avast antivirus wants me disable my e-mails SSL so avast can handel it for me, is this safe?

Ignore the message.

The only reason Avast is telling you to disable SSL is that it cannot check your incoming and outgoing messages, because of the encryption.

My question is. Do you really need an AV on your Mac?

Get rid of Avast. It is more trouble then it is worth. This is especially true seeing as how it wants you to turn off encryption of your email as it wants you to do.

Allan

I have been using Macs since 2002. I never used an AV. I tried a couple but those rendered my computer slower, so I got rid of them.

On my actual iMac I have ClamXav the Mac App Store Version. It does not do anything until you fire it up. You have complete control of the program. It's not the opposite.

So if having an AV makes you more comfortable follow Allan advice, get rid of Avast and install ClamXav.

i often work off of my friends unsecure wifi connection. im always telling her to put a password on it , but to no avail.

That's not good. You must insist on her.

Some security advice.

Always turn off unused services (System Preferences/Sharing) especially if you happen to work on "alien" network like your friend's insecure WiFi.

Never install programs of unknown origin.

Always go to the developer's site for updates.

Read twice before you click 🙂

Use your computer wisely and you are going to be safe most of the time 😉