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virus protection for my macbook pro

Does anybody know of a good Virus protection for my macbook pro? Some people say i dont need one is that true? I was hoping to get a cheap/reasonable priced protection for a lil extra help. Im worried about my laptop getting a virus.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Mar 18, 2013 11:11 AM

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22 replies

Mar 18, 2013 11:44 AM in response to Steven.m089

I wouldn't suggest Clam. Go read some info on Avast for Mac. Read the reviews on CNET's site as well as the forums on www.avast.com and formulate your own opinion. This is what I run and I also have a ton of clients that run it without issues, both on PC and on Mac now that it's become available for Mac.


Others on this site will disagree, but I've used Avast on PCs for over 6 years without issues and so far have had no issues on the Mac platform for the past 6 months since available.

Mar 18, 2013 11:59 AM in response to Steven.m089

Steven.m089 wrote:


Does anybody know of a good Virus protection for my macbook pro?


Apple installed anit-malware for OS X in the last operating system update for 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8



However it doesn't take care of Windows virus that comes on files from them (doesn't affect a Mac) so to be nice and not pass them on, you should use a run as you need to scanner and ClamXav is free.


Always on anti-virus that installs something deep inside OS X usually causes problems, especially Norton.


Apple has got our backs and usually has a fix out faster than any anti-virus can.

Mar 18, 2013 12:21 PM in response to Steven.m089

"Avast" is perhaps the worst of the whole wretched lot of commercial "security" products for the Mac. It's worse than the imaginary "viruses" you were worried about when you installed it. Not only does it fail to protect you, it destabilizes and slows down your computer, and it sometimes or always corrupts the network settings and the permissions of files in your home folder. Removing it may not repair the damage, and neither will Disk Utility or even reinstalling OS X.

Mar 18, 2013 1:17 PM in response to Steven.m089

sigh. Discussions about anti-virus software here are a hot-button topic, and often cause virtual fistfights. Not your fault, of course, but now there's a lot of confusing information being thrown back and forth here. Let me try to clear the air a bit.


First, regarding ClamXav, Kappy's link is fine, but I would refer you straight to the official ClamXav site rather than the MacUpdate page:


http://www.clamxav.com


There is another ClamXav site, ending in .org, that is fake. It's not related to the actual ClamXav. Don't go there. I'd love nothing better than to get that site taken down, but alas, that is not within my power.


I have mixed feelings about ClamXav. I like the guy who develops it, and I like the way it works... but it's not always on top of things with regard to malware definitions.


Regarding Avast, it is certainly not "the worst of the whole wretched lot" of anti-virus software. Neither is it something I would recommend highly. It has a tendency towards false positives, in my experience. Beyond that, I have not used it for a lengthy period of time, and cannot say more.


Go to my Mac Malware Guide and get the information you need to learn how to protect yourself, and then make your own educated decision about anti-virus software, based on your needs and behaviors. I have some recommendations there, and you can also take a look at the results of my testing of Mac anti-virus software. (Be sure to read the whole thing, and don't just skip straight to the results, as the results are meaningless without understanding what they mean and what they don't mean.)

Mar 18, 2013 1:39 PM in response to thomas_r.

Thomas A Reed wrote:


sigh. Discussions about anti-virus software here are a hot-button topic, and often cause virtual fistfights. Not your fault, of course, but now there's a lot of confusing information being thrown back and forth here. Let me try to clear the air a bit.


First, regarding ClamXav, Kappy's link is fine, but I would refer you straight to the official ClamXav site rather than the MacUpdate page:


http://www.clamxav.com


There is another ClamXav site, ending in .org, that is fake. It's not related to the actual ClamXav. Don't go there. I'd love nothing better than to get that site taken down, but alas, that is not within my power.


I have mixed feelings about ClamXav. I like the guy who develops it, and I like the way it works... but it's not always on top of things with regard to malware definitions.


