which ensures that nothing can tamper with key system files, or even Apple’s bundled apps.

ref: macOS - Security - Apple

https://www.apple.com/macos/security/

jackarcher0099 wrote:

but if you use your computer commercial level then its required antivirus but not free version

Certainly not all "commercial level" use.

Did you talk to your IT department and get the recommended third party app— this can not be a new issue for your IT Support in your "commercial level" use.

another recommendation to consider: https://www.malwarebytes.com/business/

If you are required to run AV software the only one that I'd suggest is ClamX AV. It will not harm your Mac but it will also do very little good.

https://www.clamxav.com/