I need an antivirus program for my Mac, any suggestions.

[Infernos]

Sophos has an antivirus package for the Mac that is free. Don't fool yourself into thinking you don't need anti-virus. No operating system is that secure. I've been using Macs since the early 90's and a few have come along. Keeping anti-virus installed and up to date has protected me each time.

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by Infernos

Sophos has an antivirus package for the Mac that is free. Don't fool yourself into thinking you don't need anti-virus. No operating system is that secure. I've been using Macs since the early 90's and a few have come along. Keeping anti-virus installed and up to date has protected me each time.

Sophos should be avoided, as it could actually increase your Mac's vulnerability, as described here, here and here.

And the 90s were more harmful for Macs than the current time and past decade, but then again, I am using Macs only since 2004 without any AV, and strangely enough, I haven't had any malware yet. As I already wrote, I even tried to get some via file sharing or sex documentary sites, but it did not happen yet. Maybe I am doing something wrong.
And are you talking about viruses or trojans or ... ? Could you specify? What have you encountered? Please don't tell me it was a virus for Mac OS X, only for Mac OS.

PS: I haven't fooled myself, I have educated myself and thus am able to live without AV software. I understand not everyone has the luxury to do so, but that is what we are here for with our 1st world problems.

[2012Tony2012]

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

Did you read the thread? That's been discussed quite a bit.

So why are some people so persistent on using an AV when there are no virus/malware in the wild today? Even if a new one was released today, the AV wouldn't help them as it would not have the signature for the new virus, correct? And by the time the AV app updates the signature for the virus, the whole world would probably know and hear about a new virus infecting Macs, including Apple themselves so they would release something for it, correct?

So why bother when an AV?

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by Infernos

Sophos has an antivirus package for the Mac that is free.

Bad choice, as simsaladimbamba described.

Originally Posted by Infernos

Don't fool yourself into thinking you don't need anti-virus.

You don't need it if you practice safe computing. You're welcome to use AV if you want.

Originally Posted by Infernos

No operating system is that secure.

No antivirus app provides any higher security than simply practicing safe computing. Antivirus app detection rates are less than 100%.

Originally Posted by Infernos

I've been using Macs since the early 90's and a few have come along.

As already stated, there has never been a true virus in the wild since Mac OS X was released over 11 years ago, and all OS X malware can be successfully avoided without the use of any 3rd party AV app.

Originally Posted by 2012Tony2012

So why are some people so persistent on using an AV when there are no virus/malware in the wild today?

There is OS X malware in the wild. There are no OS X viruses in the wild. Many are persistent in their claims that antivirus is needed on a Mac because they haven't let go of Windows mentality, or they're uninformed about the facts about Mac OS X and malware, or they just like to contradict whatever is said. Some companies insist that all users have antivirus installed as a requirement for joining their networks.

Originally Posted by 2012Tony2012

Even if a new one was released today, the AV wouldn't help them as it would not have the signature for the new virus, correct? And by the time the AV app updates the signature for the virus, the whole world would probably know and hear about a new virus infecting Macs, including Apple themselves so they would release something for it, correct?

So why bother when an AV?

Exactly.

[JoeRito]

More malware headed OS X's way... go with ClamXAV. Its naive to think the increasing user base will not attract malware.

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by JoeRito

More malware headed OS X's way... go with ClamXAV

Or not.

[MDJCM]

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Sophos should be avoided, as it could actually increase your Mac's vulnerability, as described

Wow, thats a bit of a shocker, had no idea, been recommending sophos to people

So what is the better free anti-virus?

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by MDJCM

Wow, thats a bit of a shocker, had no idea, been recommending sophos to people

So what is the better free anti-virus?

After reading this thread and that Malware FAQ (got linked to twice), I suppose ClamXAV is that candidate. Maybe confirm my suspicion by reading the thread?

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

After reading this thread and that Malware FAQ (got linked to twice), I suppose ClamXAV is that candidate. Maybe confirm my suspicion by reading the thread?

Serious question. Why do you post here if the users obviously annoy you so much? Is it just for the joy of putting people down or something else?

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

Serious question. Why do you post here if the users obviously annoy you so much? Is it just for the joy of putting people down or something else?

Holidays?

Am just getting tired I suppose, but you are right.

Btw, I do not feel joy putting people down, I am just astonished at people's disability to read before posting. But maybe I am just to hard on them.

[Mike MA]

Originally Posted by gc15

Preferably a free program, but i just want something to protect my computer from malaware and any other harmful viruses.

As many have suggested, just get yourself ClamXav and crawl your system once in a while...

[xTRIGGER092x]

Antivirus isn't necessary just yet; that being said, malware is on the rise (as seen by the Flashback trojan back in the spring) for Mac and protection will probably be necessary in the next few years. Until then, I'm not using any AV. From my experience with AV on Macs, they just weren't very good. Sophos seemed adequate, but slowed down my machine a bit, and ClamXAV, while low-impact, seemed useless when it came to actually finding infections. I'll take the risk of flying solo until the time calls for it.

