Anti-virus software for OS 10.8?
I am looking for anti-virus, internet security software that does a good job against malware and doesn't slow down OS 10.8?
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)
I am looking for anti-virus, internet security software that does a good job against malware and doesn't slow down OS 10.8?
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)
Mac OS X's built-in defenses and common sense are enough unless you're running Windows on the machine.
(83355)
Your request for AV software that doesn't slow the computer down is not realistic. All AV software always slows down the computer. It needs resources to run the scan.
Allan
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:
For the reasons given above, App Store products, and other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. OS X security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
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. XProtect, Gatekeeper, and MRT reduce the risk of malware attack, but they're not absolute protection. 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, or that does something inherently untrustworthy. How do you know what is trustworthy?
Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and 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.
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.
There is malware out there, and every now and then it manages to get through Mac OS X's defenses for a little while here and there. You need to learn how to protect yourself at a minimum. Further, nobody has really addressed the question directly. If there is some requirement imposed on you that you must run anti-virus software, there are some that will be very low-impact.
For more information on this sort of stuff, including some recommendations with regard to deciding whether to use anti-virus software and what to use if you do, see my Mac Malware Guide.
Hahaha this bit made me laugh "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. Any database of known threats is always going to be out of date. Most of the danger is from unknown threats. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files........." Cheers Linc Davis
Good luck
Douglas14202 wrote:
I am looking for anti-virus, internet security software that does a good job against malware and doesn't slow down OS 10.8?
In short, you don't need it. Apple has got your back. 🙂
If your dealing with Windows files and transferring them to other Windows users, then install the free ClamXav and run a scan when you need too., it's not on all the time.
Since 10.8 has Gatekeeper, some software from the web won't install if it's not signed with a Apple developer id, which in a lot of cases is totally unnecessary and id's have been used maliciously to get users to install software.
If you know the source is trustworthy, you can turn off Gatekeeper either permanently or temporarily, head to System Preferences > Security >General and set downloads to Anywhere. You can set this back once your done installing software from known trusted sources.
Anti-virus software for OS 10.8?