Q: what is the best antivirus for my mac?

DBTechnology_2 wrote:

 

I would either use AVG or AVASt.

 

I don't usually get involved in recommendations of this sort, but there are many reasons not to use Avast! and only one reason to use it. It does usually test well for detecting the most infected files, but it also is the most prone to false detections, even finding malware on a virgin drive containing only OS X and Avast!. It pushes ads unless you opt out and has been implicated in completely running down laptop batteries overnight, even though they were put to sleep.

Read more on TheSafeMac.

It is true that the likelihood of your Mac becoming infected is slim, however working in IT, I have seen some very bad cases.  It is my recommendation that you install a lightweight antivirus software (I prefer Sophos - it's free too) for peace of mind.

Although your MacBook is fairly well protected already, it can still pass viruses through your network as well... So if you run Windows OS on any other device, it is possible for that device to receive it.

The iPhone is one device that still remains quite safe, and I currently would not see a need to protect it.

As I see it the installation of any AV software on a Mac only offers a false sense of security. I think the best protection is if you use your head and avoid questionable sites. Having any kind of AV software installed will cause you to rely on it instead which could lead you to problems. Beside I don't like having some on my Mac that eats up that many resources and provide no benefits in return.

bahama525i wrote:

 

It is my recommendation that you install a lightweight antivirus software (I prefer Sophos - it's free too) for peace of mind.

Sophos is no longer the lightweight anti-virus that it once was. There have been many reports recently of it causing performance and stability problems.

If you must use anti-virus software, the only one I would recommend currently is ClamXav. It is truly lightweight, and my testing has shown that it now detects all currently known Mac malware.

The iPhone is one device that still remains quite safe, and I currently would not see a need to protect it.

It's ironic that you cite concern over transmitting Windows malware as a concern with the Mac, but not the iPhone. If one were to receive an infected e-mail attachment, it would be equally easy to pass it on to a Windows user using an iPhone. The real solution there is:

1) Teach users not to forward attachments from unknown sources

2) Make sure Windows machines are adequately protected, since there is never any guarantee about the contents of an e-mail attachment even when coming from a trusted source.

3) Make sure that your e-mail server does malware checks on e-mail attachments, to catch the malware before it can even be seen by the user.

....

It is tough to say instantly. And also i didn't use all of these antivirus. I think you should check some trusted blog's post to determined it.

Here is some of them on which i usually trust :

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerkay/2012/04/09/flashback-champions-refight-mac- vs-pc-battle-on-security-turf/2/

you can also check this out:

http://www.xiontech.net/category/antivirus/

I am personally use Kapersky Antivirus. This is enough for light & medium use.

baldguy135 wrote:

 

Here is some of them on which i usually trust :

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerkay/2012/04/09/flashback-champions-refight-mac- vs-pc-battle-on-security-turf/2/

A three year old article about malware that has been extinct since shortly after it was written? How is that relevant?

Desperate to find anything that supports their absurd claims some posters will resurrect any old thing. Kaspersky is awful, that is all you need to know about the ones who use it.

If you are using Kaspersky on your Mac, you have my deepest sympathies.