spectra9

Q: what is the best antivirus for my mac?

Just wondering what the best antivirus would be for my macbook?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 15, 2012 8:01 PM

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Q: what is the best antivirus for my mac?

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 4, 2013 12:02 PM in response to iInspector
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    May 4, 2013 12:02 PM in response to iInspector

    iInspector wrote:

     

    Thanks. I can see nothing on the Mac side, although many posts here say you can't be too sure and that also makes sense, but I'm not a Microsoft fan and I would have thought of something besides Security Essentials. You use it yourself?

    Yes I do, it works well, is unobtrusive and is updated very consistently.

  • by iInspector,

    iInspector iInspector May 4, 2013 1:59 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 1:59 PM in response to Csound1

    I just put 7 on this machine and didn't know there is a program already on it called Defender. Interesting. I found it because it started checking for a virus while DLing Security Essentials.

     

    It doesn't look to be too robust and no options for updating that I see. I guess I'll look to turn it off and still look to use SE.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 4, 2013 2:04 PM in response to iInspector
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    May 4, 2013 2:04 PM in response to iInspector

    Defender is not antivirus software, MSSE is.

     

    Windows Defender, formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware, is a software product that helps combat malware. Windows Defender was initially an antispyware program; it is included with Windows Vista and Windows 7 and is available as a free download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. In Windows 8, however, it is upgraded to an antivirus program.

     

    Updates are automatic (via Windows Update), it's your choice but I suggest you install and try it before you reject it without knowing what it is. Defender and MSSE are a very good defense.

  • by iInspector,

    iInspector iInspector May 4, 2013 2:22 PM in response to Csound1
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    May 4, 2013 2:22 PM in response to Csound1

    Got it. Thanks for the additional info.

     

    Thought it might update with Windows Update. Can they run concurrently? Meaning both run real time protection?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 4, 2013 2:27 PM in response to iInspector
    Level 9 (50,721 points)
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    May 4, 2013 2:27 PM in response to iInspector

    iInspector wrote:

     

    Got it. Thanks for the additional info.

     

    Thought it might update with Windows Update. Can they run concurrently? Meaning both run real time protection?

    Yes, that's how it is designed to work (in Windows 8 they have been merged into one, just called Defender)

     

    Microsoft are in a far better position to protect Windows than any of the 3rd party providers.

  • by iInspector,

    iInspector iInspector May 4, 2013 4:22 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 4:22 PM in response to Csound1

    Done and Done. I see the logic that MS will know their holes pretty well, as long as they keep up on the latest and greatest villians out there. As opposed to a company whose whole purpose is to do just that.

     

    I'm going to give them a try. I thank you for your input.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 4, 2013 4:25 PM in response to iInspector
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    May 4, 2013 4:25 PM in response to iInspector

    You're welcome.

  • by iInspector,

    iInspector iInspector May 4, 2013 4:37 PM in response to Csound1
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    May 4, 2013 4:37 PM in response to Csound1

    BTW Is that a tube testing meter in your avitar?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 4, 2013 4:39 PM in response to iInspector
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    May 4, 2013 4:39 PM in response to iInspector

    Yes it is, you are the first to notice

     

    tusmiley3 small.png

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 May 4, 2013 4:54 PM in response to iInspector
    Level 5 (4,791 points)
    May 4, 2013 4:54 PM in response to iInspector

    iInspector wrote:

     

    I see the logic that MS will know their holes pretty well, as long as they keep up on the latest and greatest villians out there. As opposed to a company whose whole purpose is to do just that.

    This is going to sound like a counter to what Csound1 has proposed, but thats not what I mean it to be.

     

    Every year Consumer Reports evaluates "Security software" and last year they looked at four free anti-malware offerings for Windows. Avira was #1 and their only recommendation in this catagory while MS Security Essentials was number four behind AVG and Avast. I'd hasten to point out that the scores ranged from 56-62 so all were very close.

     

    Predictably the four Pay Security Suites they recommend all scored higher than any of the free ones, but they all do more than just look for known malware and almost certainly would slow down processing for you.

     

    I trust CR because they don't take advertising or money from vendors in the rating process, which almost all other rating services I've run across seem to do, to some extent.

     

    On the Mac side they had this to say:

     

    "Apple computers experience far fewer attacks than PCs. Apple's firewall and other security features offer sufficient protection. But Mac users may want to install an anti-malware program to avoid passing on Windows malware to others."

     

    That was all a year ago, so we'll see if they hold to all that in about a month.

     

    If you still feel you need something on the OS X side, I'd encourage you to read what Thomas Reed has written about OS X malware in general and his product tests in particular: http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg.

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 May 4, 2013 5:31 PM in response to iInspector
    Level 5 (4,791 points)
    May 4, 2013 5:31 PM in response to iInspector

    Wouldn't you know that the new Consumer Reports just appeared in my mailbox moments after I posted this.

     

    So now in the Free Anti-Malware Program catagory they show Avast as #1 and recommend both it and Avira. AVG and MSSE are still 3 & 4 but both coming in with lower findings. Point spread was 43-58, so I'm guessing they must have toughened up the testing this time.

     

    Recommendations for Macs was practically identical with no software tested.

  • by iInspector,

    iInspector iInspector May 4, 2013 5:35 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 5:35 PM in response to Csound1

    Still have a tester around somewhere for ham radio and my guitar amps.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 4, 2013 5:37 PM in response to iInspector
    Level 9 (50,721 points)
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    May 4, 2013 5:37 PM in response to iInspector

    Do you have one with the Good Bad markings?

     

    What's the guitar amp?

  • by iInspector,

    iInspector iInspector May 4, 2013 5:49 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 5:49 PM in response to Csound1

    Actually it does have the good and bad. I seem to remember most of them did. But yours has incremental numeral markings. I don't think mine does. I went to look but then I remember I lent it to my father-in-law. He's a ham for like 60 years and a retierd EE from IBM. He has more use for it than I do. I pretty much buy new.

     

    Still have a Marshal head around and a couple of tube pre-amps.

  • by iInspector,

    iInspector iInspector May 4, 2013 6:20 PM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 6:20 PM in response to MadMacs0

    I've read his guide and a few other writings. Thanks.

    I think I'm staying bare on the Mac and I put MS Essentials on the Windows side.

     

    I've read so many reports that my head is spinning but in the end I think they are all pretty much bought and sold. That's why I came here.

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