[tshrimp]

OP. Sophos and Avast both have free AV for the Mac. For those who say Macs don't get them that is your right to have that kind of confidence, but even for me I will take Apples warning when they say "....no computer connected to the Internet is completely immune to all viruses and spyware..."

http://www.apple.com/why-mac/faq/#viruses

But with that said is it much less likely on a Mac than a PC currently.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by tshrimp

OP. Sophos and Avast both have free AV for the Mac.

I recommend avoidance of Sophos, as it could actually increase a Mac's vulnerability, as described here and here. You don't need any 3rd party antivirus app to keep a Mac malware-free, as long as you practice safe computing, as already stated in this thread.

[tevion5]

No...no you don't need anything of the sort.

[joeycool]

Interesting I am new to masc and just got my I mac so was wondering about AV programs weather to install or not ? looks like http://www.clamxav.com/ is the most talked about

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by joeycool

Interesting I am new to masc and just got my I mac so was wondering about AV programs weather to install or not ? looks like http://www.clamxav.com/ is the most talked about

Look at post #3 for a more detailed answer, including links.

I for myself have not AV software installed, I do not need them, and I visit some sunny sites, that normally get ratted out to be some kind of illness.

[MDJCM]

What do you guys think of iAntivirus on the Mac App Store?

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/iant...23947195?mt=12



By Norton??

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by MDJCM

What do you guys think of iAntivirus on the Mac App Store?

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/iant...23947195?mt=12



By Norton??

Again, not needed. Look at post #3 for more detailed info on how to securely live without AV software.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by MDJCM

What do you guys think of iAntivirus on the Mac App Store?

iAntiVirus has a bogus malware definitions list, making their detection accuracy untrustworthy. They also make inaccurate claims about the existence of Mac malware, in order to hype the need for their product. This post will give details.

You don't need any 3rd party antivirus app to keep a Mac malware-free, as long as you practice safe computing, as described in the following link.

Mac Virus/Malware FAQ

[Nightarchaon]

Originally Posted by Apple fanboy

You don't need one on a Mac.

Oh so, so, so wrong, if your browsing the interwebs, you need one, especially on a mac nowadays , with macs being targeted more and more, and with people like you telling people that macs are some holy grail of a virus free computing future, macs are probably MORE in need of virus protection now than windows PCs.

Personally i get around the need by only installing from trusted sources, such as the app store, or certain reputable resellers, i also run Parallels in which i run a sandboxed copy of OSX for testing "unsafe" or "untrusted" software,


But then i work in IT security, so im paranoid up the wazooo.. NOTHING except an unplugged, offline system is "virus proof", anyone telling you otherwise is plain wrong.

Id suggest Clamx personally, along with little snitch .

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by Nightarchaon

Oh so, so, so wrong, if your browsing the interwebs, you need one, especially on a mac nowadays , with macs being targeted more and more, and with people like you telling people that macs are some holy grail of a virus free computing future, macs are probably MORE in need of virus protection now than windows PCs.

Nonsense. There has never been any OS X malware in the wild that can't be successfully avoided by practicing safe computing, without using any 3rd party antivirus app. They offer absolutely no more protection than practicing safe computing.

[simsaladimbamba]

Originally Posted by Nightarchaon

Oh so, so, so wrong, if your browsing the interwebs, you need one, especially on a mac nowadays , with macs being targeted more and more, and with people like you telling people that macs are some holy grail of a virus free computing future, macs are probably MORE in need of virus protection now than windows PCs.

Personally i get around the need by only installing from trusted sources, such as the app store, or certain reputable resellers, i also run Parallels in which i run a sandboxed copy of OSX for testing "unsafe" or "untrusted" software,


But then i work in IT security, so im paranoid up the wazooo.. NOTHING except an unplugged, offline system is "virus proof", anyone telling you otherwise is plain wrong.

Have you even read the thread or read the Malware/Virus FAQ that gets linked to?
There are no viruses for Mac OS X and other malware can be avoided via some security steps (disabling Java and so forth).

[Nightarchaon]

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

Nonsense. There has never been any OS X malware in the wild that can't be successfully avoided by practicing safe computing, without using any 3rd party antivirus app. They offer absolutely no more protection than practicing safe computing.

Your quite correct, however i find that if someone is asking about antivirus software, its usually because they are doing something, or visiting sites, or downloading things, that might end with an infection.

I go to the extreme of sandboxing and fire walling my live systems from the internet where possible, others may not be as extreme, and some may be carefree and link click happy

----------

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Have you even read the thread or read the Malware/Virus FAQ that gets linked to?
There are no viruses for Mac OS X and other malware can be avoided via some security steps (disabling Java and so forth).

If you want to be naive and believe there are no mac viruses in the wild, go ahead, nothing short of your system being compromised will make you believe otherwise, so ingrained is the "belief" that macs are virus free.

[Apple fanboy]

Wow the big guys have got my back today! Thanks simsaladimbamba & GGJstudios.

Truth is I have had a Mac since November last year and have no Anti Virus software. I have had no problems (and certainly less than I ever had on my PC, and that was running Norton). No viruses or malware issues. I was a little skeptical at first but the safe practises suggested in the FAQ helped me out no end.