Preferred Antivirus 2010

[mike31mets]

This is going to be a series of threads/polls with the main objective of finding out what applications the members of MacRumors use. These threads/polls are not meant for discussion on whether or not one application is better than another or to ask any questions about these particular applications. It's only purpose is to discuss what application you use (or don't use) as it pertains to the topic. The goal is to collect these series of threads in the end and compile a list of all the polls so that members can view what the members of MacRumors use most often. The applications listed in the poll are by no means definitive and/or complete. If you use another application, vote Other and post the name so others can look into it. Even if you don't use any of the applications listed, you can simply click None. I've tried to list as many applications as I could find for the particular topic. Some are paid, some are free. Some cover all versions of OS X, others only a few versions.

---------

This particular thread focuses on Antivirus software for OS X. There is no need to debate the need for an Antivirus for OS X. The fact remains it exists and some do use it. Some Antivirus products focus specifically on malware for OS X, while others will also detect files can be potentially dangerous on other Operating Systems.

Which Antivirus software do you use for OS X?

1. ClamXav (http://www.markallan.co.uk/clamXav/ )
2. iAntivirus (http://www.iantivirus.com/ )
3. MacScan (http://macscan.securemac.com/ )
4. Norton Antivirus (http://www.symantec.com/norton/macintosh/antivirus )
5. Sophos Anti-virus (http://www.sophos.com/products/enterprise/endpoint/security-and-control/mac/ )
6. Intego VirusBarrier (http://www.intego.com/virusbarrier/home.asp )
7. McAfee VirusScan (http://www.mcafee.com/us/enterprise/products/system_security/clients/virusscan_for_mac.html )
8. Other
9. None

 

[Mr. McMac]

The only one I've ever used is ClamXav. Seems to work well without any noticeable side affects

 

[celticpride678]

I have used iAntiVirus once and uninstalled it because it was pointless.

 

[Thraun]

Pointless indeed. I use none, never had the slightest problem.

 

[pasipple]

None.....none needed.....

 

[Caleb531]

I have ClamXav on my Mac, but I never use it. But I have so much storage space, I have on need for removing it.

 

[mike31mets]

That's interesting, someone voted Other. I'm curious to know what Other AV this voter used.

 

[LagFighter]

I use McAfee, but only because it's free with my university. Again, as others have said, it's very pointless and feels redundant on my 10.6.4 MBP. I wouldn't worry about investing anything in an antivirus program if you're using a Mac.

 

[angelica22]

the other was probably avast for mac... I have used it before

 

[kernkraft]

I'm with iAntivirus - there might be no viruses for the Mac yet, but that only makes the potential damage greater. It only takes one nasty programmer and a clever Facebook campaign or some torrent content to have it spread - by the time you notice, OS X users will be the subject of worldwide jokes.

 

[Blondie :)]

for mac users, antivirus is basically pointless. There are a few out there, but the chances of it infecting your mac are pretty small. The main reason I use antivirus is because I don't want email forwards to be infected and screw with my poor old windows buddies when I send them to em.

 

[grapes911]

I'm with iAntivirus - there might be no viruses for the Mac yet, but that only makes the potential damage greater.

While I disagree with you, lets assume you are correct.

It only takes one nasty programmer and a clever Facebook campaign or some torrent content to have it spread - by the time you notice, OS X users will be the subject of worldwide jokes.

Assuming the above is correct, AV software wouldn't help you much. AV software looks for known viruses (and malware but you mentioned viruses, so lets stick with that) and for patterns that resemble known viruses. Since none are knows to exists, the AV software does not know what to check for. If a virus was created, you'd be just as vulnerable as the rest of us.

 

[Xenophon]

Assuming the above is correct, AV software wouldn't help you much. AV software looks for known viruses (and malware but you mentioned viruses, so lets stick with that) and for patterns that resemble known viruses. Since none are knows to exists, the AV software does not know what to check for. If a virus was created, you'd be just as vulnerable as the rest of us.
_

That's not an argument, the same reasoning applies to windows systems and no one with half a mind disputes the usefulness of virus scanners there. If a new virus pops up, the first systems to be infected are always screwed, no matter if they have a scanner or not. As there are fewer mac users, the 'latency' time between first infection and widespread propagation is likely to be higher so that there's more time to find a solution and update virus defs.

