Do you need antivirus for Macs

Is anti virus software necessary for Macbook Pros?

Is anti virus software necessary for Macbook Pros?
Yes most certainly you need it, don't let anyone tell you differently. *wink* 
Mac's can get viruses and transfer them to other Windows users through shared Windows files, but they don't affect a Mac as it's a different operating system. Don't share Windows files, then no problem, but you should have a free scanner on hand.
You can use the free ClamXav to scan those files and clean the Windows filth if you wish.
Always on anti-virus will slowdown your Mac and cause problems, so don't install it (or MacKeepe/911 bundle, it's bad!)
So far there isn't any Mac based viruses, but there ARE Mac based trojans, so be careful of installing anything from unreliable or questionable sources, something that "pops up" on your screen while surfing the web.
Turn off your Java (not Javascript) in your web browser preferences, unless you come across something that you need it (rare) then turn it on for that site use only. No need to have it on all the time, it's dangerous to leave on all the time as it's the most used attack vector.
If and when you install Flash, it's used a lot online, do so now and check occasionally it's up to date because it does have exploits from time to time and those are bad too.
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
You may want to install Perian too, it enables other codecs to play in Quicktime
http://perian.org/
Just maintain some common sense and check out the reliabliity of websites your installing software from, for instance if a adult content site says you need this or that installed to watch, use your head and exit the site/browser. Don't install software from P2P or torrent sites, your taking your chances.

Similar Messages

  • Do we need antivirus for mac book pro?

    do i need antivirus for mac book pro?

    No.
    See Here  >  Antivirus Discussion
    More Info Here...
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4545776?tstart=0
    Mac OS X tends to look after itself...
    To keep your Mac Happy...
    See Here...
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1147
    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/maintainingmacosx.html
    Mac OS X: About background maintenance tasks

  • I am wondering if we need a antivirus for mac

    i am wondering if we need a antivirus for mac

    I suggest using third-party antivirus software in addition to the safeguards Apple provides.  I am not an expert on which packages are best. 
    Our company requires all employess to run virus detectors.  They do not specify which we need to run as long as we have one installed.  (They also don't require us to use a Mac but we all have chosen to have one.)  There are many good competing packages and so far as we know none of us have been infected without the antivirus software detecting it. 
    I use Sophos.  http://www.sophos.com/en-us/  It is free.  It has detected and disabled a few malware files on my Mac. 

  • What's the best antivirus for mac???should i use one or not??

    what's the best antivirus for mac?? and also should i have one on my mac or not???

    salar ip wrote:
    what's the best antivirus for mac?? and also should i have one on my mac or not???
    Mac's use a Unix based operating system and other controls that make it hostile for viruses to thrive.
    However it's possible to carry Windows viruses to other Windows machines by a Mac, also there might be some corruption if your dealing with a lot of Windows files.
    So all you really need is a scanner to run when you need it, something like the free ClamXav is good.
    http://www.clamxav.com/
    Apple includes a anti-trojan/malicious program type anti-malware service built into all latest versions of OS X, it works and updates in the background.
    There has been many attempts at trying to "trojan" or trick Mac users into installing rogue software on web pages. If you see soemthing like this, best to just Force Quit the browser by clicking on the Finder and selecting Force Quit from the menu.
    A alternative browser like Firefox will offer more protection.
    If you run your typical day to day operations on a Mac in what's called "Standard User", with a separate Admin User account, you'll need to update your Apple Menu > Software Update and your Apple Menu > System Preferences > Security > toggle the "Automatically Update Safe Downloads List" check box on/off about once a week.
    Standard User provides more security restrictions, but is also designed not to intrude into those who are less capable use of the computer.
    Third party plugins for your browser like Flash and Silverlight (used on Netflix) require a once a week check for updates.
    Use a free service like the Mozilla browser check here:
    https://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
    Always back up your personal data and never install programs that your not 100% you trust the source of.
    If you have any questions or suspicions, simply ask the opinions of the more senior users here on this forum.
    Good advice is not to install any anti-virus like Norton that demands the operating system remain a consistent state. Apple changes things all the time, which breaks software like Norton or OS X itself when a Software Update occurs.
    There are two great free 3D games, simply search for: Nexiuz Classic and Cube 2 Sauerbraten.
    If this information helped you, please click "Helpful" or "Solved" thank you.
    Good Luck and enjoy your Mac.

