Q: what is the best antivirus for my mac?

Actually even with your stance on the issue you could still be the first to get infected by a virus!

All of those product must be coded to recognize the virus once it appears so in fact they are offering you absolutely no protection until after the attack happens and the developer figure out how to recognize the threat. Then recoded the product with that change.

All you are doing now is wasting computer resources for nothing and giving yourself a false sense of security.

Allan

Faulty logic at best.  You assume that I will get the virus BEFORE the definition is updated.  That's an illogical assumption.  Sure, SOMEBODY will get the virus first before there is a definition to id it - but there's an excellent chance it won't be me, and there is a good chance that the definition will be updated before I come across the virus (if ever).  Your logic might hold true IF I were the type of computer user who does the same thing that the majority of users do - the group the virus developer is targeting... like opening unknown attachments, falling for phishing scams, etc.  I'm not.  That's not to say I will never fall victim to a virus - I have in the past, and I will in the future.  I don't expect any solution to be 100%... nor did I ever say that I expected that.

Secondly, I'm not "wasting" computer resources - my computer's resources are not maxed out, so there is no 'waste". 

Thirdly, I have no false sense of security.  As I mentioned previously, AV and Anti-Malware is part of a coordinated and consistent plan to ensure that my Mac continues to operate, and if it DOES manage to become infected, my backup regimen allows me to recover in as quick and efficient a manner as possible.  Even with a robust plan, I still operate under the assumption that I am vulnerable.

The question was simply what is the best...  it's my choice alone as to whether I want to run it or not... so if you don't have the answer to the question of what is the best... then forgive me, but you're just "wasting my resources"

Oh.. and please, explain to me how telling the OP that he doesn't need AV on the mac is not giving HIM a "false sense of security"?

Message was edited for grammar by: BillRichardson

BillRichardson wrote:

 

IF I were the type of computer user who does the same thing that the majority of users do - the group the virus developer is targeting... like opening unknown attachments, falling for phishing scams, etc.  I'm not.  That's not to say I will never fall victim to a virus - I have in the past, and I will in the future.  I don't expect any solution to be 100%... nor did I ever say that I expected that.

The only thing an Intel Mac user needed to do was to visit one of several hundred WordPress blog sites that were poisoned by the Flashback Backdoor/Trojan with Java turned on in their browser last Spring to be infected. No need to open or approve anything. The only software able to stop it at the time was Little Snitch. It was three days or so before the A-V vendors got definitions out.

Of course, it took Apple even longer since their definition scheme isn't effective against Java threats.

I realize that falls in your less than 100% effective bucket and I totally agree with your contention that the majority of users are not careful enough in their computing habits. I think that's the real reason many of us hang out here to educate such users.

The first Mac virus was "Elk Cloner" in 1981 on an Apple II. I think this was also the first "personal computer" virus. The first OS-X virus was "Leap-A"  in 2006.

The first OS-X virus was "Leap-A"  in 2006.

Leap (aka Oompa Loompa) was technically not a virus according to all criteria. It could not install itself... it relied entirely on the user to open it. If the user was suspicious and didn't do that, it didn't get installed. The only virus-like thing it did was spread itself to other machines via iChat... but that alone is not sufficient to make it a virus. It was a trojan.

ChooseAUsername wrote:

 

The first Mac virus was "Elk Cloner" in 1981 on an Apple II.

A Mac is not an Apple II.

I think this was also the first "personal computer" virus.

That is entirely plausible.

I wear gloves when I draw blood.

I use a condom when I have sex.

I run AV on my MAC.

I use caution and apply common sense in all cases.

I don't need to use any of the above, but doesn't common sense dictate a modicum of safety if available?

I believe the OP asked "if an AV product was wanted, what would the community suggest?"

I personally use Sophos, Latex Gloves and Trojans!

Do you wear a tinfoil hat when you go outside? That's a better analogy.

Not really a great analogy. If you're at home, maybe, if you're part of a network with Macs and PC's, it's a good idea to keep windows malware out.

I'm also not convinced that there will never be malware attacks on OS X.

I thought macs could not get viruses.

Yes - that's why I'm so concerned when folks say you don't need AV on a Mac, and you don't need to worry.

Macs absolutely CAN get viruses - ANY computer can potentially get a virus.  It's just that there are systems in place that higly reduce the potential of a Mac getting a virus, AND there are few viruses written that attack Macs (mostly because the market share is still relatively small).

However, none of that means that there will never be a Mac virus.

And, as others have pointed out, there IS Mac Malware out there - and while not technically a virus - they are still something to watch for.  The best A/V programs will watch for viruses as well as known malware signatures.

So I think the bottom line is - if you're worried about it, get an AV program.  If you're not worried about the consequences, don't.  The original question was "which is the best"... not "Should I use AV".  So far, it looks to me like Sophos is the best for Mac.

I used to get about 10 **** virus a year on Windows. It's been 3 sweet years, and I haven't gotten a single one!

No, no, no.

"If you're worried about the government spying on your thoughts, get a tinfoil hat" is not good advice. Neither is "if you're worried about viruses on your Mac, get antivirus software."

Those two classes of advice are not remotely in the same league. I don't generally advocate installing anti-virus software, but it can be a quite reasonable thing to do in certain circumstances. It just needs to be used appropriately, with the limitations kept firmly in mind.

As has been mentioned on previous pages of this lengthy topic, I would refer anyone with the title question in mind to see my Mac Malware Guide.