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An Apple engineer who was helping me with an unusual issue last year recommended Malwarebytes.

He said it is Apple support's go-to malware app in instances where one is needed (which, fortunately, is quite rare).
Better safe than sorry. This article reminded me that I needed to add another license so I could install Malwarebytes on my newish M1 MacMini.
 
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These articles or actually Malwarebytes wants to scare you, I have been on OSX/macOS since the very beginning, never had one single Malware on my mac.
I just downloaded Malwarebytes just to see if my mac is clean, unsurprisingly...it's clean.

And I have been in every dark corner of the net.

Know what you install, never input your password if something pops up without you doing something like installing software yourself or for instance using keychain.

Moral of the above, the majority of people won't need to do anything, OSX/macOS is pretty darn secure.
 
Stay away from torrent sites 👏

Don’t install pirate apps 👏

Stay away from illegal streaming sites 👏

Stay away from crypto sites 👏

Don’t click on shortened URLs sent or posted by anon accounts on social media 👏

Don’t install more apps than you really need 👏

Only use signed apps from well known developers 👏
You forgot the most important one which is responsible for most malware on a Mac:
- Do not download MacKeeper or any other so-called “cleaner” app (mentioned in the article).
 
These articles or actually Malwarebytes wants to scare you, I have been on OSX/macOS since the very beginning, never had one single Malware on my mac.
I just downloaded Malwarebytes just to see if my mac is clean, unsurprisingly...it's clean.

And I have been in every dark corner of the net.

Know what you install, never input your password if something pops up without you doing something like installing software yourself or for instance using keychain.

Moral of the above, the majority of people won't need to do anything, OSX/macOS is pretty darn secure.
I know people that smoked till they were 90 and didn’t get cancer....what’s your point?!?
 
ClamXAV does the trick for ALL nasty stuff headed to the Mac. I've been using it along with many Mac tech friends & Mac repair shops for the past few years sans issues. It's solid & doesn't bleed you for a monthly subscription fee.
 
There are no mentions of MacKeeper inside the original report.
Why did you add MacKeeper's name here? MacKeeper successfully passed Apple Notarization which means MacKeeper has been checked by Apple for malicious components. We also got AppEsteem certification — the gold standard for app quality and reliability. It proves that whenever you’re using the app, you can be confident that the app you use is acknowledged to be safe, and so is your data. It’s an official confirmation of the app’s legitimacy, which matches the highest industry quality standards. Moreover, we've got AV-Test certification and were rated the highest grade for each category: Protection, Performance, and Usability. So, please, clarify this issue. Vicky.
 
There are no mentions of MacKeeper inside the original report.
Why did you add MacKeeper's name here? MacKeeper successfully passed Apple Notarization which means MacKeeper has been checked by Apple for malicious components. We also got AppEsteem certification — the gold standard for app quality and reliability. It proves that whenever you’re using the app, you can be confident that the app you use is acknowledged to be safe, and so is your data. It’s an official confirmation of the app’s legitimacy, which matches the highest industry quality standards. Moreover, we've got AV-Test certification and were rated the highest grade for each category: Protection, Performance, and Usability. So, please, clarify this issue. Vicky.

You can say all you want .....

Fact is, OSX/macOS does not need an app like MacKeeper.
OSX/macOS does not need maintenance.
It's a waste of one's time and money.
 
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Sounds to me like you are condoning piracy. If you can’t afford it it’s okay to steal it? Unfortunately that is the mentality that has been instilled in the culture over the years.
Where did I say it was okay? I’m explaining why piracy still happens. If there is demand and a relatively easy way of obtaining something for free with minimal consequences, then some will take that path.
 
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Kids can ask their parents for the software.
Most software provides educational discounts, including Adobe. Some schools even provide a volume license for their students. And there are other software than Adobe. You don’t need photoshop to rotate some photos (I’m serious as I’ve seen people asking for photoshop when they only want to crop or rotate their photos).
And the idea of subscription can actually save you money, in that you only pay for the software on the months you actually need it. Plenty of people in my country only purchase MS Office 365 for a month or two for their needs at the moment.
I agree with all of your points. But, for a variety of reasons some parents still don’t understand or believing in buying software, especially at a monthly fee, for their children. Educational discounted software is often still very expensive. Another reason is value of currency in some regions makes the price of software exorbitantly high, although some software vendors are learning to adjust their costs by country. This creates a market for people without credit cards or enough income trying to get access to to a piece of software illegally. You can see this evidenced by all the videos teaching people how to pirate on YouTube. I don’t condone it, but there are many reasons why illegal software is still very popular.

