If I frequently download (legal) torrents, is there a program/antivirus I need to install to keep my macbook safer?

No, not at all. If you choose to bypass OS X's built-in protections including Gatekeeper there is absolutely nothing that will prevent you from downloading and installing junk that can wreak havoc limited only by a developer's imagination.

Perhaps one day there will be no way to install anything on a Mac that does not originate directly from Apple, similar to the iOS App Store, but I'm not looking forward to it. At present you are free to mess up your Mac to your heart's content.

If you're downloading software directly from the manufacturer, it won't contain viruses or other malware, and you can safely bypass Gatekeeper or other built-in protection. If it makes you feel better, install and use ClamXav or Sophos.

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rumblefishx wrote:

what do you mean bypassing built-in protections?

https://ssl.apple.com/osx/what-is/security.html

Nothing can prevent you from willingly granting a process superuser privileges, and breaking your Mac.

This is not limited to torrents. Harmful or simply poorly written software is abundant and available directly from their developers. Many such examples are "anti-virus" or similar utilities promising to "speed up", "clean up" or "optimize" your Mac.

You can download it if you want. Most other Mac OS X antivirus programs and all of those which actually require payment for usage should be avoided; if you think you need a maintenance utility, you're better off searching for one yourself instead of accepting any which are advertised to you.

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ClamXav is not harmful but cannot prevent you from doing something stupid. Neither can anything else.

It is a common misconception that some magic shield exists that can make the inherently unsafe behaviour of downloading and installing software from torrent sites a safe activity. It's just not so. Installable software obtained in that manner is almost guaranteed to contain malware.

Popular "anti-virus" utilities use slick marketing tactics with confidence-inspiring characters like this

and this

They are highly effective marketing tools, but their products are for suçkers. Don't be one.

You have to "practice safe computing" on your own, and that means educating yourself about Internet threats and scams that will always be with us. If you do that, you will reach the same conclusions that have led to the recommendations I made.

Sophos is an extremely reputable brand. Their free Mac AV protuct is good. I use it.