Aviramyosef

Q: Anti Virus for Mavericks

Hello should i install anti virus for my MacBook?

I'm also using Parallels with windows 7.

 

Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 29, 2013 11:51 PM

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Q: Anti Virus for Mavericks

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  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Oct 30, 2013 7:27 AM in response to Bnick1953
    Level 7 (30,889 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2013 7:27 AM in response to Bnick1953

    You convinced me I do not need it

     

    It's not that simple... If you decide you don't want to use anti-virus software, that's a perfectly legitimate choice on a mac, but please be sure to do your homework and understand what is necessary to ensure you remain secure. You can't just pretend Mac malware doesn't exist, as some of the folks responding here would like you to do. Well, statistically, you probably could do just that and still be fine... but would you rather play the odds or understand how to beat them?

  • by isd503,

    isd503 isd503 Oct 30, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Aviramyosef
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Aviramyosef

    You need anti-virus software.  Don't kid yourself.

     

    I hve used Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) on my MacBook Pro since I purchased it some years ago.  Sometimes, it hogs all the CPU when it is scanning, but if you set it to scan at night when you are not using the machine, you can avoid these interruptions.

     

    If you want to install SEP on Mavericks, make sure you use the .dmg file in RU4.  A lot of people find their employer licensing allows them to also use this product.

  • by Topher Kessler,

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler Oct 30, 2013 7:36 AM in response to Aviramyosef
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    Oct 30, 2013 7:36 AM in response to Aviramyosef

    Another +1 for sophos here. I've had it installed on my Macs and it's never bogged it down. You can turn off on-access scanning to help ensure this, and then only scan on your own schedule. The same can be done for other programs, so this is not an exclusive endorsement, but jusg go say that Sophos has not caused me any problems since having it installed (for years now).

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Oct 30, 2013 8:01 AM in response to isd503
    Level 7 (30,889 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2013 8:01 AM in response to isd503

    Any Symantec products are to be avoided on the Mac. Symantec focuses on Windows, their Mac products are basically just Mac wrappers for their Windows malware definitions, with a few Mac definitions thrown in. None of their products test well at detecting Mac malware.

  • by ViShVa,

    ViShVa ViShVa Oct 30, 2013 8:52 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 2 (272 points)
    Oct 30, 2013 8:52 AM in response to thomas_r.

    @ Thomas Reed

     

    Excellent read http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg/ Read it from end to end and very sound advice. Thanks.

     

    What has happened to XProtect in Mavericks? The Security Preference Pane does not list it. Has it been discontinued or is it just hidden deep inside the OS?

  • by TheGuyintheProjectionBooth,

    TheGuyintheProjectionBooth TheGuyintheProjectionBooth Oct 30, 2013 10:48 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 2 (208 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2013 10:48 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Although Norton (Symantec) was originally a Mac product and a great Anti-Virus and Maintenance program, where it made all its money to survive when Macs did not need it anymore, and thus for survival it went to the dark side. Norton, now, is one of the two worst things you can put on any computer. AOL being the first.

     

    I remember using Norton fondly in the early days to do system maintenance and it did a great job. There was a marked difference in machine performance for the better after using it. Then Macs no longer needed it.

     

    Stay far away from Norton or any Symantec product. Their slide to the dark side did some major damage.

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Oct 30, 2013 11:26 AM in response to ViShVa
    Level 7 (30,889 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2013 11:26 AM in response to ViShVa

    What has happened to XProtect in Mavericks? The Security Preference Pane does not list it.

     

    It never did, actually. You'll never see any reference to XProtect in the interface for Mac OS X. It's still there, though, behind the scenes and functioning just as it did in previous systems.

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Oct 30, 2013 11:37 AM in response to ViShVa
    Level 6 (13,087 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2013 11:37 AM in response to ViShVa

    ViShVa wrote:

     

    @ Thomas Reed

     

    Excellent read http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg/ Read it from end to end and very sound advice. Thanks.

     

    What has happened to XProtect in Mavericks? The Security Preference Pane does not list it. Has it been discontinued or is it just hidden deep inside the OS?

