avast!
should i install avast! anti-virus on my MacBook Air?
MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Arr ! No ! Arrrr.
12 replies
donfromst-basile wrote:
should i install avast! anti-virus on my MacBook Air?
No
1. This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed
deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." The malware recognition database is automatically updated once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." The malware recognition database is automatically updated once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
- It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets (see below.)
- It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
Gatekeeper has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
- It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
- A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could find some other way to evade Apple's controls.
4. Beyond XProtect and Gatekeeper, there’s no benefit, in most cases, from any other automated protection against malware. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. All known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the malware attacker. If you're smarter than he thinks you are, you'll win.
That means, in practice, that you never use software that comes from an untrustworthy source. How do you know whether a source is trustworthy?
- Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "archive extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
- A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn users who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
- Pirated copies or "cracks" of commercial software, no matter where they come from, are unsafe.
- Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet binary newsgroup is unsafe.
- Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. If it comes from any other source, it's unsafe.
Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. A separate Java installer is distributed by Apple, and another one by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. At the moment, the Oracle version is blocked by Apple because of known security flaws that make it unsafe to use on the Internet. If Java is installed, disable it —
not JavaScript — in your browsers. In Safari, this is done by unchecking the box marked
Enable Java in the
Security tab of the preferences dialog. Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you probably won’t be missing much.
Regardless of version, experience has shown that
Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a specific task, enable Java only when needed for the task and disable it immediately when done. Close all other browser windows and tabs, and don't visit any other sites while Java is active. Eliminate Java from your online workflow whenever possible. If a web page prompts you to use Java to do something that can be done without it, such as streaming video or downloading files,
don't.
Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can reasonably be.
6. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, if they do any good at all. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav — nothing else.
6. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, if they do any good at all. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav — nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?
- Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
- In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
- By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
7. ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
ClamXav is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.
A Windows malware attachment in email is usually easy to recognize. The file name will often be targeted at people who aren't very bright; for example:
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!!!!!!!H0TBABEZ4U!!!!!!!.AVI♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.exe
ClamXav may be able to tell you which particular virus or trojan it is, but do you care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use ClamXav unless a network administrator requires you to run an anti-virus application.
8. The greatest harm done by anti-virus software, in my opinion, is in its effect on human behavior. It does little or nothing to protect people from emerging threats, but they get a false sense of security from it, and then they may behave in ways that expose them to higher risk.
Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.
9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the
Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
I would not. the reason is I asked Avast for MD5 verification of the installation file and was given a value of f21089232a95ac3d00c45500338b3454. but when I asked where on their web site the MD5 is located I did not get an answer.
The MD5 is used to verify the file to help prevent someone else from providing a fake version.
Also Avast cannot completed disable the virus software, in the event you need to stop it to install or perform other tests
If the Avast web site were hacked to contain a malicious installer rather than the real installer, what makes you believe that an MD5 posted on the same web site would be immune to change? You're looking for security in all the wrong places.
Linc,
Would you consider making what you posted a user tip? There is a lot of good information there.
i have recently installed avast on my mac . it was the first time in 5 years of owning a mac that i used any antivirus whatsoever . i selected AVAST because the reviews especially on CNET where ecstatic . it was of course after installing and running avast that i read bad reviews by people and other web sites. but the scan took 9 hours and there where no problems. i then uninstalled it .. the bottom line and what i personally think about these free antivirus programs are that they are just scams or peoples opinions who work for the program that you are using . i have never had a problem with a mac and i dont beleive these programs will help at all in fact some of them seem to be harmfull. leave your mac the way it was designed ! dont be foolish and go to web sites that may install virus on your computer and use common sense . change your e mail password from time to time so it doesnt get hacked but i really dont see a problem with leaving your mac alone . dont use any anti virus programs.especially if theyre free
Avast actually has quite good detection rates when it comes to detecting Mac malware. I can say that definitively because I tested that in January:
http://www.thesafemac.com/mac-anti-virus-testing-01-2013/
To call it, and all other free anti-virus software, a scam is not fair, and is not based on fact. If you had simply said that anti-virus software on a Mac is unnecessary for most people, given appropriate precautions, I'd have had no argument. To call it a scam based on an opinion, however, is irresponsible.
call me irresponsible ....call me irrepressible .........ok maybe not all are scams ....dont call the irresponsible police on me tom! its not that serious . i think an antivirus is unnecessary for sure !
For the most part it's unnecessary, until you have some relevant malware on your system that an AV utility may have been able to catch.
The arguments for or against being proactive in this manner on the Mac is an endless loop of ideas and opinions, but if you are concerned and dont feel you have the computing "street smarts" that are often described by savvy users as being the only way to go, then a free and lightweight AV utility will not hurt your system (at least not more than most other programs), and potentially help you avoid suspicious files you might encounter.
Sophos home edition is a free, well-performing, reputable, and lightweight AV package that I recommend for anyone who would feel more comfortable having an AV solution on their system. I have installed it on most of my systems and it's never given me a problem.
ill try it... i did however use the avast once on my new mac and once on my old mac. the new mac was fine but the old mac had a few problems with JAVA . so i moved all the infections of java to the vault and then uninstalled avast
Suprisingly I entered a support case with avast a0x-281-34874 and received a response from Petr Burcek that "they will create a new kb article with md5 hash for the Mac version"
this is a suprising response since they have it for the PC version so it should be second nature for the mac version.
So I would definitly recommend against using avast
avast!