Forgive me, but I still cannot tolerate stealing software. Even plenty of people in my country now resort to mobile (cheaper) apps, open source, or free alternatives like Google Docs. The excuse of pirating a software because Adobe is expensive is kinda hard to justify nowadays. In the end, it’s a choice to pirate.
Agreed on your point about free software now that they’ve become much more useable. That being said, there‘s a reason why companies like Adobe doesn’t put in that much effort in curbing piracy. They know that once younger users get entrenched in their ecosystem they will eventually find enough value in it to pay for it once they have income.
 
Prove me wrong, Apple. Malwarebytes says tons of malware found on macOS. I can’t wait to see Apple lock down macOS just like iOS after apple silicon transition.
You know there's an option to only ”Allow apps downloaded from App Store”?

I sure don't hope Apple removes that to be optional, and I don't think they will – computers needs this ”side loading” possibility to a larger extent than phones and tablets, I think.

macos-allow-apps-downloaded-from.jpg
 
Anti virus, you might not know...until now there are exactly ZERO viruses found for OSX/macOS, educate yourself.
VPN, I use a VPN for several reasons.
Data breach checker, I never had my Data breached on my Mac.
Sounds interesting. According to many pieces of research, Macs are vulnerable to viruses. Less than Windows, but still. For instance, here is the data from AV-Test Institute: https://www.av-test.org/en/statistics/malware/
Screenshot 2021-02-17 at 23.57.43.png

So as you use VPN, you should know that MacKeeper has this feature too like many others.
We also have a Data Breach checker for emails as well as the StopAd feature. So MacKeeper seems to be pretty useful, don't you think?
 
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There are no mentions of MacKeeper inside the original report.
Why did you add MacKeeper's name here? MacKeeper successfully passed Apple Notarization which means MacKeeper has been checked by Apple for malicious components. We also got AppEsteem certification — the gold standard for app quality and reliability. It proves that whenever you’re using the app, you can be confident that the app you use is acknowledged to be safe, and so is your data. It’s an official confirmation of the app’s legitimacy, which matches the highest industry quality standards. Moreover, we've got AV-Test certification and were rated the highest grade for each category: Protection, Performance, and Usability. So, please, clarify this issue. Vicky.
Well, it's good that Malwarebytes didn't find MacKeeper to be malware.

It could be labeled emptyware because it really doesn't do anything useful for the consumer.
 
Do we still need to use this Anti-Virus ? I used os x for many years never saw adware or viruses. I heard its same in the linux world. Windows seems alright recently. Anti-Virus apps themselves are becoming a nuisance. They seem heavy and infiltrate your system in many areas.

From the report.

Windows detections - 111,014,261 (down 12%)
Mac detections - 75,285,427 (down 38%)
Android detections show it getting much "nastier" and detections are increasing exponentially. (No overall numbers)
iOS detections - nothing reported Other than "it’s possible as some vulnerabilities exist"

That walled garden is looking quite lush...

This is one thing I love about iOS. You can install anything and do whatever and nothing will affect your system. Apps seem to be containerized so they don't affect other stuff on your device. Also when deleting apps you dont have to worry about residue files installed all over the place.

Sometimes I have to wonder people who have enough money to buy a Mac, but cheapen out on the software or content that they have to rely on pirate torrents.

I mean it’s understandable for a person who can barely afford $400 Windows laptop to take the piracy route. But I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for someone capable of affording $1k-$2k Mac yet being a cheapskate on software and content. With so many free apps available, and many apps being more affordable on mobile, piracy imo is more of personal choice nowadays.
Don't forget subscription apps. Back in the day if I wanted photoshop I had to pay like $500 not adjusted for inflation. Now for like $10/m you have full access. Software and media are much cheaper now to obtain.

