Anti-virus on mac

Hi.
I am new in this fourm since I am just about to buy my first mac.
Before purchasing my mac I have a question I hope that you can help me with.
I will be running Windows 7 with parallels, which I hope is a good option. However, since I will be running windows I think I need som internet security.
What would you recommend ? I´ve heard that kaspersky is good ?
But, regardless of whatever I buy, will it help me in both "mac mode" and "windows mode" or do I need two different internet security programs ?
I have seen there is a kaspersky for mac, but will it also look after my computer when running windows ?
Thanks in advance.
ND

The only thing you really need now with Windows 7 is free Microsoft Security Essentials.
I would not bother (though I do own a number of suites, such as Kaspersky) more trouble and not always as good and reliable as just MS.
AV software on Mac? probably not, and almost all of them are more prone to trouble than anything, and tend to be 'heavy' and sluggish.

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A little late to the game, but .sit files are Stuffit files as developed by http://www.stuffit.com/ Apple used to use this compression format, but does no longer, and no longer includes the free Stuffit Expander program made by Stuffit.com. If you need to extract an old .sit uninstaller, get it from Stuffit.com. And also any company making such a program for Mac OS X should seriously consider upgrading their downloads to be .dmg.zip files instead, which are more easy to extract on Mac OS X without downloading extra software.

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Do we need an anti virus for mac or not? if so, which one is the best?

That's a complex issue, with no easy yes or no answers. First and foremost, you have to learn how to protect yourself... all else is secondary. See my Mac Malware Guide for information about this sort of thing, and for some suggestions if you opt to use anti-virus software.
(Fair disclosure: The Safe Mac is my site, and contains a Donate button, so I may receive compensation for providing links to The Safe Mac. Donations are not required.)

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Is ther an anti virus for mac?

Sophos free home use for mac
http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-mac-home-ed ition.aspx
also ClamXav available free from apple store
I found I was happier with sophos running
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57422099-285/two-free-mac-antivirus-apps-com pared/
read
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/askjack/2010/feb/03/apple-data-computer-sec urity
Personal Preference.

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what is the best mac cleaner and anti virus for mac pro.

OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it updated with software updates from Apple.
A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":
Never install any product that claims to "speed up", "clean up", "optimize", or "accelerate" your Mac. Without exception, they will do the opposite.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources. Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iTunes or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Disable Java in Safari > Preferences > Security.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Block browser popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > and check "Block popup windows":
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but popups have devolved to become a common means to deliver targeted advertising that you probably do not want.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever see a popup indicating it detected registry errors, that your Mac is infected with some ick, or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. To date, most of these attempts have been pathetic and are easily recognized, but that is likely to change in the future as criminals become more clever.
OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

My company requires that I install an anti-virus program on my MAC in order to gain access to our shared drives from home. The IT group suggests I download Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition. Is there reason I shouldn't do this?

My company requires that I install an anti-virus program on my Mac in order to access shared corporate drives via Citrix from home. The IT guys recommend Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac. Is this OK or are there other programs I should use instead?

Sophos or ClamXav either one are recommended. FYI... the Mac drive may slow down as a result of installing a/v software.

Best Anti-Virus for Mac.

My new MacBook Pro is getting delievered soon, I want a few opinions on what the best Anti-Virus for it will be. I know that Macs are more secure than Windows, but I still want to have an Anti-Virus on it as I've already had a virus on my current Mac. I have been using Trend Micro on my Mac as I got it free from a rep in my old job. I'm wondering if in the kast year that I've not been working with computers and Macs, has there been a better Anti-Virus made for them? I'd like one that also covers identity theft etc. A few answers would be good for this.... Thanks :-)

