I am wondering if I should buy the antivirus software clamxav? I used the opensource version for ubuntu linux several years ago, but I found it rather limited compared to other antivirus software for windows xp. Is it necessary? Further I have read that some antivirus software for os x needs to disable some of the intrinsic safeguards of the os x operating system in order to operate itself. Is this true of clamav as well? Is it possible to take any of the open source versions of clamxav for linux and use them on os x? thanks
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Your opinions about clamxav?
- Thread starter theprizerevealed
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Virus in Mac OS is almost nonexistent! Trojans where someone acts stupid is still there though! I found most users like the free MawareBytes for Mac Free is good enough to scan. What I do is to use OpenDNS because OpenDNS use it there protection PhishTank if you set it up in your OpenDNS settings!
IMHO the best free software on a Mac for trouble shooting an upgrade is EtreCheck! Think of it as a system report on steroids!
IMHO the best free software on a Mac for trouble shooting an upgrade is EtreCheck! Think of it as a system report on steroids!
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A/V software distributed through the App Store might have to disable some features to comply with app store rules, but ClamX doesn't have an App Store version any more. The download version from their website should have everything enabled that is enabled on the Linux versions of ClamAV. I wouldn't pay for an A/V product for the Mac. I used to use Avast! on Windows, and there is a Mac version that is still free and gets good marks.
May I inquire about the bold part: about only App Store ones disabling Mac features.
Sophos isn't from App Store, but form what I read, it sticks its roots so deep into Mac, there have been security holes that would allow hacker to get in from the new cracks Sophos made? That also included disabling some of Mac's features, according to one article.
It is because of "sandboxing" required for apps in the App Store. It limits what apps can see and do on your Mac for security reasons. But in doing so, it limits some functions on some apps.
https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/understanding_the_debate_over_apples_mac_app_store_sandbox/
Good article on it here.
Informative thread. ClamXav detected the viruses on this Mac back in September and I subsequently got rid of them, but I do need a better free adware zap app; The one I have worked once and that was it.
I use both Avira Pro and Malwarebytes on my PCs and Macs, they've never let me down on dozens of computers. Avira puts out a very good no-cost version of their Pro AV app, and I can't say enough good things about Malwarebytes - the consumer version of this app is also no-cost, and it's installed on my personal Macs. Both companies charge for their pro/business versions and Malwarebytes charges for Windows installations, and their support has been stellar for my needs. Cheers!
Thank you!
So apps from outside App Store can do what they want.
Malwarebytes is good, but Avira in one Mac seemed to freeze. Then I heard it has issues with privacy - they not true then?
I've had no issues with Malwarebytes - a non-tech-savvy friend of my mom's had issues with a Win 7 PC and asked for help; I ran the 3 AV apps on the laptop and they found nothing - I installed Malwarebytes, updated its definitions, and the app found and quarantined 2 Trojans. I deleted the other AV apps and left her with one of my Malwarebytes Premium SNs.
As to Avira, I've experienced no privacy issues. I've never received a marketing/solicitation email or phone call. Using Little Snitch, the only "phoning home" that the free and paid apps have done that I've seen is to check for definition updates. I read everything, including network and Console logs - I pretty much don't trust anyone and choose to verify everything. I'm not going to dispute that others have had privacy issues - I will assert that I have had no privacy issues with Avira, personally and on my 50-odd work computers...
Indeed, Malwarebytes in both Windows and Mac has served me good.
That is really good to hear - so you checked every possible aspect to check and in your opinion, Avira is safe to user?
May I ask, is the Pro paid version also quite bare in its design as the free one? I've been thinking about real time scanner, but hearing how they can ruin Mac has made me nervous. I have some experience with Avira, but the lack of proper big support forum kind of made me feel it was not very used and therefore not very trustworthy.
Can confirm Malwarebytes works on Macs...at it's limited scope of malware. Has cleaned a few Macs for folks I support from adware/malware.
As for AV and security in general, also consider Sophos Home. Many folks don't know Sophos, but they are a well respected AV company that sell only to enterprise users, but do have some great free tools, including Home, which runs on multiple platforms. Completely free, no ads, no nags to upgrade.....hard to beat.
As for AV and security in general, also consider Sophos Home. Many folks don't know Sophos, but they are a well respected AV company that sell only to enterprise users, but do have some great free tools, including Home, which runs on multiple platforms. Completely free, no ads, no nags to upgrade.....hard to beat.
Keep in mind that the paid version of Avira - Avira Pro - is a yearly subscription, $45, which I find cheap for what it provides as a service. I bill out that in 10 minutes (I'm not cheap...). The Pro subscription gets more granular control and much better support; I'm not big on forum-based support except for Autodesk and Adobe, which I pay mightily for - but those companies and Avira are far more proactive with support for paying customers. That, and the Pro version gets a multi-device, cross-platform Win/Mac licensing deal - better IMHO than even what the MAS offers. As to privacy, I will pay for a license to get a product that doesn't nag me or infringe on my privacy - I HATE ADS with a white hot hate (deference here to Khan in The Wrath of Khan...) and will opt out of something in a split second if a line (or firewall) gets crossed. No privacy issues here with Avira, paid or free versions. Cheers!
Don't remember and ClamXav had to be reinstalled from scratch with everything else.
Thank you for advice! I'm actually curious about Sophos and been reading about it. Sorry if I sound intrusive, but I'd like another opinion. I've heard that security specialist Tavis Ormandy found security holes from Sophos in past. Is it simply because Sophos makes it important to study it's weaknesses and they could be in any AV app?
I also read something about Sophos disabling part of Mac's security - have you any info if it is true?
I'm trying to form an opinion in unknown territory.
Indeed, AVAST in my Windows got really bloated with ads and toolbars and whatnot. I thank you for this info! Need to consider this software as well.
Thank you for advice! I'm actually curious about Sophos and been reading about it. Sorry if I sound intrusive, but I'd like another opinion. I've heard that security specialist Tavis Ormandy found security holes from Sophos in past. Is it simply because Sophos makes it important to study it's weaknesses and they could be in any AV app?
I also read something about Sophos disabling part of Mac's security - have you any info if it is true?
I'm trying to form an opinion in unknown territory.
Generally speaking, nearly every product out there has had (historically) some holes, or missed detections....so I would not be surprised.
Not an expert on it, but used their enterprise tools about 10 years ago, and it was better overall (especially on the Mac side) compared to Symantec.
Based on that, I have used and liked their products off and on for years, and still like them overall. Not claiming they are the best. The parental controls will be very valuable to some, worthless to others.
According to this review they are in the top group overall, but lag a bit in hit to system performance compared to the best. I assume the tests are with live scan, and on a Mac, I tend to turn off live scan to negate performance issues, and just run scheduled scans.
My take: Sophos is adequate protection, with adequate performance, with zero nag to upgrade to a paid or pro product. It stays out of my way, which is almost as important as security performance.....and works equally well on Macs and Win.
The review I linked to shows the top performer: virtual tie for ESET and BitDefender. Both are paid tools though. So....not really fair to compare to free.
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Thank you very much for thought out reply!
System performance lag wouldn't bother me that much. I'm most worried about if it harms Mac or if it gathers user data like AVG.
Thank you again, I have some information to think about.
Another question is about ransomware - I've read that ubuntu linux is susceptible to such malware, so surely OS X/MacOS is too. Would clamAv protect against this?