  • Do we need  antivirus for macbook pro

    i am wondering if we need a antivirus for mac pro.

    This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an attacker who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help. Alll versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files. The recognition database is automatically updated once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders. In most cases, there’s no benefit from any other automated protection against malware. The most effective defense against malware attacks is your own intelligence. All known malware on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. If you're smarter than the malware attacker thinks you are, you won't be duped. That means, primarily, that you never install software from an untrustworthy source. How do you know a source is untrustworthy? 
    Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
    A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. [Some reputable websites did legitimately warn users who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.]
    “Cracked” copies of commercial software downloaded from a bittorrent are likely to be infected.
    Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. No intermediary is acceptable.
     Java on the network (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related) is always a potential weak spot in the security of any operating system. If Java is not installed, don't install it unless you really need it. If it is installed, you should disable it (not JavaScript) in your web browsers. Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you won’t be missing much. This setting is mandatory in OS X 10.5.8 or earlier, because Java in those obsolete versions has known security flaws that make it unsafe to use on the Internet. The flaws will never be fixed. Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java can never be fully trusted, even if no vulnerabilities are publicly known at the moment. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can reasonably be. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav — nothing else.

  • Avast Antivirus for mac or Eset Cyber Security 6

    Considering many threats nowadays on the Internet, including malware related to false pages, phishing pages, Java threats, I consider important to count on a security solution.
    There are 2 of them I personally consider the best ones on the moment: Avast Antivirus for Mac and Eset Cyber Security 6.
    Well, considering two important aspects - detection (higher scores it's better) and performance (lower system usage resources - like processors usage - it's better).
    What is your opinion about them considering your experience?
    Which one would you choose?
    Thanks in advance!

    "Avast" is perhaps the worst of the whole wretched lot of commercial "security" products for the Mac. It's worse than the imaginary "viruses" you're worried about. Not only does it fail to protect you, it destabilizes and slows down your computer, and it sometimes or always corrupts the network settings and the permissions of files in your home folder. Removing it may not repair all the damage, and neither will Disk Utility or even reinstalling OS X.
    1. This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
    OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
    2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." The malware recognition database is automatically checked for updates once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
    The following caveats apply to XProtect:
    It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
    It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
    3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
    Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
    It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
    A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
    An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
    For the reasons given above, App Store products, and other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. OS X security is based on user input. Never click anything reflexively.
    4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is presumably effective against known attacks, but maybe not against unknown attacks. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
    5. XProtect, Gatekeeper, and MRT reduce the risk of malware attack, but they're not absolute protection. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the malware attacker. If you're smarter than he thinks you are, you'll win.
    That means, in practice, that you never use software that comes from an untrustworthy source, or that does something inherently untrustworthy. How do you know what is trustworthy?
    Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
    A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
    Pirated copies or "cracks" of commercial software, no matter where they come from, are unsafe.
    Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet binary newsgroup is unsafe.
    Software that purports to help you do something that's illegal or that infringes copyright, such as saving streamed audio or video for reuse without permission, is unsafe. All YouTube "downloaders" are in this category, though not all are necessarily harmful.
    Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. If it comes from any other source, it's unsafe.
    Even signed applications, no matter what the source, should not be trusted if they do something unexpected, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
    6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
    Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
    Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it — not JavaScript — in your browsers.
    Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
    Follow the above guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself from malware.
    7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, if they do any good at all. Any database of known threats is always going to be out of date. Most of the danger is from unknown threats. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software  ClamXav— nothing else.
    Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?
    Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
    In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
    By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
    8. ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
    ClamXav is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.
    A Windows malware attachment in email is usually easy to recognize. The file name will often be targeted at people who aren't very bright; for example:
    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!!!!!!!H0TBABEZ4U!!!!!!!.AVI♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.exe
    ClamXav may be able to tell you which particular virus or trojan it is, but do you care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use ClamXav unless a network administrator requires you to run an anti-virus application.
    9. The greatest harm done by security software, in my opinion, is in its effect on human behavior. It does little or nothing to protect people from emerging threats, but if they get a false sense of security from it, they may feel free to do things that expose them to higher risk. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.
    10. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.