This is a very contentious issue, that you will always get different points of view.
IMO, antivirus software is not essential at this stage, however, this does not mean that you should blindly 'surf the net' without a care in the world.
The most recent exploit attempts have used flaws in Java, so the first thing I do is not use Java. Apple does not install it by default, so if you have a new install, then you won't have Java installed, so you cannot be effected by this these types of exploits.
If you do have Java installed, then make sure you have the latest updates from Apple installed, as they introduced features to protect you from these exploits, but also turn off Java if you have not used it after some time.
Java is not used much these days in Web sites, so unless you need it specifically for a site you visit, you probably don't even need it on you Mac at all.
Another recent flash exploit used a default setting in Safari to bypass OSX security settings, this being 'Open "Safe" files after downloading'. Go to Safari > Preferences > General and untick the setting at the bottom of the window, so this exploit cannot be utilised on your Mac.
With Flash, only download it from the Adobe website, and if you get notified by a site that you need an update, I personally go to Adode's web site myself and download updates manually
Other tools you can use to make you Web safer, is to install to extensions to Safari, which are quite good.
WOT - Web of Trust. This is a safety rating of a website to indicate if they are trustworthy or not, Green has been rated as safe, Red not. It is not perfect, but at least gives you an idea if the site is safe or not. As a rule, I don't go to Red sites.
Click to Flash - This prevents Flash from automatically running on sites, and you need to actually click on it on the page to download the Flash. This has two effects, it doesn't load anoying flash onto sites, unless you want it and two, if there are any exploits out there using flash, they can't automatically load.
Ad-Block - Blocks many anoying web ads, if you don't like them.
To install Select Safari > Safari Extensions and search for your desired extension
If you feel you want an Anti-virus application, ClamAV sounds like it is good and it's free without over resoursing your Mac. Remember though, that any AV application is only as good as its database, so if something new comes out it may not protect you anyway. From what I read, many of the AV apps only protect you from Windows viruses anyway, which don't effect Macs in the first place, so seem quite redundant to me.
Also in the background, Apple have a Blacklist of known issues, which they can update to you automatically when new threats are found. If you attempt to install something from one of these, you are notified by a promenent Red message warning you of the issue, allowing you to abort the installation, before it become an issue.
Your biggest AV is you, don't install applications your not sure about. One good thing about the OS, is that to install any app, you need to give your password. If you are not trying to install something at the time, don't give your password over and the app cannot install and cause you any harm.
Don't install MacKeeper if you come across it, its not what it appears, has no ethics and is basically unnecessary.
One thing I also do is use 2 web browsers. I use Safari for my normal everyday browing, and I use FireFox for secure sites such as Banking etc. Firefox I have set to record no history, passwords etc, so there is no record on my computer of this type of information for anyone to access. This protection is more if anyone get physical access to my computer, which in my world, that is entirely possible.
The link AnaMusic posted is a great wealth of knowledge and deffinetly looking at.
As I said, it a contentious issue and there are many different opinions, so I not saying that everything I say is gospel either, just my opinion.
A

Anti Virus Software/ Mac Cleaning software - is it necessary?

Hi,
I was wondering if investing in any type of anti virus/ mac cleaning software would be worthwhile?
I was looking at Clean my Mac from MacPaw http://macpaw.com/index and Norton AntiVirus for Mac. I was wondering if it would help, because for the few viruses that it would find on a Mac, the extra program running constantly in the background might slow it down even more.
Any opinions/ suggestions are appreciated.

HI,
Just to make you aware there are no Mac viruses in the wild but if you want to use anti virus software get ClamXav
Word to the wise. Norton is the worst software on the planet. It is literally a virus in itself. If you instal it, only an erase and install can rid you of it.
And keep in mind, any anti virus software has a tendency to slow the system down. So if you notice a lag... you'll know why.
Check out the post here by Klaus1: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9487317#9487317
I've never used Clean My Mac before... so I really can't offer any advice on that one.
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

Do you need to add an anti virus on mac pros

I purchased a mac pro for my son and was sold an anti virus to install. Do i really need to install this? I would rather not. Thanks

You can get by just fine without anti-virus at this time, though you should be aware of dangers and be cautious online. See my Mac Malware Guide.
Note that, even if you do decide to use anti-virus software, you shouldn't pay for anything. The best options are free. So return whatever software you were convinced to buy. Also, although ClamXav has been a popular recommendation on these forums, recent testing I did shows that it doesn't do such a great job. See Mac anti-virus detection rates.

Anti-Virus For Mac OS X

Hello.
I've just got my first modern Apple Computer (got a really old one), and have almost all my life use Windows, but now when i finelly purchase a Apple i was wondering about a Anti-Virus Program.... Any one have a program/link to Program there is free, but also protect the Mac properly!
I've found one free here on the Apple site called "Clam-xav" does anyone have expirence whit it?

MathiasBrix,
ClamXav works fine. If you don't need the GUI and are comfortable in Terminal, you might want to consider using just clamav.
The antivirus engine (the software that does the actual detection work) in clamXav, clamav, is the same one Apple ships as part of OS X Server. Apple recommends using antivirus on your Mac. Taken together - that Apple itself uses and recommends using antivirus - makes a strong argument for using antivirus on your own Mac.
Although it is an antivirus program, clamav detects a large number of phishing scams and some other types of spam.
-Wayne

Anti-virus for Mac

I'd like to know if there is any anti-virus software for Mac. I'm afraid my Mac is infected! If the answer is yes, which one is the best? What should I do to keep my Pc safe?

