I had windows laptops all my life and they have Windows Defender and I also had MacFee for virus and web protection. I have just got MacBook Pro laptop and would like to know what system has it got installed for virus and web protection?
Is it pre-installed or do I have to buy something?
MacBook Pro, iOS 9.2
putnik wrote:
Another well known product is Malwarebytes, but do not install both this and DetectX.
I'm not disagreeing with you on this, but I think your advice is more general than that. If, for whatever reason, someone wants to install 3rd party security software, they should do research, and install only one. Maybe even try out a few, but only one at a time.
I've heard of DetectX but I don't know any details about it. I do know that Apple's built-in malware protection has a number of unusual traits. These unique behaviours make it relatively compatible with 3rd party security tools. But 3rd party security tools all tend to do the same things using the same methods, so no one should ever install more than one 3rd party security tool at a time.
And this advice is only good today. In June, Apple could re-vamp the built-in security and make my advice incorrect. MalwareBytes even recently added a kernel extension. It is still an excellent tool, but kernel extensions are always problematic.
For traditional anti-virus software (sometimes a stipulated requirement in a commercial environment), many people use ClamXav. Note that the App Store version does not have the scan engine for monitoring activity.
ClamXAV hasn't been in the Mac App Store for some time.
No one should ever install security software from the Mac App Store. The technical limitations that Apple puts on software in the Mac App Store prevent any security software from being fully functional. Apple banned them from the iOS store. I don't know why they still allow them in the Mac store. They do nothing but give people a false sense of security.
Hello harifromsydenham,
The macOS operating system has multiple levels of security preinstalled. You don't need to buy anything extra.
The biggest risk to Mac users today are various categories of scam software. The only software growing by hundreds of percentage points is scamware. And it isn't just software that is a scam. Online reviews and awards are usually fake.
The best approach is to ask around on forums like this and look for a consensus of the most rational-sounding people with the least amount of drama. The louder someone shouts, the less you need to listen.
Macintosh have traditionally been relaxed about cyber threats. The pre-installed OS X protection is very relaxed (see System Preferences > Security & Privacy).
This complacency stems from OS X being in the BSD family of UNIX-variants, which are widely acknowledged as being harder to hack and being fewer in numbers. But as popularity increases, so does the attention of cybercriminals.
Some ISPs (i.e. BT) give their Mac & Windows customers free antivirus. Both Apple and Microsoft are both moving towards store-only installs, which greatly reduces the chance of accidental malware infections.
I do have McAfee AV on my OS X and it has not yet caught anything.
There sure is mac malware, but none that the existing antivirus will catch.
There exist ZERO mac virus in the wild. Virus have the capability to copy themselves, and install without active participation by the user. An antivirus can only be effective to block a threat that is already known. If a virus is spread tomorrow, your existing antivirus will do nothing to protect your from it, until is updated.
The existing malware relies on user behavior. Visiting a malevolent website, being fooled to install crapware, or falling for phishing attempts into providing your own confidential information --- all of that depends on sociological tricks to lure an unsuspecting victim into infecting him/herself.
No antivirus can offer any protection against that.
The best protection is to keep your system up to date, avoid visiting dodgy sites and not fall for the socio-psychologic tricks.
I forgot to mention that as far as "web" protection goes, there are many ways that you will find in the Safari Preferences. For even more positive measures, such as whitelisting websites etc, there are ways to set up a Child Account from the Computer Preferences>Users & Groups.
You do not need third party antivirus apps on your Mac nor on Windows running Windows Defender. Both operating systems have built in protections. On your Mac third party anti virus apps provide no benefit and use system resources. On your Windows computer Defender will shut down if you install a third party anti virus app. I would stick with Windows Defender.
Modern operating systems have built in protection. The biggest issue in my opinion is Social Engineering where you are enticed into installing malicious software or adware. Practice safe computing, trust your operating system's built in protection.
The “security by lack of numbers“ is a red herring. Over 50% of the servers in the world run Linux - another Unix variant. Very very few get hacked, and if they do, then it’s generally because security wasn’t set up correctly, rather than the “skill” of the hacker...
What is the definition of a secure computer?
Python (2010) and Java (2012) have been used to deliver cross-platform attacks. Apple took down its claim that OS X does not get PC viruses in 2012. OS X malware increased 270% between 2016 and 2017. Red Hat Linux has taken down its claim that Linux is virus free.
My apologies for omitting to mention Etrecheck in the list:)
But DetectX, Malwarebytes and Etrecheck are passive systems, all good to know about if you do have reason to believe you may have got malware.
I don't consider EtreCheck to be security software. It is diagnostic software and it tries to fix problems when it can and when a manual fix is dangerous. Adware is a big problem so EtreCheck will disable, but not remove, adware.
I don't know what you mean about "passive" systems. What is an active system then? MalwareBytes includes a kernel extension. That makes it pretty active. Unfortunately, sometimes it also actively shows up under the kernel panic section of EtreCheck reports, but that's just life with kernel extensions.
I would recommend getting these apps from Phil Stokes, who is a well known developer of Apple security applications:
DetectX Swift - a malware detection tool
Critical Updates - lists the status of Apple's own built-in security systems
Bootbuddy - for making a USB bootable installer
Another well known product is Malwarebytes, but do not install both this and DetectX.
https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/
For traditional anti-virus software (sometimes a stipulated requirement in a commercial environment), many people use ClamXav. Note that the App Store version does not have the scan engine for monitoring activity. You can get the full version from:
There is an app called WallsofTroy, that lists the malware which is currently recognised by the computer, if you don't know where to look yourself:)
What system has MacBook Pro installed for web protection?
