Got free virus protection from best buy, why??

[Tanax]

If you followed the safe computing recommendations in the FAQ I posted, Flashback was not able to install. One of those recommendations is to disable Java in Safari, which is what Flashback used.

No but seriously, are you for real?
Disable everything? What can you do on your computer then except browsing static and outdated websites?

I even see people saying they have disabled Javascript. You can barely even use Facebook then. Not to mention no websites will be dynamic in any way.

Safe computing is.. safe, but that's like only driving your car in your driveway for fear of crashing into other cars while driving. Sure, you're safe.. but you're not really going anywhere, are you?

 

[GGJstudios]

Disable everything?

No, not everything. Just Java.

What can you do on your computer then except browsing static and outdated websites?

Most people encounter very few websites where Java is required. Don't confuse Java with JavaScript, which is completely different and should remain enabled. If you encounter a site that requires Java, just enable it during your visit.

I even see people saying they have disabled Javascript.

I didn't say JavaScript. I said Java. Big difference. Read the FAQ I posted.

 

[Tanax]

No, not everything. Just Java.

Yes. And Flash too I presume? Then it's not *just* Java. And as said, people disable Javascript too which also makes it not *just* Java. You're missing the point though.

Most people encounter very few websites where Java is required. Don't confuse Java with JavaScript, which is completely different and should remain enabled. If you encounter a site that requires Java, just enable it during your visit.

I know a bunch of websites with Java-games for instance.
But nice to know you can at least enable it on a need-to basis.

I didn't say JavaScript. I said Java. Big difference. Read the FAQ I posted.

I didn't say Javascript was the same as Java. Where did you read that? I'm a web-developer as well as a game-developer so I know the difference. I just said that people disable that too to make a point that you can't just disable every technology to can harm or infect your computer. In that case, just leave your computer off and then you'll be 100% safe.

Isn't it just easier to have an anti-virus that protects against malware than having to disable all those things that can potentially harm/infect your computer(which also requires you to enable it every time you visit a website you want to enable that technology on)?

Sometimes I think you people argue against an anti-virus because you're either too stubborn to want to try using it or because you're using your computer like a 60-year old would(i.e. not an "advanced" user). Or perhaps both.

 

[GGJstudios]

Yes. And Flash too I presume?

No, you don't need to disable Flash, although it's wise to control it with things like ClickToFlash.

And as said, people disable Javascript too

People do a lot of things that aren't recommended.

I just said that people disable that too to make a point that you can't just disable every technology to can harm or infect your computer.

I only said disable Java until you visit a site that requires it. That's not disabling every technology. If others disable JavaScript or other things, that's their problem, as it's not recommended for safe computing. There are JavaScript blockers for controlling unwelcome JavaScripts, just like there are ad-blockers for controlling unwelcome ads.

Isn't it just easier to have an anti-virus that protects against malware than having to disable all those things that can potentially harm/infect your computer(which also requires you to enable it every time you visit a website you want to enable that technology on)?

Antivirus detection rates are not 100% effective, which is why safe computing is recommended. Case in point was the MacDefender trojan, which no antivirus app detected as malware when it first appeared, yet those practicing those safe computing recommendations were completely unaffected.

Sometimes I think you people argue against an anti-virus because you're either too stubborn to want to try using it or because you're using your computer like a 60-year old would(i.e. not an "advanced" user). Or perhaps both.

I have tried many antivirus apps over the years since they were first created, so I have some experience with them. Also, I never suggest that anyone shouldn't run antivirus; only that it's not required. I do recommend that you don't let running an antivirus app give you a false sense of security, as they cannot protect you from foolish user actions and they are not as effective in protecting you as is practicing safe computing.

 

[Tanax]

No, you don't need to disable Flash, although it's wise to control it with things like ClickToFlash.

People do a lot of things that aren't recommended.

