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Jan 20, 2014 12:48 AM in response to rameurby Jimmymac112,no you probably don't mac's don't really get viruses but if your worried launch Disk Utility
or buy CleanMyMac2 http://macpaw.com/cleanmymac
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Jan 20, 2014 1:43 AM in response to rameurby K Shaffer,No you do not need to buy an anti-virus application for your Mac OS X.
Many of the issues people from the windows PC world think may be caused by a virus in their Mac OS X system are mostly a matter of how you use the computer, adapting to use it the better way it was intended, and to not store too much of your stuff in the hard disk drive when it is not large enough for all that kinds of stuff that can and does accumulate there.
Back up your system and your private or created files, use an externally enclosed hard disk drive and learn the better ways to do things for yourself ahead of trouble. The preventative methods are the forward thinking way. Tools to perform preventative maintenance are in the Mac OS X, some are in the Recovery utilities, others on a bootable install disc with an older Mac OS X, and information on how to use them is often free for the asking. And advice can very so be sure to double-check information, and not just buy stuff because an advertiser was hot on selling it...
Some users of CleanMyMac, MacKeeper, and other products considered as malware, have discovered issues after using those; such as when parts of system files go missing, and user files have been deleted by the application. These do not really know what is important and what is not. But you should. Some files and folders you never need to mess with because Mac OS X is made to monitor most of its own functioning and that stuff runs in the background, not in the user interface. Learn more depth about the features in this kind of system and what you as a user should do to help it continue to work well.
There is an extensive library of information in Apple Support, this covers operating system, security, settings, applications (apple) and other things. It is searchable, too. Also, if you google something, enter words like 'OS X' before the thing you seek. And many answers already exist in these ASC discussion forums, but may be harder to find. Some are generic to OS X, others relate to changes in specific versions of later OS X.
Hopefully this helps. And there is no harm in asking questions.
Good luck & happy computing!
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Jan 20, 2014 1:43 AM in response to rameurby Klaus1,There are many forms of ‘Malware’ that can affect a computer system, of which ‘a virus’ is but one type, ‘trojans’ another. Using the strict definition of a computer virus, no viruses that can attack OS X have so far been detected 'in the wild', i.e. in anything other than laboratory conditions. The same is not true of other forms of malware, such as Trojans. Whilst it is a fairly safe bet that your Mac will NOT be infected by a virus, it may have other security-related problem, but more likely a technical problem unrelated to any malware threat.
You may find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful: The User Tip seeks to offer guidance on the main security threats and how to avoid them.
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435
More useful information can also be found here:
www.thesafemac.com/mmg
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Jan 20, 2014 6:44 AM in response to rameurby Linc Davis,1. This is a comment on what you should and should not do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the victim's computer, or who has been able to log in to it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.If you find this comment too long or too technical, read only sections 5, 6, and 10.OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
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:- It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
- It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:- It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
- A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
- An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
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. Sandboxing 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 effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they're not absolute protection. The first and best line of defense is always going to be 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 Internet criminals. If you're smarter than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know what is safe?- Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is unsafe.
- A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
- Pirated copies or "cracks" of commercial software, no matter where they come from, are unsafe.
- Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet binary newsgroup is unsafe.
- Software that purports to help you do something that's illegal or that infringes copyright, such as saving streamed audio or video for reuse without permission, is unsafe. All YouTube "downloaders," for example, are outside the safe harbor, though not all are malware.
- Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. If it comes from any other source, it's unsafe. For instance, if a web page warns you that Flash is out of date, do not follow an offered link to an update. Go to the Adobe website to download it, if you need it at all.
- There is an increasing tendency for rogue websites such as "Softonic" and "CNET Download" to distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous installer that also installs malware or something else that you don't want. Never visit those sites, and get all freeware directly from the developer's own site whenever possible.
- Software attached to email that you didn't request is unsafe, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
- Software advertised by means of spam is unsafe.
- Unknown "free" software that a stranger on the Internet is eager for you to download is unsafe.
- Even signed applications, no matter what the source, should not be trusted if they do something unexpected, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
- "FREE WI-FI !!!" networks in public places are unsafe unless you can verify that the network is not a trap (which you probably can't.) Even then, do not download any software or transmit any private information while connected to such a network, regardless of where it seems to come from or go to.
I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will inevitably result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Doing any of the things alluded to above should make you uncomfortable.6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.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.Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it — not JavaScript — in your browsers.Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
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 one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store — nothing else.Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?- To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. New threats are emerging on a daily basis. Research has shown that most successful attacks are "zero-day" — that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based malware scanners do not defend against such attacks.
- Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
- In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
- By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
8. An anti-malware product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. 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.An anti-virus app is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not completely effective. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.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♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.exeAnti-virus software may be able to tell you which particular trojan it is, but do you really care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use the software unless an institutional policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in every unknown email attachment until proven otherwise.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 all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.10. As a Mac user you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither should you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. "Hmmmm, this torrent is a crack of that new game I want. I think I'll download it. It could be a trojan, but the antivirus will warn me if it is." Then they wonder why their Mac is so slow all of a sudden. It's slow because it's running flat out mining bitcoins for a hacker who has already sold their credit card number and banking passwords to a criminal gang. Maybe a week later the antivirus does warn them, but what good does that do?Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices. -
Jan 20, 2014 7:48 AM in response to rameurby John Galt,Do not use CleanMyMac, or anything like it.
CleanMyMac belongs to a broad category of time- and money-wasters capable of causing system corruption that can only be rectified by reinstalling OS X, restoring from a backup, or completely erasing your system and rebuilding it from the ground up. If you elect to use such programs in spite of these warnings, be prepared to lose potentially irreplaceable data, and to invest an unknown quantity of time, money, or both in undoing the corruption that will result from their use.
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Apr 11, 2016 8:30 AM in response to Jimmymac112by MacPaw Support,Jimmy,
Acatully there is not need for antivirus for Mac and CleanMyMac does not offer it unlike some of the apps it is usually confused with.
In response to John, CleanMyMac 2 has a special feature - Safety Database that does not allow user delete files required for system performance even if s/he wants it If any problems appear, please contact us directly via ********
<E-mail Edited by Host>
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Feb 21, 2014 3:06 AM in response to CTby MacPaw Support,CT, CleanMyMac was updated with CleanMyMac 2 a year ago, so, yes, it is better to use the new version since it has better functionality.
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Feb 21, 2014 3:19 AM in response to CTby PlotinusVeritas,Software that acts like malware, indeed.
Cleanmymac2 causes serious issues.
Newsflash, the "new version" causes damage.
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Feb 21, 2014 3:33 AM in response to PlotinusVeritasby MacPaw Support,Please share the list of these issues with details and we will address them asap.
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Feb 21, 2014 3:45 AM in response to MacPaw Supportby John Galt,To be clear my response is based on my own personal testing of CleanMyMac2 performed on a brand new Mac in January 2014, and remains unchanged:
Do not use CleanMyMac, or anything like it.
CleanMyMac belongs to a broad category of time- and money-wasters capable of causing system corruption that can only be rectified by reinstalling OS X, restoring from a backup, or completely erasing your system and rebuilding it from the ground up. If you elect to use such programs in spite of these warnings, be prepared to lose potentially irreplaceable data, and to invest an unknown quantity of time, money, or both in undoing the corruption that will result from their use.
If you're having trouble with CleanMyMac2 please start your own Discussion.
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Feb 21, 2014 3:48 AM in response to John Galtby MacPaw Support,Some other opinions:
http://www.macgasm.net/2013/03/06/cleanmymac-releases-new-update/
http://www.tuaw.com/2013/03/05/cleanmymac-releases-solid-update-at-no-charge-to- current-users/
http://gizmodo.com/this-years-20-must-have-mac-os-x-utilities-1486601492
http://macvalley.blogspot.com/2014/01/clean-my-mac-2-review.html
http://idevicedailys.com/os-x/macpaw-cleanmymac-2-a-powerful-helper-for-everyone -on-a-mac/
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Feb 21, 2014 4:00 AM in response to MacPaw Supportby PlotinusVeritas,issues with CleanMyMac 2 – the “helper” part of the application. The application decided to run on my MAC with no warning and take over 3 gigs of memory causing the MAC to slow to a crawl – forcing me to slowly shut down all my apps and reboot. I just had enough time to screen dump the “helper” destroying my MAC before I was forced to reboot.
Your product CleanMyMac 2 corrupts FINDER, and deletes email, to name a few
more issues:
CleanMyMac 2 causing problems in Mavericks
etc.
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Feb 21, 2014 4:35 AM in response to PlotinusVeritasby MacPaw Support,First question:
Helper tool behaves like that if user has pulled CMM 2 to the trash bin, but have not deteled according to the instructions.
Simply moving the application to trash instead of uninstalling it doesn't fully remove all other bits of the app, and you should try uninstalling CleanMyMac 2 manually. Simply trash the following items:
- /Library/Application Support/CleanMyMac 2;
- ~/Library/Application Support/CleanMyMac 2;
- ~/Library/Application Support/CleanMyMac;
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.macpaw.CleanMyMac.plist;
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.plist
- /Users/Shared/CleanMyMac 2;
- /Users/Shared/CleanMyMac.
In these paths the '~' sign stands for your user home folder. To access the Library folder in your user home folder, simply open Finder and choose Library from the 'Go' menu while holding the 'Option' key on your keyboard. Paths that start without the tilde indicate that the folders are located on your system drive.
Second question:
This user has used old hacked version of CMM 2 - the compatibility issue was solved in CMM 2.1.0. Advice here is to buy, not hack the software
Third question:
Outlook-related issues have been thoroughly analyzed and resolved. The latest version of CleanMyMac 2 is tested to be fully compatible with Outlook on Mavericks.
In all three cases users could contact support and get answers the same day.