Do i need to have my firewall enabled?, Do i need to have my firewall enabled?

I wasnt actually commenting on the need for a firewall. I was commentting more on the fact that some wise users were recommending not running an anti-virus. You are correct in that the current implementation does not prevent viruses as the firewall has nothing to do with what is being installed on the OS.

There are approx 450 different items of malware out there that attack the Apple OS. Gained this info at a cybersecurity conference.

There are approx 450 different items of malware out there that attack the Apple OS.

Not by my count. I've been working on a list of Mac malware for years, and I only cound 44. Even if the numbers at this conference are different because they are counting specific variants separately, I still doubt that would push the number up to 450.

What company presented this information, and what was the name of the conference?

Further, note that this information is completely irrelevant to the question here, since a firewall does not protect against malware.

What you do have at home, typically, is a NAT router between your home kit and the big bad world. And that NAT router will defend you against 99.99% of everything trying to get in to your home network. No clever software. No AV. Just a NAT router. Incoming packets are discarded if the router isn't expecting them... it's as simple as that and works perfectly every time. Actually it's 100% of unexpected packets.

Add to that safe surfing habits and you're all set. If you enable java, use flash.. etc... and you pick up something nasty then it'll probably subvert any AV you buy anyway.

..but if you take your thingy (technical term) outside of your home network and away from the protection of your home router then you're in the wild west. Yeah enable the mac firewall at that point. But don't rely on it. It'll stop every attack expect for those that get through.

Good luck.

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