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best anti-virus software
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Horrortaxi
macrumors 68020
Seeing as how there are no OS X viruses in the wild, you don't have to be in a big hurry to find the perfect antivirus app. Norton, while the gold standard on Windows, is a piece of crap on the Mac. I like Virex just fine.
MoparShaha
Contributor
Don't bother installing anti-virus. They usually cause more headaches than they solve, and Horrortaxi is right, there aren't any Mac OS X viruses out there. If/when a virus does eventually hit, believe me, you'll hear about it, and you'll have plenty of time to ready yourself. If you're insanely paranoid, don't get Norton. I've heard nothing but problems from it on Macs.
I agree with some of the others stay away from Norton... Seems to be alot of issues w/ the Mac version... Plus I've heard they've started spamming these days (don't know if it's true because I don't actually use it anymore- but hey, this is a rumor site, & well, that's the rumor I've heard...🙂..)
Virex works good for me... Every now & again I get an infected Word .doc from someone & I end up sending it out to someone else who tells me about it... I run Virex once & my Office:mac is disinfected again... Friggin' microsoft ;-)...
Virex works good for me... Every now & again I get an infected Word .doc from someone & I end up sending it out to someone else who tells me about it... I run Virex once & my Office:mac is disinfected again... Friggin' microsoft ;-)...
MisterMe
macrumors G4
Virex is included with a subscription to .mac.DEXTERITY said:
It is my understanding that the Norton problem is limited to the other utilities in the SystemWorks suite. For the most part, those utilities do things that are not necessary for MacOS X. I have Norton Antivirus installed and experience no problems with it. However, I recommend that you install Virex or something else if you can't trust Norton. It is true that there are no native MacOS X viruses. However, you may receive Windows-based viruses from your family, friends, or colleagues. You may also pass them along. The Windows user who gets a virus from a file that you sent will not be satisfied with your explanation that it did not originate on your computer. What is more, certain ISPs will flag your computer as a source of viruses. Antivirus software for the Mac will clean disinfect files infected by Windows viruses.
best antivirus
Hi there,
I used Norton and it slowed down my machine.
I used Virex and had to get my machine shipped to the UK for repair. They didn't find anything wrong with my Ibook and couldn't explain why the hard drive was making such a weird noise. They then removed Virex and the noise was gone.
I used ClamXav (donationware) and that worked kind of ok for a while.
I used Zebra Scanner and this one defenitely gives strange result contradicting other antivirus software.
At the moment, I am using Virus Barrier (demo) and that seems to be working ok.
I am not paranoid, but I simply need to keep my machine clean since I am sharing files with hundreds of window users.
Hi there,
I used Norton and it slowed down my machine.
I used Virex and had to get my machine shipped to the UK for repair. They didn't find anything wrong with my Ibook and couldn't explain why the hard drive was making such a weird noise. They then removed Virex and the noise was gone.
I used ClamXav (donationware) and that worked kind of ok for a while.
I used Zebra Scanner and this one defenitely gives strange result contradicting other antivirus software.
At the moment, I am using Virus Barrier (demo) and that seems to be working ok.
I am not paranoid, but I simply need to keep my machine clean since I am sharing files with hundreds of window users.
Savage Henry
macrumors 65816
johnnyjibbs
macrumors 68030
In my opinion, the best anti-virus software for Mac is none at all. There are no native Mac OS X viruses and, while it's not too good to be complacent, I can't imagine there being much of a target audience for it at the moment, not to mention the OS' already good security features.
I hate anti-virus software on Windows too - while I agree there is much more of a need for it on that platform, I've had as many problems WITH up-to-date anti-virus software on our newish Windows XP PC than before when we had none. The best solution, Windows-wise, I think is to revert to Windows 98. We had no anti-virus software on that system (used until a year ago) and no viruses either, although we may just have been lucky 😉 . On the Mac, don't bother.
I hate to be cynical, but it wouldn't surprise me if the anti-virus software companies themselves were fuelling the virus and security issue. I mean, it is in their interest after all! The security market on Windows has become a massive business, and while, it's unfair to solely blame Microsoft for the problem, I find it sad that anti-virus and anti-spyware software has become accepted as one of the things you need for a PC. 🙁
As I keep saying, one of the major advantages of Macs is the whole no virus problem. Enjoy using a computer without all that crap slowing you down. 🙂
I hate anti-virus software on Windows too - while I agree there is much more of a need for it on that platform, I've had as many problems WITH up-to-date anti-virus software on our newish Windows XP PC than before when we had none. The best solution, Windows-wise, I think is to revert to Windows 98. We had no anti-virus software on that system (used until a year ago) and no viruses either, although we may just have been lucky 😉 . On the Mac, don't bother.
