What is the best antivirus for MacBook Pro?
What is the best antivirus for MacBook Pro?
iPad 2, iOS 6.1.2
What is the best antivirus for MacBook Pro?
iPad 2, iOS 6.1.2
None
ClamXav if you insist.
If you find this comment too long or too technical, read only sections 5, 6, and 10.
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.
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, use one of the free anti-virus products in the Mac App Store — nothing else.
8. An anti-malware product from the App Store, such as "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
Anti-virus software 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 the software unless a network administrator requires you to do it.
The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
See my Mac Malware Guide for a detailed answer to that question.
Nice!
Great response.
😁
Thank you Linc Davis, this long and exhaustive comment has answered so many questions which have developed after countless discussions with Windows based friends and colleagues who insis that the rise in Apples popularity will make it attractive to hackers and that we/I am doomed too.
I agree with the common sense approach and will try clamXav. But I have not reinstalled bootcamp after my last complete "harddrive" service. I have a diffrent question regarding Office for Mac and whether they pose a security issue, but will open a new thread if there is none to be found.
Again, thank you.
Yes, Ive read your extensive post at:
http://www.thesafemac.com/there-are-no-mac-viruses/
I love the detailed explanations like you and Pondini make. I have a few of my own, but involving data archiving and storage.
The bottom line on Mac Virus, excepting malware (which Ive always brushed off due to its non-volatile nature) is that as per Mac virus, ........currently its "more than 0, but less than 1" in summation 😊
The bottom line on Mac Virus, excepting malware (which Ive always brushed off due to its non-volatile nature) is that as per Mac virus, ........currently its "more than 0, but less than 1" in summation 😊
That doesn't really make any sense.
To compare Mac malware to Bigfoot clearly indicates you don't understand (or refuse to believe) anything I have written on this matter. Because if they were comparable, you'd be talking to someone who possesses a cage full of Bigfoots (Bigfeet?), and thus has no doubts of their existence. I don't just talk about this stuff, I actually have copies of nearly every piece of malware that has ever been able to infect a Mac OS X system.
I believe all you have written actually. And Ive seen the TIbetan-symp. malware. (not that I got same).
Just introducing a bit of lite-heartedness into things. Never to detract from virus talk.
After 11 years of repairing (hardware guy) Ive heard enough horror stories of viruses, and seen endless 1000s myself, however those were PC machines.
I was speaking about Virus however, not malware. 😍
I was speaking about Virus however, not malware. 😍
Then you're playing word games that I have no patience with, as they simply ridicule the original poster's question rather than helping anyone, and I have to refer you back here again:
I agree with you,..... but your page: “There are no Mac viruses”
begins with:
Second, it is only mostly true that there are no Mac viruses............... And ends with: To learn how to protect yourself against Mac malware, regardless of what you decide to call it, see my Mac Malware Guide.
and does not list any Mac Virus.
Yes, agreed the original poster should follow ALL your rules for protection against malware ....to which you have a commendable list and very helpful information on.
hugs 😍
What is the best antivirus for MacBook Pro?