Anti Virus software?

[doobybiggs]

I am curious what is good to run on macs?

I use to run MSE, but I doubt that is compatible for obvious reasons lol

 

[GGJstudios]

I am curious what is good to run on macs?

I use to run MSE, but I doubt that is compatible for obvious reasons lol

You don't need any 3rd party antivirus app to keep your Mac malware-free. Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 10 years ago. You cannot infect your Mac simply by visiting a website, unzipping a file, opening an email attachment or joining a network. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which cannot infect your Mac unless you actively install them, and they can be easily avoided with some basic education, common sense and care in what software you install. Also, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion have anti-malware protection built in, further reducing the need for 3rd party antivirus apps.

Mac Virus/Malware FAQ​

1. Make sure your built-in Mac firewall is enabled in System Preferences > Security > Firewall
   
   
2. Uncheck "Open "safe" files after downloading" in Safari > Preferences > General
   
   
3. Uncheck "Enable Java" in Safari > Preferences > Security. Leave this unchecked until you visit a trusted site that requires Java, then re-enable only for your visit to that site. (This is not to be confused with JavaScript, which you should leave enabled.)
   
   
4. Check your DNS settings by reading this.
   
   
5. Be careful to only install software from trusted, reputable sites. Never install pirated software. If you're not sure about an app, ask in this forum before installing.
   
   
6. Never let someone else have physical access to install anything on your Mac.
   
   
7. Always keep your Mac and application software updated. Use Software Update for your Mac software. For other software, it's safer to get updates from the developer's site or from the menu item "Check for updates", rather than installing from any notification window that pops up while you're surfing the web.

That's all you need to do to keep your Mac completely free of any virus, trojan, spyware, keylogger, or other malware. You don't need any 3rd party software to keep your Mac secure.

 

[doobybiggs]

hmmmm very interesting ... I like that!

just to cover all my bases, what would I do if I happen to get something bad by being dumb or not paying attention?

Is there a program or app to help get rid of them?

 

[GGJstudios]

hmmmm very interesting ... I like that!

just to cover all my bases, what would I do if I happen to get something bad by being dumb or not paying attention?

Is there a program or app to help get rid of them?

Did you read the Mac Virus/Malware FAQ? It addresses that question.

 

[doobybiggs]

yes I read ...

If your situation requires you to run a 3rd-party antivirus app:

ClamXav is one of the best choices, since it isn't a resource hog, detects both Mac and Windows malware and doesn't run with elevated privileges. You can run scans when you choose, rather than leaving it running all the time, slowing your system. ClamXav has a Sentry feature which, if enabled, will use significant system resources to constantly scan. Disable the Sentry feature. You don't need it. Also, when you first install ClamXav, as with many antivirus apps, it may perform an initial full system scan, which will consume resources. Once the initial scan is complete, periodic on-demand scans will have much lower demands on resources.
Sophos should be avoided, as it could actually increase your Mac's vulnerability, as described here and here.
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.

Just wanted to make sure that info was still up to date. I do not see a posted date on the guide so I just wanted to double check.

 

[GGJstudios]

yes I read ...



Just wanted to make sure that info was still up to date. I do not see a posted date on the guide so I just wanted to double check.

Yes, I keep it up to date.

 

[doobybiggs]

Yes, I keep it up to date.

ah, OK then that is awesome!!

Thanks for your help!!

 

[Viking23]

One question. If I am using MS Office files which contain macros, should I install some kind of AV software to keep an eye on stuff which might affect these files?