I hate to be cynical, but it wouldn't surprise me if the anti-virus software companies themselves were fuelling the virus and security issue. I mean, it is in their interest after all! The security market on Windows has become a massive business, and while, it's unfair to solely blame Microsoft for the problem, I find it sad that anti-virus and anti-spyware software has become accepted as one of the things you need for a PC. 🙁
As I keep saying, one of the major advantages of Macs is the whole no virus problem. Enjoy using a computer without all that crap slowing you down. 🙂
abhishekit
macrumors 65816
When I saw the topic of this post, I opened it to post the exact same thing.. 😀 , but I guess you beat me to it.. 😀Savage Henry said:
best antivirus
Yeah, ok. I agree. The best antivirus is OS X. But what do you do when you're sharing files with XP users? That's the problem. All in all, the 'no viruses on a Mac" is seems to become a problem, cause no one really bothers about having a decent solution for Mac users sharing files with XP users.
Yeah, ok. I agree. The best antivirus is OS X. But what do you do when you're sharing files with XP users? That's the problem. All in all, the 'no viruses on a Mac" is seems to become a problem, cause no one really bothers about having a decent solution for Mac users sharing files with XP users.
tech4all
macrumors 68040
abhishekit said:
Same here 😀
Yea I agree OS X itself is the best AV, but I know I read this before here; and that is if or when OS X does get an actual virus, Mac users that don't use anti virus software for their Mac (like Virex), are pretty much screwed and will get infected because they always thought they OS X would never get a virus and thus didn't have any protection for the "just incase" reason.
So you really don't need an AV app, but one day a virus could hit OS X and if you don't have an AV app, you may get infected.
[EDIT]
CLAUDE said:
Good point. A PC virus can't run on OS X but it can be stored on a Mac and can get tranfered to a PC and infect a PC user.... Eh, thats what they get for using a PC 😛 jk
I have used Norton AV for over one year at this point and have not had any issues. That's not to say it is great Mac software, but it does it appear to do its job effectively. Quirks include:
-- an all but meaningless/useless icon wasting space on the top bar;
-- Live Update window is graphically interesting but is forced on top of all other active windows while it is open (you can move it out of the way, but that gets old on a daily basis);
-- very slow connection speeds to Norton server for updates;
-- in general, a barely Mac-like interface...; and
-- expensive to initially purchase.
One major positive though, the annual renewal for virus defs just cost me only $3.95. No new complete version to wonder about (which is not needed for the Mac platform anyway, i.e. what's a new scanning engine going to offer a machine that barely needs one in the first place). I used to update the whole software/engine/version every year during my Windows days out of fear of missing something. So, while you pay more at the beginning (arguably like a Mac), you start saving money by the second year of use.
It really boils down to 'do you want to protect Windows users from themselves?' I use Office 2004 on my PB, and I share files with co-workers/office server/work laptop, and so on. So, in the end, while I barely need protection on my personal machine, I am relatively confident I have done what I can to protect myself and others. Peace of mind, and part of the solution rather than the problem.
The real question, I think, is the firewall, particularly with a cable ISP...another story for another day...
-- an all but meaningless/useless icon wasting space on the top bar;
-- Live Update window is graphically interesting but is forced on top of all other active windows while it is open (you can move it out of the way, but that gets old on a daily basis);
-- very slow connection speeds to Norton server for updates;
-- in general, a barely Mac-like interface...; and
-- expensive to initially purchase.
One major positive though, the annual renewal for virus defs just cost me only $3.95. No new complete version to wonder about (which is not needed for the Mac platform anyway, i.e. what's a new scanning engine going to offer a machine that barely needs one in the first place). I used to update the whole software/engine/version every year during my Windows days out of fear of missing something. So, while you pay more at the beginning (arguably like a Mac), you start saving money by the second year of use.
It really boils down to 'do you want to protect Windows users from themselves?' I use Office 2004 on my PB, and I share files with co-workers/office server/work laptop, and so on. So, in the end, while I barely need protection on my personal machine, I am relatively confident I have done what I can to protect myself and others. Peace of mind, and part of the solution rather than the problem.
The real question, I think, is the firewall, particularly with a cable ISP...another story for another day...
Two questions:
Is there anywhere else you can get Virex besides .Mac??
And has anyone used VirusBarrier from Intego? How is it??
Is there anywhere else you can get Virex besides .Mac??
And has anyone used VirusBarrier from Intego? How is it??
mcarnes
macrumors 68000
Coming from a PC it's understandable to think the way you do. But really, all that extra software is not needed on the Mac and only slows your machine down. Norton is especially bad. The box should say "100% guaranteed to screw up your Mac". I installed Norton Utilities on a G4 iMac when they first came out. After weeks of trying to fix the damage, I had to reformat the drive and reinstall everything from scratch. Yes, it is that bad.