What is the best virus protection for a Mac?
What is the best virus protection for a Mac?
What is the best virus protection for a Mac?
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:
Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
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?
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.
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.
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.
> What is the best virus protection for a Mac?
A fully up-to-date OS X 10.8.3.
Install ClamXav from the Appstore.
MadMacs0's questionable advice will not protect against windows viruses.
Electricidad wrote:
MadMacs0's questionable advice will not protect against windows viruses.
I completely agree, but the OP's question was what is the best protection and I stick by my statement. If they needs more, then he should add more. If they require protection against windows malware for any reason, then they should follow the advice given by every other contributer here.
Everyone requires protection against windows viruses to prevent being host to them and enabling their spread.
Why would I need protection against Windows viruses on a mac ?
b j t wrote:
Why would I need protection against Windows viruses on a mac ?
Everyone requires protection against windows viruses to prevent being host to them and enabling their spread.
You probably won't infect many people but those you do certainly won't appreciate it at all.
<Edited by Host>
Even in Windows, just having a Virus present (such as inside an email) does not mean the Virus has actively infected the computer.
One also needs the infection mechanism (e.g., buffer overrun, malicious Java code execution, etc.) to be "armed" and ready to infect.
It is laudable to protect Windows users from even the presence of Windows Viruses. But in my opinion, the concern for accidentally infecting them by accidentally emailing them a copy of virus code that is not "armed" and ready to infect is overblown.
The reason I asked the question "Why would I need protection against Windows viruses on a mac ?"
is because of the statement Electricidad made that said:
Everyone requires protection against windows viruses to prevent being host to them and enabling their spread.
Which this statement is confusing as a mac computer ( at the moment ) can't get viruses.😕.
It is commonly believed among many regulars here that Electricidad and BitterCreek (among other aliases, some of which have been banned) are the same person. He is a troll. Don't waste time trying to reason with him.
b j t wrote:
Which this statement is confusing as a mac computer ( at the moment ) can't get viruses.😕.
Yes thay can, and have.
You are wrong, again.
The issue is that many people automatically forward mass mailings that can contain worms/trojan/viruses - whatever - in the attached files. I experienced such a thing many years ago, when I accidentally forwarded the klez worm, nested in an attachment, to a friend.
Whoops.
It didn't do me any harm but oh brother, my friend was not happy. 😟
And yeah, watch out for the trolls..
Deb.
What is the best virus protection for a Mac?