I have decided to not use the free Norton antivirus offerred by my ISP and would like your input as to the best between the following that I have seen noted in Apple discussions. ClamXav, Sophos or Avast. Want security and simplicity of interface and ease of use. I am not a tech person and need to keep it simple. Your input on this question will be greatly appreciated.
iMac 21.5/3.06/2x2GB/500GB, Mac OS X (10.6.4)
The best is NONE. It's not required. OS X is designed now to provide built-in protection that is updated transparently to the user.
Helpful Links Regarding Virus Protection
An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on malware.
For general anti-virus protection I only recommend using ClamXav.
Kappy is absolutely correct, do not repeat do not install antivirus software on your iMac. The best protection you can off it is to run Software Update frequently, you can set that preference in:
System Preferences - Software Update
ClamXav to ensure that you do not pass on Windows viruses that you may have received via emails, to Windows users - but please read on:
There are many forms of ‘Malware’ that can affect a computer system, of which ‘a virus’ is but one type, ‘trojans’ another. Using the strict definition of a computer virus, no viruses that can attack OS X have so far been detected 'in the wild', i.e. in anything other than laboratory conditions. The same is not true of other forms of malware, such as Trojans. Whilst it is a fairly safe bet that your Mac has NOT been infected by a virus, it may have another security-related problem, but more likely a technical problem unrelated to any malware threat.
You may find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435
The User Tip (which you are welcome to print out and retain for future reference) seeks to offer guidance on the main security threats and how to avoid them.
please see this post It will answer your question
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4425049?answerId=20008529022#20008529022
i Haven't asked a question!
it was to the op
michaelsip4 wrote:
please see this post It will answer your question
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4425049?answerId=20008529022#20008529022
Actually, that discussion is about MacKeeper, and not really relevant to the current question.
thomas,
no disrespect intended - we did side bar into mackeeper in that thread but i started off along these lines
from basically the same point of mind as the op (thought this thread would help them - thats why)
if I were to pay for virus protection I would use Kaspersky
they seem to be ok on the pc platform Sophos on the other hand is the worst virus scanner I've ever
been exposed to it slowed the pc (windows) down to a crawl and never let most virus's pass
Don't judge by what you know from Windows. Kaspersky has abysmal detection rates on a Mac, according to the testing I referenced earlier, while Sophos has the best. Sophos also doesn't have much of an impact on a Mac's performance in my experience.
sidebar: thomas - thank you for the detection rate link.
as for Kasperski - windows side (i alternate KIS and Norton) two of them together are fantastic in keeping a win computer running clean and safe
as for Kas on the mac not a firm believer in the product yet (still feels and functions as a secondary product line) in my humble opinion
was surprised with intego
Unless you run one as on demand only you are asking for trouble, you should never have more than one resident AV
The Space between your 2 ears and common sense.
I should of elaborated a little more, my apology.
on the windows side I have two licences one for nortan and one for kis - I also have malware bytes.
I have a diverce set of users at home, one in particular is a challenge (eg: anti-virus turned off / anti-virus is saying no to a internet process or friends plugging and playing all the time and sharing files and someone saying ok when they should say quarentine instead of run/open)
at one point in time, I was sincerly rebuilding a computer every three to six months at home....... fun
I discovered that If I have both AVs available (having one active on the computer and the other one not on the computer) my problems have lessened at home for some reason - maybe its maturity
I like kis from the web-perspective more then norton for some reason, but their both reasonable good product.
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as for this post after seeing the detection results, I flipped from clamxav to sophos again.....I have a habit of flipping AVs as you can tell
the only thing I have noticed between the last release (before mountain lion) vs the moutain lion release 10.8 is the download of updates
seems to take a little longer then normal.
Which is the best Imac antivirus protection, ClamXav, Sophos or Avast?
