Intego Mac Internet security

Guaranteed you will have trouble if you install anti-virus. You see the results of it here all the time. Even if everything works correctly on install, in the future when the system software changes, the anti-virus could start causing unexpected problems.

Safe internet use is the best way to protect your security. Here are some basics that will protect you more than any security software:

• Don't accept Notifications from websites. They can be managed at Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications
• Don't allow Popups. They can be managed at Safari > Settings > Websites > Pop Up Windows
• Don't add Extensions. They can be managed at Safari > Settings > Extensions
• Be aware some sites will produce a page that looks like a System Update window. A common one says "Flash Player Update". For computer updates, it is best to look for them at  > System Settings > General > Software Update.
• If you open a web page from Mail, be aware there is no guarantee that the site that comes up is the one you expected. For example, the notorious bank scam that give you a link to what looks like the bank login page, just to capture your login credentials.

I know this list isn't complete, but the security problems we see here in this community are mostly related to these actions. Your Mac has built-in security and Apple has made great efforts to protect your privacy.

MacWorld is NOT a disinterested party when it comes to such recommendations. They make TONS of money telling you which (of their paying participants and sponsors) wins their tests, which likely have nothing to do with real-world threats.

By far the easiest way to ruin performance and cause instability is to install ANY third-party speeder-uppers, Cleaners, Optimizers, Virus scanners third-party file Sync-ers such as DropBox, BackBlaze, OneDrive, or GoogleDrive, or a VPN that you installed yourself.

The idea that a third party, with no special knowledge of the inner workings of MacOS, can somehow find a simple way to protect your computer that is not already being done by MacOS itself suggests that the MacOS developers are somehow "holding out on you". That is absurd.

You should remove any and all other virus scanners, speeder uppers, optimizers, cleaners, App deleters or VPN packages you installed yourself, or anything of that ilk.

The current versions of MacOS have protections so good, there are currently no known Viruses that can SPONTANEOUSLY infect your Mac. Random ‘stuff’ is NEVER allowed to be Executed, so all your files do not need to be scanned, again and again. Only software from know developers is allowed to be considered for becoming Executable, and then only after you enter your Admin password to allow installation. Potentially-executable files are then scanned at first run by MacOS Gatekeeper, locked, and moved to the /Applications folder.

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community