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  • Do i need antivirus for my nokia 5130 ? Where do i...

    Hi
    I want to know if i need antivirus for my phone because i want to share some file with my friends and there is a chance of getting infected with virus . Thanks

    We have an article in your Pool of Knowledge, that´ll help you keeping your phone secure!
    PoK - Keep your phone secure!
    Hope this cleared things a bit up for you?
    grschinon: Had you forgotten that we had worked this out already?
    By clicking the "Kudos!" or the "Solution?" button on the right you can say "Thank You" and you´ll show the author and others that the post is useful.
    The day we stop improving is the day we stop being good.

  • What is the best free antivirus for mac ox iBookG4?

    Hi,what is the best free antivirus for mac ox iBookG4?

    While no one may be bothering to write exploits in PPC code any longer, at least for Flash, that doesn't mean that there aren't any still floating around. The following doesn't specifically mention PPC/Intel, but that doesn't mean there weren't critical vulnerabilities being exploited for PPC in 10.1.102.64. I wouldn't want to take the chance.
    Critical vulnerabilities have been identified in Adobe Flash Player 10.1.102.64 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Solaris. These vulnerabilities could cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.
    http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb11-02.html
    And, from TenFourFox
    PowerPC plugins are unmaintained and insecure, and Mozilla is changing the plugin environment
    No major plugin is being maintained for Power Macs any more: Flash stopped updates with Flash 10.1.102.64 in November 2010, and QuickTime 7 for the PowerPC was decommissioned with the release of QuickTime 7.7 and OS X Lion in August 2011. (Tiger users have not had an update since QT 7.6.4 in September 2009.)
    Plugins have special access to the system. When they are instantiated by the browser, they run as if you were running any regular application, which is true even for out-of-process plugins (which were never available for 10.4Fx due to Tiger SDK limitations). Like any buggy or insecure application, they can be exploited or made to crash, and because the plugin runs within the browser, such methods can also be used to attack, spy upon or destabilize the browser as well. They have also been used to attack the network the computer is running on, and a well-crafted attack vector such as that example can run anywhere Flash does, including Power Macs. Because plugins load automatically by default when the page calls for them, your system could be exploited before you even notice.
    Many of these attacks can be mitigated, though not entirely prevented, by the use of add-ons that can block plugins from loading. However, there is still another problem apart from security: Mozilla is changing the environment and the technical requirements for how plugins interact with the system. These technical requirements are difficult to achieve with Mac OS X 10.4, and there are known graphical and compatibility bugs already. It is entirely possible that in the near future, extant PPC-compatible plugins will not function properly or at all.
    http://code.google.com/p/tenfourfox/wiki/PluginsNoLongerSupported
    Message was edited by: WZZZ

  • Help need driver for Mac Yosemite 10.10.2 for LaserJet Pro Color...

      Please help me find the driver for the HP LaserJET COLOR PRO 200 FOR MAC OXC 10.10 YOSEMITE
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    This should be what you need
    Driver for for OS X 10.9 Mavericks and OS X 10.10 Yosemite
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    ****Please click on Accept As Solution if a suggestion solves your problem. It helps others facing the same problem to find a solution easily****
    2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

  • Norton AntiVirus for Mac.

    Greetings.
    I saw Norton AntiVirus for Mac in the market. Should we buy it and install it to secure our Mac?
    So far there is no virus can attack Mac OS right?
    Best regards.

    Norton is hopeless on windows, let alone on a mac. Don't bother. I run windows/mac on my macbook and have encountered several viruses all the time due to the large amount of things I download and not once has the virus crossed into my mac partition and I have rights to read/write to and from mac to NTFS and NTFS to mac partition.
    If you are that scared use Eset NOD32 through bootcamp in windows and do a complete scan on both partitions by using macdrive to access your mac partition.

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