I only said disable Java until you visit a site that requires it. That's not disabling every technology. If others disable JavaScript or other things, that's their problem, as it's not recommended for safe computing. There are JavaScript blockers for controlling unwelcome JavaScripts, just like there are ad-blockers for controlling unwelcome ads.

Antivirus detection rates are not 100% effective, which is why safe computing is recommended. Case in point was the MacDefender trojan, which no antivirus app detected as malware when it first appeared, yet those practicing those safe computing recommendations were completely unaffected.

I have tried many antivirus apps over the years since they were first created, so I have some experience with them. Also, I never suggest that anyone shouldn't run antivirus; only that it's not required. I do recommend that you don't let running an antivirus app give you a false sense of security, as they cannot protect you from foolish user actions and they are not as effective in protecting you as is practicing safe computing.

I agree that you shouldn't think that you're completely safe just because you use it. However, they do come out with updates for new viruses fairly quick, at least the more serious anti-viruses, which makes you quite well-protected against those viruses. But yes, new viruses will always be difficult to defend against.

My point is though that if one were to browse your posting-history and check your posts in anti-virus threads here at Macrumors, you almost always just reply "No, you don't need it" if anyone asks if they need anti-virus or not. And honestly I think that's wrong of you to say because that's insinuating that it's bad to have it.

If you believe that you don't need an anti-virus when practicing safe-computing, then by all means say that you refer to safe-computing. I doubt that even 5% of all people on here practices safe-computing simply because it's boring, limiting and you can't download almost anything. Why not instead say something along the lines with "If you practice safe-computing you don't really need an anti-virus on a Mac in same way you do on a Windows-computer, however, if you download a lot of files or browse a lot of new websites every day, here are some anti-virus suggestions: .... ".

One note though, anti-virus DOES protect you against foolish user actions. If you download a file that is infected, the anti-virus comes in and quarantines the file pretty quickly if it's a known infection as well as let's you know about it and tells you do take action against it. But like you said, you're not 100% safe of course.

 

[GGJstudios]

My point is though that if one were to browse your posting-history and check your posts in anti-virus threads here at Macrumors, you almost always just reply "No, you don't need it" if anyone asks if they need anti-virus or not. And honestly I think that's wrong of you to say because that's insinuating that it's bad to have it.

No, it's not. If someone asks if they need it, the answer is no, they don't. If some one asks if they can run it, the answer is "if you want to". Just because you don't need something doesn't imply that it's bad to have it. There's a difference between need and want.

If you believe that you don't need an anti-virus when practicing safe-computing, then by all means say that you refer to safe-computing.

I do say that, if you pay attention to my posts and read the FAQ.

I doubt that even 5% of all people on here practices safe-computing simply because it's boring, limiting and you can't download almost anything.

Have you even read the Mac Virus/Malware FAQ? It's not limiting and you can download anything you need, as long as you're sensible about it.

One note though, anti-virus DOES protect you against foolish user actions.

Not if you actively install malware, as many did with MacDefender, with no antivirus apps catching it.

Since you apparently haven't taken the time to read the FAQ, I'll repost my standard response to virus questions, which appears in most virus/malware threads:

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. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which can be easily avoided by practicing safe computing (see below). Also, Mac OS X 10.6 and later versions 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. Disable Java in your browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox). This will protect you from malware that exploits Java in your browser, including the recent Flashback trojan. Leave Java disabled until you visit a trusted site that requires it, then re-enable only for the duration of your visit to that site. (This is not to be confused with JavaScript, which you should leave enabled.)
   
   
4. Change your DNS servers to OpenDNS servers 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 access to install anything on your Mac.
   
   
7. Don't open files that you receive from unknown or untrusted sources.
   
   
8. For added security, make sure all network, email, financial and other important passwords are long and complex, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
   
   
9. 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 Mac OS X malware that has ever been released into the wild. While you may elect to use it, 3rd party antivirus software is not required to keep your Mac malware-free.