I have to agree that while it is not impossible, it is improbable that your mac is infected with a virus due to the very small number of virus and the nature of the OS itself. There are anti virus programs made for mac though and one that is often mentioned on these boards is ClamSav which is free and can be found at
http://www.clamxav.com/
Best is of course hard to call because it is opinion based, I personally do not like any of the norton products though others (many others) like their applications.
What makes you think that you may have a virus? One thing of note is that if you are running a windows OS either through bootcamp or through parallels or a similar program you can infect your windows install or pick up a virus in windows that can affect the mac partition as well.
Luck
E

Best Anti-virus for Mac partition on MacBook Pro?

I have a MacBook Pro with Mac OS X, and through Bootcamp, I have Windows XP Pro.
For the Mac partition, what AV do you recommend?
I'm looking for an AV that has good detection rate and ability to scan selected files. Also, it must work with Leopard and not be a resource hog.
BTW, would an AV be enough or do I need Internet Security for Mac? In case of the latter, which ones do you recommend? Thank you!
Please, don't tell me Macs don't need AV's, I'm still getting one

Starting by saying “don't tell me Macs don't need AV's, I'm still getting one ”doesn't encourage us to give you what we think is good advice. The highly respected "Tacit" has written much on these issues. As you seem to already have a decided view, for a reason you don't give, you may discount what he has to say, but it is available at
Macs, viruses, and anti-virus software
There is a MacFixIt leader at
Mac OS X anti-virus software: More trouble than it's worth?
and you can see a short post by Tacit in
Firewall settings issue
I would suggest that you might search in any Mac forum you choose for matters related to AV software, but I suspect that you don't want to read horror stories!

What is the best anti virus for mac pro

I am looking for a antivirus for my mac pro
Could you help me to find a good and eficient one ?

Marco_panameno wrote:
I am looking for a antivirus for my mac pro
Could you help me to find a good and eficient one ?
OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it that way with software updates from Apple.
A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":
Never install any product that claims to "speed up", "clean up", "optimize", or "accelerate" your Mac. Without exception, they will do the opposite.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources. Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iTunes or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Disable Java in Safari > Preferences > Security.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Block browser popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > and check "Block popup windows":
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but popups have devolved to become a common means to deliver targeted advertising that you probably do not want.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever see a popup indicating it detected registry errors, that your Mac is infected with some ick, or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. To date, most of these attempts have been pathetic and are easily recognized, but that is likely to change in the future as criminals become more clever.
OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

HT1338 safe anti virus for mac book 10.7.5?

since there's more attacks on mac computers, what is the best anti virus, anti malware program of a mac book?

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
If you want more information about OS X and malware, see > http://www.reedcorner.net/mmg
We don't recommend an antivirus because most of them are useless, but if you want one, you can install Sophos or ClamXav. You can install the one you want, because both works correctly

Has anyone used savos anti virus for mac

I have been seeing a bit on the net that Apple Macs are being targeted by hackers.
I have seen the program Savos, anti virus & free root kit remover.

Most would say no, that macs do not need anti virus programs. They are subject to malware, however the user has to be tricked into intalling it. Unless you have a Windows partition, I personally wouldn't recommend wasting your money on an anti virus program. You can read this: http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/#needav to help you with your decision.

Norton Anti Virus for Mac? Does it do anything?

I didnt know where to post t his so sorry if it's in the wrong place. Im just wondering if there's any reason to use Norton for Mac. My internet service provides it for free so I had downloaded it. (Antivirus/Firewall/LiveUpdate) But I don't know if it's even doing anything. A Mac is supposed to not get viruses etc.. On my PC, I saw it running scans every so often; I don't see that on the Mac (I dont know if I have to change settings but I haven't touched a thing). It only seems to turn on when I try to start itunes or Time Machine, and those instances, I just hit cancel because I know those are safe. Apple store employees have told me to go ahead and uninstall it but said that they heard that can be difficult. They said that it is only taking up space and slowing down my system by having it on the computer.
I have to think it is doing something if they sell the product...Im not paying for it so I might as well use it but I don't know what its doing..and Symantec apparently has no support except for an automated website bot.
So does anybody know if it's worth having? Should I delete it? Keep it if its not hurting anything and its free? Is it slowing things down?

The best, most effective, least instrusive software you can use on your Mac for Anti-malware exists between your ears.
Unix is very secure. Not doing stupid things is even more secure.
Don't enter your admin password in response to a random request from som software you didn't install.
Ignore messages that pop up on your browser telling you it found a virus--big hint: IT CAN'T.
Don't install the "special" codec that allows you to view p*rn. There are no "special" codecs for video streaming.

Anti-virus on mac

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