Apple M1 Chip - native Malware/Anti-Virus App

Are we still having this discussion? "Make a fool proof system, and someone will come up with a better fool". There is obviously doomed to be two schools on the mac platform, the ones feeling the need to have an "antivirus kind of software" and those who don't need it. Does the os have builtin protection, yes it has, does software have bugs, yes it has, can those bogs be security related, yes they can, is extra protection needed, why not? I feel this is a little bit like the vaccin debate, do I need a vaccin? No, it is such a small risk to get the illness, of course you don't need it! Some illnesses you only need to get once, I guess you did not need the antivirus "kind of software" after all... I mean the odds were on your side....

Pretty simple: 1) Use native Mac OS security features. 2) Don't open files that come from unknown sources. 3) Don't go to sketchy web sites and click on unknown links. By not doing stupid things, you will not get infected. Sound familiar? Stupid is as Stupid does.

If you want to get a decent anti-malware software then I think you should read more reviews like Kaspersky vs TotalAV or other comparisons. I suppose that only reviews can reveal the truth about the best antivirus or, at least, about effective antivirus.

Hac-D-Mac wrote:

I'm using Sophos Home Premium until BitDefender gets it "together". Sophos is M1 and Big Sur compatible and has a 30-day trial and a Free version as well.

I am sure they appreciate you sending them money for something

totally useless at best and a system corrupter at worse.

Actually the best malware/virus protection is sitting between your shoulders!

Yup - the best protection in the new M1 is in the M1 and Mac OS already and between the shoulders of most people but not all. You can run Malwarebytes if you have the deep need to spend $ and run something as it is least intrusive to Mac OS and it is what Apple Tech Support uses for a malware removal tool. It’s not a full blown antivirus program. It’s a tool.

I'm using Sophos Home Premium until BitDefender gets it "together". Sophos is M1 and Big Sur compatible and has a 30-day trial and a Free version as well.

Wonderful. That does not make it necessary - the only "necessary" part is that it makes money for the developer.

Good afternoon, friend. You should just get a good antivirus. I think there is a great option on the internet. I recently read a good article. I recommend you also read more about one of the best linux antivirus 2020. For me it turned out to be extremely useful. I'm sure you'll need it, too.

[Link Edited by Moderator]

NO, it is not. If you look, little snitch, with kernel extension, which runs on Mac was hacked and has been installed by thousands....... A tool designed to watch for network connection turn inside out and now a virus.

mtstarr wrote:

NO, it is not. If you look, little snitch, with kernel extension, which runs on Mac was hacked and has been installed by thousands....... A tool designed to watch for network connection turn inside out and now a virus.

Nope.

I agree that Kapersky is total garbage, not to mention entirely unnecessary. Malware is not a virus and can easily be avoided by just using common sense when installing apps, like only downloading from a trusted source.

I have only had a virus on my PowerBook one time. It was because I had been using Parallels to do the PC side of things and didn't have antivirus on that partition of the hard drive. So didn't get a Mac version virus but a PC version on my Mac.

I can only say these 2 things:

1- I tried Kaspersky AV for my MBP back in 2015, and I noticed that this App was sending constantly some kind of data to its server since I saw my internet connection always at full capacity even when I was not sending nor downloading anything. So I decided to delete the App. I did not like the idea that an AV software was constantly sending something from my hard drive to a server.

2- For my PC and Mac, recently, I purchased it again to use it to block the ads and some tracking going on the background during web surfing (be it Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Edge). Since I noticed that on my Windows PC Kaspersky was blocking all of them, and I could see the actual sites and trackers trying to get what kind of activity. And more: Kaspersky alerted me that even some Apps that I did not suspect were attempting to access my webcam. So, when I installed it on my MBP, it also showed me the trackers that it blocks, and many more. It was quite astonishing to see that a 5 minute surfing on a social media, or watching a 5 minute video in YouTube, Kaspersky was blocking up to tens or even 100 trackers and ads. So on my Mac, I use Kaspersky mainly to block ads, and trackers. And on my PC, to protect against virus, and other things.

So, it is up to you.

And from my 20 year-use of Macs, I do not recall getting virus threats on my Macs. And lived most of those 20 years without AV on my Mac, excepto for now, but for the reason I mentioned above.

It was quite astonishing to see that a 5 minute surfing on a social media, or watching a 5 minute video in YouTube, Kaspersky was blocking up to tens or even 100 trackers and ads.

Well, it is well known that social media sites exist to sell your information; since most are free, they need to make money some other way. So, they will sell whatever info you innocently share or publish. And advertisers are more than eager to buy. Don't forget Facebook in that list (and Google).

I do not ever use social media sites, do not have a Google account or Youtube or Facebook, Twitter, etc. And, I do not get popups or malware or adware (I think my last one was 3 years ago).

So, for me, any app/software that will run continuously, send info "home" (share my info), or otherwise slow down my Macs, is considered completely irrelevant and not wanted.

Thank you for the compliment. I prefer not having my information sold or shared - I am not for sale. And, I have no need for silly games or reading what strangers online had for lunch. Believe it or not, there are other far more demanding, amusing, and interesting pursuits than social media.

One of them would be volunteering here trying to help others use their Apple devices. However, it does not include finding insults acceptable. This is my last post to you.

Incorrect. Also, Viruses are not the only reason to get end point protection for a device. That's a very narrow minded approach to security. https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac-viruses-list-3668354/