If people can get something for free they will. Sometimes the illegal file is more convenient than legal. For example if i want to watch a movie from iTunes. This movie should be on my local iTunes store, a lot of it is US only or UK only. You can't buy it even if you wanted to. Then when you download it you can only watch it via iTunes or Mac software. Now if I downloaded it from torrent-FOR FREE- I get the same file that will play anywhere and can transfer it to where ever.

Other reason is think of people in 3rd world countries and teenage students. He can pay $3 rent per movie, or $30 for software but that $30 could really mean a lot to him used somewhere else. Its illegal I know, but I can also see why he needs to save every dollar.

The best solution is to install software from the App Store. If you do this, it is very unlikely you will have problems in the first place.

No can do. Mac App Store has too many restrictions with a lot of red lines. Apple's 30% cut is ludicrous for developers to accept. Apple would love to apply their iOS App Store business model to the Mac but the are probably too afraid of the backlash.

Some popular apps not on Mac App Store:
*Steam *GOG-Galaxy *FireFox *Chrome *Brave-Browser *Handbrake *Audacity
 
Sounds interesting. According to many pieces of research, Macs are vulnerable to viruses. Less than Windows, but still. For instance, here is the data from AV-Test Institute: https://www.av-test.org/en/statistics/malware/
View attachment 1731525
So as you use VPN, you should know that MacKeeper has this feature too like many others.
We also have a Data Breach checker for emails as well as the StopAd feature. So MacKeeper seems to be pretty useful, don't you think?
You don't seem to understand what a virus actually is, search for computer virus definition, until you do I regard you as a complete noob.
The above image says Malware, a virus is malware, malware does not have to be a virus.
There is (has been) no virus for OSX/macOS.
Also, AVtest, what obscure site/company is that, me shakes head.

MacKeeper is not needed nor has it ever been needed on a mac, fact.
It's complete rubbish.
 
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You don't seem to understand what a virus actually is, search for computer virus definition, until you do I regard you as a complete noob.
The above image says Malware, a virus is malware, malware does not have to be a virus.
There is (has been) no virus for OSX/macOS.
Also, AVtest, what obscure site/company is that, me shakes head.

MacKeeper is not needed nor has it ever been needed on a mac, fact.
It's complete rubbish.
I found these more detailed statistics: https://www.statista.com/statistics/680986/distribution-of-macos-malware/
Unfortunately, it's for 2019 but I think we can make some conclusions.
Anyway, MacKeeper protects not only from viruses but from other types of malware.
May I ask if you tried MacKeeper last year or two?
 
I found these more detailed statistics: https://www.statista.com/statistics/680986/distribution-of-macos-malware/
Unfortunately, it's for 2019 but I think we can make some conclusions.
Anyway, MacKeeper protects not only from viruses but from other types of malware.
May I ask if you tried MacKeeper last year or two?
Why do you again claim there are viruses for OSX/macOS, as I said a few times before, there is not a single virus for OSX/macOS.
I already pointed out to you that you have to look up the definition of a virus but you seem to do nothing.
Hint:
A virus replicates itself.
A virus duplicates on it's own and spreads on it's own.

There is no such threat found on OSX/macOS until now, that's 2 decades.

Why should I try MacKeeper, again, as I said before, OSX/macOS does not need maintenance and malware infections are very...VERY rare, I had none in 2 decades and I surf in all the dark places, also, I never ever input my password for things I have no knowledge for, for instance, I do input passwords for installing software myself, not automatically, I do input passwords for known and safe websites.
 
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Sometimes I have to wonder people who have enough money to buy a Mac, but cheapen out on the software or content that they have to rely on pirate torrents.
My theory: The folks plunking down cash for the new Macbook Pro aren't the issue in the Mac ecosystem. It's the "after-market folks" who have inherited their parent's 8-year-old MacBook after a family upgrade cycle and are now looking for ways to run the same newer games, Minecraft mods, and creative apps they see everywhere in the PC world...

It's not just piracy... but you're not going to find the hottest new game character skins on the Mac App Store.

Source: I have a 10-year-old. 🤦‍♂️
 
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