Regarding Avast, it is certainly not "the worst of the whole wretched lot" of anti-virus software. Neither is it something I would recommend highly. It has a tendency towards false positives, in my experience. Beyond that, I have not used it for a lengthy period of time, and cannot say more.


Go to my Mac Malware Guide and get the information you need to learn how to protect yourself, and then make your own educated decision about anti-virus software, based on your needs and behaviors. I have some recommendations there, and you can also take a look at the results of my testing of Mac anti-virus software. (Be sure to read the whole thing, and don't just skip straight to the results, as the results are meaningless without understanding what they mean and what they don't mean.)

With respect to your site and your basic research on the matter and limited time spent with these engines running, you have to see this from my side as well. I have over 20+ client networks that run nothing but the full licensed version of Avast with just the AV filters turned on (none of the Firewalling built into it of any kind). 2 of those clients are full Mac networks with 15+ Macs on them and they run the Mac version without issue. Their systems run at the same speed as they did without anything else on them. I also run the software myself daily an my system has no issues with slowness or anything. I have run Avast for the past 6+ years without problems with false positives or system corruptions of any kind, the same cannot be said for other platforms like McAfee and Norton who's bad signature updates have crippled entire networks. I have looked at numerous options from ESET to AVG Free and none of them have as small a footprint on the system as Avast in my professional opinion (one backed by over 15 years in the IT industry). While as of late I'll agree that the PC version of the software has had some additions to it that I don't agree with (like the newly added features of 8.0), the Mac version is still pretty basic in contrast. As such, even the PC side isn't bad, you just have to do a custom install and just exclude the additional options you don't want. Ultimately, they're adding it in there to try and protect idiot users more, but there's only so much you can do to keep people safe without piling on the security layers.


Anyway, as Thomas said... discussions about AV on Mac forums can go on for hours, but the fact remains that you run a risk with and without something on your system. Utimately it's your call to make, just be open minded and do your research instead of just taking the word of some home user of Macs with lot of points who've used these systems for over 10 years and are more proficient at protecting themselves than you are as a novice user. That is the best suggestion I can give you.

Mar 18, 2013 2:31 PM in response to Linc Davis

In case you're confused by the conflicting comments in this thread regarding Avast, here are some recent examples of what it does from my personal experience on this site.


Kernel panics caused by Avast:


Why my macBook Pro won't turn off: Apple Support Communities

your computer has been restarted...: Apple Support Communities

Macbook Pro Retina takes forever to...: Apple Support Communities


Slow boot, possibly implicating Avast:


Slow boot time MBP mid 2012 running on...: Apple Support Communities


System corruption:

I can no longer access...: Apple Support Communities

Mac Mail and AOL IMAP: Apple Support Communities


False positives:


anti virus scan with avast: Apple Support Communities

I have a querie about a possible bad...: Apple Support Communities


Though I don't have proof, I've seen reports indicating that Avast changes the permissions of files in the user's home folder, making those files unwritable.


Comment by Thomas Reed, who seems to have trouble remembering what his own opinions are, maybe because he's too busy spamming every thread on ASC that mentions malware with links to his website:


"Get rid of Avast."


How do I get rid of a virus?: Apple Support Communities


Instances in which Avast has ever done any good for anyone other than the developer:


None.

Mar 18, 2013 2:36 PM in response to Steven.m089

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.

OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.

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 checked for updates 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.
  • It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated " Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't actually been tested by Apple (unless it comes from the Mac App Store), but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. For most practical purposes, applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed can be considered safe.

Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It 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. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is presumably effective against known attacks, but maybe not against unknown attacks. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.


5. Beyond XProtect, Gatekeeper, and MRT, there’s no evidence of any benefit from other automated protection against malware. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, 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," "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 visitors 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.
6. Java on the Web ( not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style "virus" affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful. Fortunately, Java on the Web is mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.

Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. 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.

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. Never enable Java on a public web page that carries third-party advertising. Use it, when necessary, only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
Follow the above guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself from malware.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The greatest harm done by security 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.

10. 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.

virus protection for my macbook pro

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