Do I need antivirus on my MacBook Pro?

All I have read says "no" to antivirus software. The numbers of Windows systems vs the number of UNIX systems means they are just not considered great targets.

As to Symantic Endpoint Encryption (which is on my system for work since we use medical insurance information for work) is another issue.

If you have not heard the whole backup story (apolgies if you know this already), read https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3358920.

But any "clone" of your startup disk is still likely an encrypted bit-copy of data, so tools like "Disk Warrior" which would usually be able to "shift around" file blocks for "disaster recovery" is now shifting sub-blocks of the encrypted image.

If you need to run image-encryption, then your backup strategy should reflect the facts of what is actually on your startup disk as regards "clone" vs TimeMachine-file-by-file.

At least that is my opinion.

This is a topic that gets discussed periodically, with opinions at both ends of the spectrum. I've used ClamXav for years, scanning any email or downloads to my system. It hasn't caused any issues and I can recommend it. You can get it at http://www.clamxav.com

Hi d,

The general consensus around here is that anti-virus software causes more problems than it could ever prevent. For now, I agree with that, and, like the vast majority of Mac users, I run "bare." I'm sure that will someday change.

ClamXav, though unnecessary in most circumstances, is free and safe to use. Do not rely on it to the exclusion of following safe computing practices. All commercial "antivirus" products, including the one you have, are worse than useless and worse than the mostly imaginary threat they fail to protect you from.

Don't need it. just make sure your computer is on stealth mode dont share your files. I would also make your itunes invisitble to outsiders when you are traveling. otherwise you are good to go.

I may have misunderstood the nature of the software you are using.

I read "Endpoint Encryption", which bundles ups the entire protected region of a disk into a managed "superfile" that needs a password to access.

Looking closely I see "Endpoint Protection". That I cannot confirm is the same thing.

Apologies for confusion, and I will back out unless asked for more assistance.