    This is where it is on my 10.6.8 and 10.8.5. Most likely at the same path in 10.9.

     

    /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.plist

  • by R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Oct 30, 2013 1:04 PM in response to WZZZ
    Level 6 (17,633 points)
    Oct 30, 2013 1:04 PM in response to WZZZ

    WZZZ wrote:

    This is where it is on my 10.6.8 and 10.8.5. Most likely at the same path in 10.9.

     

    /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.plist

    Yep. At the same path in 10.9.

  • by isd503,

    isd503 isd503 Oct 30, 2013 2:35 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 30, 2013 2:35 PM in response to thomas_r.

    I have never had a problem with SEP on the Mac.  I have used it faithfully for about 7 years now.  I agree Symantec has some major issues with their software, mainly because they buy something, rebrand it with their own "enhancements" and put it back on the market with a new name.

     

    NetBackup and Volume Enterprise Manager are a couple good examples.  I don't think any vendor can really claim complete victory over the threats posed to the Mac OS until that activity begins to increase.

     

    I have uninstalled SEP and installed Sophos.  I will try it out for a while and see what happens.  Thank you for the advise.

  • by randym431,

    randym431 randym431 Jan 8, 2014 7:42 AM in response to Aviramyosef
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Quicktime
    Jan 8, 2014 7:42 AM in response to Aviramyosef

    Well I too was wondering about mac protection and seems in this thread we're back to where we started.

    Pepsi or coke?

    Right or left?

    Up or down?

     

    All I know and what brought me here was weird things happening lately on my home mac.

    10.9.1

    Especially when I go into MAIL and it hangs for some time before checking-displaying incoming mail.

    Never use to do that before. Usually MAIL checked and displayed incoming mail instantly. Or near instant.

    I especially noticed this strangness after viewing a lot of online video and youtube video trying to investigate home security systems.

    After spending days pourng thru online video, I noticed strange happening on my iMac had started.

    So naturally Im looking into a possible virus thing or if I need some sort of mac osx protection.

     

    PS. I do transfer many files between another pc which has windows 8, and my iMac via USB flash drive.

    Word files, video files, program files, picture files, music files.

     

    All I know something is going on, bad or harmless I dont know? But when I go into sites like Walmart i see displayed to the right suggestions for security systems. I have never searched a walmart site for security systems in my life. So why do they know Im interested in home security?

    Hmmmmm

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Jan 8, 2014 9:44 AM in response to randym431
    Level 7 (30,889 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 8, 2014 9:44 AM in response to randym431

    Seeing strange things happening is almost never a symptom of malware on a Mac. You need to start your own topic. Describe the symptoms of your problems clearly, and avoid any interpretation of those symptoms. (Especially avoid mentioning anything about viruses, as that will probably start a debate that will stray away from helping you.)

  • by Grant Lenahan,

    Grant Lenahan Grant Lenahan Jan 8, 2014 9:48 AM in response to petermac87
    Level 4 (1,468 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 8, 2014 9:48 AM in response to petermac87

    Second the wrong. 

     

    1. Its much mroe robust than windows

    2. most virus protection comes down to safe computering - dont do anything stupid.  I realize that cna be hard

    3. work behond a firewall (router, mac firewall)

     

    Most AV software is the cause of trouble. Hack, read this forum for a while ans see.

     

    Grant

  • by petermac87,

    petermac87 petermac87 Jan 8, 2014 9:55 AM in response to Grant Lenahan
    Level 5 (7,402 points)
    Jan 8, 2014 9:55 AM in response to Grant Lenahan

    Why are you replying to me? I haven't commented here in two and a half months. This thread ran its course.

     

    Pete

  • by felixcorrales,

    felixcorrales felixcorrales Jan 24, 2014 9:07 AM in response to petermac87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 24, 2014 9:07 AM in response to petermac87

    avast free antivirus current  version 8.0 (40527), is blocking some yahoo email synchronization in OSX  Mavericks 10.9.1. I am working with the current Mavericks Mail version  7.1 (1827)

     

    After disabling the avast antivirus, almost all my yahoo emails (except one) had being syncronized.

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