Together with a good firewall and malware protection I think a virusscanner is an essential element of your security setup, regardless the platform.

 

[grapes911]

That's not an argument, the same reasoning applies to windows systems and no one with half a mind disputes the usefulness of virus scanners there. If a new virus pops up, the first systems to be infected are always screwed, no matter if they have a scanner or not.

Your are right, it does apply to Windows systems. It applies when new viruses that find new ways of exploiting the system are released. You cannot really protect against those.

On a windows system you are no protected against anything new that could be created, you are are only protected against the thousands (more?) of already known exploits that are in the wild.

Since there are no OS X viruses in the wild, there is nothing you can protect against.

 

[bobbytomorow]

unless you are on a largely windows based network or are transferring seedy files from your mac to windows based pc's, otherwise, no OS X is too modular for me to worry about something taking it out. and the fact theres nothing in the wild to worry about anyway is a bonus

 

[kasakka]

Antivirus software is primarily protection for user stupidity more than anything. These days most malware on modern operating systems (note: XP is NOT modern) requires user interaction to install so the antivirus software essentially is there to protect Joe Average from clicking "britney_naked.exe"

I don't use an antivirus on OSX or Windows 7.

 

[lucifiel]

Antivirus software is primarily protection for user stupidity more than anything. These days most malware on modern operating systems (note: XP is NOT modern) requires user interaction to install so the antivirus software essentially is there to protect Joe Average from clicking "britney_naked.exe"

I don't use an antivirus on OSX or Windows 7.

Whaddya mean that britney_naked.exe is a virus??

Anyways, I use ClamXAV largely cos I don't want to accidently infect my Win 7 boxes on my network.

Whilst viruses don't really exist on Mac OS X, malware does, but no Antivirus can really stop those from user stupidity...

 

[demingy]

I voted other - I'm currently using the ESET beta and plan on using ESET when it comes out. I tried the free options, but unfortunately they were too resource heavy at random times. I am required to have anti-virus running on my computer to use the school network, so I decided to look for a Mac version of ESET (my favorite suite for my Windows machine).

I'm glad I have ESET running on my MacBook - the other day I was running a search with DEVONagent and a message popped up, ESET had detected and deleted "JS/TrojanDownloader.Agent.NUH.trojan". I'll admit that even after performing an internet search about this so-called threat I'm not sure if this would be harmful in OSX, but considering I share files between my Mac and Windows computers I'm just glad to have an extra layer of protection.

I agree that the best defense is to be smart about what you download, click on, etc, but in the case above all I had done was use DEVONagent to look for publications that mentioned isofluorane.

 

[Velocifero]

lol @ people thinking their macs are immune to viruses.

 

[mike31mets]

Hmm this is pretty good stuff. I didn't know Eset or Avast had an A/V for Macs. And thanks for those who have voted so far. There's a week left still.

 

[UpDownAeroplane]

none. no need on windows or mac os x. running windows 7 and snow leopard and never had a virus/malware/etc.

 

[MacDawg]

Mac since 1987
No antivirus
And no viruses ever

Would take a cataclysmic event of apocalyptic proportions to get me to install antivirus on my Mac

 

[Velocifero]

Mac since 1987
No antivirus
And no viruses ever

Would take a cataclysmic event of apocalyptic proportions to get me to install antivirus on my Mac

Macs are way more popular now. If you think you will never be targeted, you better think again. The most popular and mainstream they become, the more malicious programs will be written for them. Seeing the current trend, it's only a matter of time before something big comes down. That's like living in a really nice neighborhood and you feel you don't need a car alarm. It's just naive.

 

[dejo]

Macs are way more popular now. If you think you will never be targeted, you better think again. The most popular and mainstream they become, the more malicious programs will be written for them. Seeing the current trend, it's only a matter of time before something big comes down. That's like living in a really nice neighborhood and you feel you don't need a car alarm. It's just naive.

This is pretty much the "security through obscurity" argument, huh? Sorry, but that's already been proven to be a myth.