I have Snow Leopard. I would like to know what antivirus and other internet protection I can install on my Mac? If I upgrade to Lion, which is supported by antivirus, to what degree will it slow my system down? Is the antivirus, etc. protection any better for Lion than it is for Snow Leopard? Thanks!
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Antivirus software is NOT needed if the Mac you are running is only running OS X. Antivirus apps interfere with normal performance and operation of a Mac because they program too many controls into the main OS X system software impacting general performance of your Mac.
Here are some of my tidbits of advice on how to avoid viruses in the future, if you encounter a virus, again.
Some anti-virus solutions can slow down your Mac, but to be honest, the best anit-virus app is you, the user and your brain.
Don't visit questionable websites or website you are unsure about.
Don't use Torrents or engage in "Torrenting"
Don't install pirated software or software downloaded from a questionable or unknown websites or untrutsted sources.
Java is still a vulnerability concern, if you do not need it, don't use it.
Use a browser filter and pop-up blocker
Don't open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize.
Install security updates when they become available
Educate yourself as to what threats are common and active.
In effect, use your own brain as the antivirus filter.
Follow that advise and in MOST cases, you will be fine and won't risk your Mac to potential Trojans, malware or viruses.
If you feel you need some baseline virus protection that is minimally invasive on the Mac OS X system, install
ClamXAV
Also, Safari 5.1.1 for OS X 10;6 Snow Leopard is no longer being support or updated, so I would advise switching to a more up to date and secure web browser such as Mozilla FireFox.
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox
The current, up-to-date version of FireFox is fully compatible with OS X and is regularly updated by the great developers of the Mozilla group.
I have, also, stopped using the Google search engine regularly (due to Google's privacy policies or lack thereof) and I now use DuckDuckGo as my default search engine.
DuckDuckGo is a new and completely secure search engine and it does no mining of your personal data.
Antivirus software is NOT needed if the Mac you are running is only running OS X. Antivirus apps interfere with normal performance and operation of a Mac because they program too many controls into the main OS X system software impacting general performance of your Mac.
Here are some of my tidbits of advice on how to avoid viruses in the future, if you encounter a virus, again.
Some anti-virus solutions can slow down your Mac, but to be honest, the best anit-virus app is you, the user and your brain.
Don't visit questionable websites or website you are unsure about.
Don't use Torrents or engage in "Torrenting"
Don't install pirated software or software downloaded from a questionable or unknown websites or untrutsted sources.
Java is still a vulnerability concern, if you do not need it, don't use it.
Use a browser filter and pop-up blocker
Don't open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize.
Install security updates when they become available
Educate yourself as to what threats are common and active.
In effect, use your own brain as the antivirus filter.
Follow that advise and in MOST cases, you will be fine and won't risk your Mac to potential Trojans, malware or viruses.
If you feel you need some baseline virus protection that is minimally invasive on the Mac OS X system, install
ClamXAV
Also, Safari 5.1.1 for OS X 10;6 Snow Leopard is no longer being support or updated, so I would advise switching to a more up to date and secure web browser such as Mozilla FireFox.
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox
The current, up-to-date version of FireFox is fully compatible with OS X and is regularly updated by the great developers of the Mozilla group.
I have, also, stopped using the Google search engine regularly (due to Google's privacy policies or lack thereof) and I now use DuckDuckGo as my default search engine.
DuckDuckGo is a new and completely secure search engine and it does no mining of your personal data.
Hi MichaelPM,
Thank you! You answered my question that others were not able to with my current version of Snow Leopard and solved the problem.
antivirus security for snow leopard in 2015
