I have a non Apple laptop and use Norton in it. Anytime I have looked at getting a virus protection for the MacBook I have been told it doesn’t need it as the OS has one built in. Am currently using the MacBook more and more and was wondering if this this opinion still held true or whether it would be worth installing the Norton on it as well? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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How many of you use anti-virus software?
- Thread starter homervanderjazz
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I have had Macs since 2005 and never used an anti-virus, but I don't go to sketchy sites. I don't dowload from unkowns either and never an issue.
Not needed.
You DO need "MalwareBytes" for adware, malware and "general crapware", which do exist in the Mac world.
It's FREE.
You DO NOT need to "pay for a subscription".
It will run FOREVER in "free mode".
And did I mention that it does all that you need?
You DO need "MalwareBytes" for adware, malware and "general crapware", which do exist in the Mac world.
It's FREE.
You DO NOT need to "pay for a subscription".
It will run FOREVER in "free mode".
And did I mention that it does all that you need?
I've been running Macs since 2014 and have never used anti-virus/malware apps. I spent 15 years on GNU/Linux and BSD boxes prior to that and didn't need anti-virus/malware apps there either. They simply aren't needed if you learn how computers work and adopt healthy computing practices.
Yeah, Malwarebytes is excellent. But just in case, I also have ClamXAV: https://www.clamxav.com/. Both work well.
+1 for Malwarebytes.
(I would not use Norton even on a Windows machine... The only app I would utilize from Norton is Norton Commander, but it's been in the graveyard since 1999.).
(I would not use Norton even on a Windows machine... The only app I would utilize from Norton is Norton Commander, but it's been in the graveyard since 1999.).
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Now, I'm another one who doesn't use a full-time virus/malware scanner. I also have nothing but good to say about MalwareBytes free version (the free version is run-when-you-need it, not constantly loading down your system).
HOWEVER, I am not going to tell a stranger, "Do as I do." It's like telling someone to not carry emergency/survival items on a wilderness trip. While the chances of survival tend to be very high when you're both knowledgable and alert... accidents even happen to survival experts, and many people aren't as skilled at survival as they think they are. "Nothing bad has happened yet" is no guarantee that something bad won't happen in the future.
Even though Apple does a great job of securing the OS and issuing updates when new threats are found, there's no guarantee that a new exploit won't wreak havoc before Apple (or the folks behind Norton, ClamXav, Kaspersky, McAfee, etc.) can respond. An exploit has to be known and understood before it can be patched.
What it comes down to for me is that I don't trust the anti-virus companies to be any better or more alert than Apple. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. What I do know is that anti-virus apps have to dig their hooks deeply into whatever OS they're protecting, which tends to negatively affect performance on a full-time basis and results in unexpected or annoying behavior from time to time. Meantime, Apple's protections are fully integrated into their OS.
The Mac user base is a larger target than it used to be, but Windows is still around 90% of all use. Not only does that mean Mac is a less lucrative target for the bad guys, but also that the anti-virus companies can't invest as much on Mac research as the can on Windows. While Apple has long been criticized for not spending generously on bug/exploit bounties, I have every faith and expectation that Apple is investing far more generously in preserving its well-earned reputation than any outside company is likely to invest.
HOWEVER, I am not going to tell a stranger, "Do as I do." It's like telling someone to not carry emergency/survival items on a wilderness trip. While the chances of survival tend to be very high when you're both knowledgable and alert... accidents even happen to survival experts, and many people aren't as skilled at survival as they think they are. "Nothing bad has happened yet" is no guarantee that something bad won't happen in the future.
Even though Apple does a great job of securing the OS and issuing updates when new threats are found, there's no guarantee that a new exploit won't wreak havoc before Apple (or the folks behind Norton, ClamXav, Kaspersky, McAfee, etc.) can respond. An exploit has to be known and understood before it can be patched.
What it comes down to for me is that I don't trust the anti-virus companies to be any better or more alert than Apple. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. What I do know is that anti-virus apps have to dig their hooks deeply into whatever OS they're protecting, which tends to negatively affect performance on a full-time basis and results in unexpected or annoying behavior from time to time. Meantime, Apple's protections are fully integrated into their OS.
The Mac user base is a larger target than it used to be, but Windows is still around 90% of all use. Not only does that mean Mac is a less lucrative target for the bad guys, but also that the anti-virus companies can't invest as much on Mac research as the can on Windows. While Apple has long been criticized for not spending generously on bug/exploit bounties, I have every faith and expectation that Apple is investing far more generously in preserving its well-earned reputation than any outside company is likely to invest.
