AV for older MacBook

BoringConventional wrote:

I understand Mac OS is pretty safe out of box & 3rd party protection not recommended/clogs up the system, but what about older machine?

2013 MacBook Pro Big Sur

This is helpful:

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

But what about older Macs? Should you not have something? Is the only solution to buy latest models?

Not recommended.

Big Sur macOS 11.7.10 (20G1427) (September 11, 2023)

Third party AntiVirus is not recommended— it typically does nothing but add issues to the macOS and competes directly with Apple’s own built in security:

 Gatekeeper

 XProtect

 MRT

 SIP

macOS - Security - Apple macOS - Security - Apple

Apple Platform Security - Apple Apple Platform Security - Apple Support

MacOS shares a lot of the lock-down mechanisms developed for the iPhone. Applications are all sand-boxed with a list of the resources they require, and they cannot ask for anything outside their sandbox without crashing. Signed Applications are checked that they are from legitimate Developers, and Notarized Applications are delivered with the assurance that they have NOT been modified since their release by the Developer.

Recent versions of MacOS completely changed how you should think about malware.

From MacOS 11 Catalina onward, the system is on a Separate, crypto-locked System Volume, which is not writeable using ordinary means. Any unauthorized differences that appear to the crypto-locked volume are quickly detected and you are alerted.

So you could store just about every malware known to mankind on your Mac, and your Mac would not get infected spontaneously. Scanning for virus-like patterns might make you feel a little better now, but it is outdated nonsense.

Nothing can become Executable Unless/Until you supply your Admin password to "make it so".

About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina or later - Apple Support

<< 3) If there is worthwhile add-on software out there, please recommend, I'm fine with paying actual $ for good products. >>

Alas, there are no good products you could add that will help. Staying safe requires Vigilance, NOT more software.

You also need to put this in perspective. FAR, far, far more stuff is compromised due to poor choices of passwords, than will ever be compromised by drive-by Malware attacks, PROVIDED you are properly skeptical and practice the safe-computing skills you [should have] taught your ten-year-old. Email passwords that are short, too easy to guess, or made up with only a dictionary-word or two are MUCH more of a risk than malware -- IF you are Vigilant.

And regular users have less to fear because Advanced hacks not already seen and fixed require Really Advanced calibre hacking skills. If you are not a Target (because you are not a public figure or an activist) you are unlikely to bear the brunt of a Targeted attack.

Regular Mac users just get the messages from criminals that "Your Windows subscription has expired, pay here".