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Clean ups etc...

P

Peter Franks

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jun 9, 2011
2,118
125
I may be barking up the totally wrong tree here but am so used to virus scanning, malware, disk clean up from all those years of windows, Is there anything that needs to be done on a MBP? It's just so weird not doing anything, or is there something you guys and gals use for keeping it maintained or checking for errors on disk(or don't they get errors)?
 
There is not really a need, unless you need to solve problems, but that can often be done with system tools like Disk Utility or Console.
Mac Virus/Malware Info by GGJstudios
There are currently no viruses for Mac OS X in public circulation, only a handful of trojans and other malware, which have to be installed manually via entering the administrator password.
The only anti-virus you need to protect your Mac is education and common sense.​
 
Every now and then I run Onyx but mainly it's just because I feel like doing something. Like the previous poster said, the only reason you'd need to clean it is if something is messed up.
 
Peter Franks said:
I may be barking up the totally wrong tree here but am so used to virus scanning, malware, disk clean up from all those years of windows, Is there anything that needs to be done on a MBP?
Click to expand...
No, there isn't. Welcome to the world of Mac! While it does seem like a void in your "chores" list, "cleaner" apps are not necessary for Mac OS X, and some do more harm than good. Your Mac will run fine for years to come without any 3rd party apps or extra intervention on your part. As already posted, the only malware that can run on your Mac requires you to actively install it, so no antivirus is needed. Be sure to read the links posted by simsaladimbamba.
 
Thank you people, I was talking more about the cleaning up files yes, and not the virus side of things as I know your thoughts on those... but seeing ads in MacFormat for the MacWipes of this world are presumably like CCleaners, but that's what I was finding out, if they are needed, and as you guys say, no. It was the redundancy of not maintaining, as you rightly point out, all very alien to me!
 
Because OS X has a Unix core, I'm sure there exisits a bunch of sub routines that run on a schedule which automatically clean logs, caches etc for you. I think they have a set that run once a day, week and month.
 
Thanks, do you recommend it or just let it do it's stuff without using settings?
 
u dont need anything Macs don't get viruses, i have a simple program to check my downloads just because i don't want to somehow download a virus for windows (even though it wont work anyway) i just don't want it just in case i have to give someone (with a pc) a file. even if what i'm saying doesn't make sense, Macs don't get viruses. Only malware affects them and only if u are dumb enough to put in your password on some random site that automatically downloads it. plus apple is updating the malware definitions every time there is a new one so u are protected. i have never gotten a virus and u wont either.
 
Thanks, I just saw that 'CleanMyMac' is it? And although I know it's not a virus thing, wondered if it was because it cleans up files left about like the dreaded Windows left, but from what I have gleamed from you lovely people, not needed....
 
Peter Franks said:
Thanks, I just saw that 'CleanMyMac' is it? And although I know it's not a virus thing, wondered if it was because it cleans up files left about like the dreaded Windows left, but from what I have gleamed from you lovely people, not needed....
Click to expand...

Stay away from CleanMyMac, as it might delete too much. There is really no additional software needed, you need to get that out of your mind. It took me a while too and I screwed up a lot in my first year of Mac OS X 10.3, but at least that's how I learn a lot too. So maybe if you don't mind screwing up your Mac every once in a while, while having a backup, then go on. You learn that way too.

Btw, MacDefender was the malware going around the last month, but it didn't do any harm to Mac OS X, it just tricked users that there would be viruses and other kinds of malware on the Mac and in order to remove it, they wanted a CC number.
Read the Malware FAQ.
 
Peter Franks said:
Thanks, I just saw that 'CleanMyMac' is it? And although I know it's not a virus thing, wondered if it was because it cleans up files left about like the dreaded Windows left, but from what I have gleamed from you lovely people, not needed....
Click to expand...
You don't need any "cleaner" apps. One app that I would not recommend, based on the number of complaints that have been posted in this forum and elsewhere, is CleanMyMac. As an example: CleanMyMac cleaned too much
 
Thanks guys, I hear you.

GGJ, I bet he was really pleased that he decided to defend his product in that thread:cool:
 
simsaladimbamba said:
There is not really a need, unless you need to solve problems, but that can often be done with system tools like Disk Utility or Console.
Mac Virus/Malware Info by GGJstudios
There are currently no viruses for Mac OS X in public circulation, only a handful of trojans and other malware, which have to be installed manually via entering the administrator password.
The only anti-virus you need to protect your Mac is education and common sense.​
Click to expand...

education and common sense, sounds a bit radical dont you think :p
 
GGJstudios said:
After much deep and profound brain things inside my head, I have decided not to voluntarily install malware on my Mac! :D
Click to expand...

Hey guys, Windows does things to you after so many years.
Now if they had a 'Enter Password should you wish to allow a virus on your system' like Mac, We'd be sorted!
 
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