If I were using my Mac as a personal computer used primarily for consuming content, I would not bother with an antivirus and just use MalwareBytes and safe computing practices as that would be all I need.
However, since I use my computer as a business tool wherein I send and receive emails from clients, I believe it is imperative for me to use an antivirus just so that a virus I receive in any attachment is not transmitted from my end to Microsoft Windows computers at my client's end, crippling my reputation as a person of responsibility. Any Windows virus I receive from anyone will not affect me but if that gets sent to someone else from my side, it will be disastrous for them if their computers are not protected/ their protection is not up-to-date.
I have seen this happen, wherein I received a random spam-like email from someone years after we stopped communicating, only to receive another email two days later apologising, stating that their computer was infected.
So, I use an antivirus not to protect myself directly but indirectly, and to protect my clients directly.
Contrary to what people here will suggest you, my advice is that if at all you conduct business in an environment where you use flash drives and/ or company email, you might be better off using an antivirus solution, only to not infect someone else from your side.
That's it.
However, since I use my computer as a business tool wherein I send and receive emails from clients, I believe it is imperative for me to use an antivirus just so that a virus I receive in any attachment is not transmitted from my end to Microsoft Windows computers at my client's end, crippling my reputation as a person of responsibility. Any Windows virus I receive from anyone will not affect me but if that gets sent to someone else from my side, it will be disastrous for them if their computers are not protected/ their protection is not up-to-date.
I have seen this happen, wherein I received a random spam-like email from someone years after we stopped communicating, only to receive another email two days later apologising, stating that their computer was infected.
So, I use an antivirus not to protect myself directly but indirectly, and to protect my clients directly.
Contrary to what people here will suggest you, my advice is that if at all you conduct business in an environment where you use flash drives and/ or company email, you might be better off using an antivirus solution, only to not infect someone else from your side.
That's it.
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While Macs, for the most part, are rarely, if ever, hit by viruses, and Malwarebytes is a good tool, sometimes something obscure happens that Malwarebytes does not catch. I have had that happen twice, and fortunately ClamXAV caught them. I actually only run Malwarebytes and ClamXAV about once a month, just to check.
But, as others have advocated, as long as on exercises care and good judgement, especially in relation to sites visited on the internet, there is very, very little need for a commercial anti-virus program.
But, as others have advocated, as long as on exercises care and good judgement, especially in relation to sites visited on the internet, there is very, very little need for a commercial anti-virus program.
This is the answer I agree with.
To add to this answer...
When I work with a client, I sign a contract. It requires that I have antivirus software - we exchange files, and I might use my Mac on their network (your opinion on connecting non-corporate equipment is a whole other discussion).
My professional liability insurance also has a clause that I use antivirus software.
If I inadvertently infect a client, and cause loss or damage to their work or reputation, I'd better be able to show that I took responsible steps. Our contract, their legal team, and my insurers will not accept the defence that a bunch of randoms on an internet forum told me that Macs don't get viruses.
Indeed! We need to cover our bases and this is just another safe business and safe computing practice to deploy an antivirus so one doesn’t inadvertently partake in the chain of transmission.
i do use Avast Free on my mac, mostly to prevent trojans or malware from google. Sometimes when I search for an image and you click on one of the results, Avast blocks it due to a bad link. That's all, never had a virus though.
This is one of the advice which depends solely on your usage and situation. Windows is simply the most popular OS being used in personal and businesses and therefore the most exposed to potential attacks. So subscription based anti-virus and malware program is a must if you use Windows, not only to protect the host computer from infection, but other internet appliances like your router, iPhone, Android phone and even your Google Mini or Amazon Dot for malware infection. Malware infection is NOT only limited to your computer anymore, but now can infect your router or your IoT devices.
If you look at it in terms of how virus attacks had morphed, today's virus attacks are mainly targeted for monetary and financial gains, but not through a computer host. A computer host is simply the carrier of the virus or malware to the designated target, which is your router, your router modem or your old phones. Which means that the so called "FREE" Malware and Adware program you installed on your Mac is fine for your Mac or PC alone, but offers zero protection to your router, router modem and IoT devices, because the host software aren't meant to protect other devices. They are designed, unlike in the past for pranks and for destroying your system, to spying your personal life, personal finances and or place your computer hostage for ransom as had many businesses had succumbed to because they failed to encrypt their business database or encrypt their personal data. Encryption plays havoc on Macs when you want to customize your T2 secured Macs to boot to an external drive or keep an older OS for compatibility issue.
Why did those businesses fell prey to ransom ware when they had supposedly the best virus and malware protection. Well, that is because businesses also allow public WIFI and office use of their employees' WIFI capable phones and laptops. Despite the attempts to secure with Malware and virus protection software, they completely ignored the router and your router modem because they assumed they are not targets for attacks. But "Malware" do target your router and your router modem, because once they get a hold of your router and router modem, they will be able to re-route your DNS server or simply sniff your packet for your private information, giving you a false sense of security that everything is fine when in fact, the hackers to infiltrate the corporate servers through hacked routers. A number of small businesses or even some large business save money and buy off-the-shelf routers that receive very little in terms of firmware updates to get the latest security patches.
A good router should receive the latest security patches on a monthly or semi-monthly basis. Asus, Synology, PepLink, Ubiquity products and a few others do. Some like Asus include AI Protection Pro scanner via Trend Micro that scans sites for malware, viruses and ranson ware and adware and block them including this very site -- Macrumors.com which contained a number of adware and tracking stuff. Obviously through fully secured router and via VPN, it is very difficult for me to visit this site and therefore and while this is a safe site to visit without any malware infection, this goes to show to you that it does not even take any malicious site to infect your system because your router and security gateway weren't up to snuff to detect through Deep Packet Inspection the malicious activities it is being conducted in the background that even Avast Free or Malwarebytes could not detect. To me, these software just offer some nice assurances that you are being protected, but in fact, offer nothing more than just assurances.
To protect yourself from full malware protection, you need a router and gateway security system that will help filter them out. The only caveat to this is that, you simply can no longer browse 90% of what's on the web, including Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Google, Microsoft Hotmail etc as they are all tracking your activities and therefore spying on you. So you see, I run 2 systems at home. One is public where I can full access the web and I am being tracked, tagged and potentially infected with malware that can attack my router and I also have a more secured router and security gateway that protect my Macs from any tracking, spying and tagging. It was an eye opener of what my security gateway was telling me in terms of malware infection and possible malware from sites that aren't even malicious! Sites that you would think is completely and utterly safe!
So it all comes down to this. What are your needs and how secure you want to be on the net and your privacy? No computer system is secure and free of virus and malware infection. No Malware software can provide full protection.
My best advice would be here.
1, Make sure your Mac is using the latest Mac OSX that still can receive the latest security updates
2, Running Malware programs like MalwareBytes gives it supervisory access. I personally never like giving programs supervisory access as it can access private information and phone home to use your info to compare to its database.
3, Always update your router with the latest firmware which contains the latest security patches. If your router is an older model, chances are it is easy for hacker to compromise your router. You will not know if your router is compromised! The only way to be sure is to schedule your router for a reboot maybe once a day at night to remove the router's malware. Or else buy a new router that offers monthly or semi-annual updates.
4, Don't go to un-secure sites without https especially if you are browsing at work. When you go to these sites and they realize you are on a corporate web link, they will exploit your system to infect your corporate routers or servers. Remember that today, your computer is simply a carrier to an infected target. The so called benign safe websites are the host of the malware. Malware software can only scan for signatures for your host computer, NOT for routers, iPhone and Android phones. The best way to scan for everything is to test the site's URL with http://www.virustotal.com. This site will scan the site for every possible engine of infection.
5, Use a secured browser that offers some VPN service that masks your geolocation, ad blocking and malware blocking and inspection. When you do this, many websites will complain and or won't load. So it is basically a balance of wanting better security vs lesser security.
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I would like to add:
6, Never, never, click any link in any email or SMS message - go to the official website and proceed from there.
7, Never download or install anything unless you trust the source and know exactly what the download is designed to do. The word "source" in bolded because I mean get it from the source.. not a download file warehouse like Softonic or similar sites.
8, Everything should come to a halt when your computer prompts you to input your admin credentials. Nothing continues until you know exactly why your computer prompted you for security credentials - don't simply "click OK" to get rid of an annoying message.
Always keep in mind that convenience and security are opposite ends of the same line. The closer you get to convenience the further away you get from security.
As others have pointed out, if you are likely to be exposed to legal action and costs resulting from not using an anti-virus app - use one.
If not don't, if concerned about your data backup 3 times rather than 2 8)
I've used Apples and Macs in a professional media environment since they were created, I have never had a problem with a virus. But I do use the free Malwarebytes 8)
Me all that is needed as others have pointed out the free Malwaresbytes Free for Mac and using the shareware Little Snitch and you’ll be surprised how many programs call out other than their update servers and block that behavior!
The App Store doesn’t have it...I will download direct from site.Thanks all.
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