Does Macbook Pro need an antivirus? And if so what program is recommended?

Ok, I've been reading a lot of articles debating over whether or not MBP needs an antivirus, long story short I came to the place where I figured the more knowledable people could help.
So does MBP need an antivirus? And if so which one would be recommended?

Yes and No
It depends upon the version of OS X, what Apple is doing to what OS X version under the hood, the compliance with corporate or school policy, if your dealing with Windows files or not.
It depends upon what kind of anti-virus: always on/at boot restrictive types, or run as you need it types.
It's also depends based upon current threat levels and if Apple is responding or not to current threats, which they sometimes don't do fast enough.
Gatekeeper is not going to clean Windows files of their filth, it only restricts programs runing on your machine from Apple or Apple vetted developers.
There is PLENTY of great software out there that Apple won't approve or on the AppStore or want to deal with Apple.
LittleSnitch, SnapZPro X and so forth won't get Apple clearance, doesn't mean they are malware, doesn't mean one should think they are no good or to deny themselves running them if one wishes.
Gatekeeper is B.S., it's supposed to give Apple a 2/3 advantage in deciding what runs on your machine.
OS X has been very secure for many years, even OS 9 etc was very secure, there is no need for Gatekeeper, never has been.
Read my User Tip about the subject.
Harden your Mac against malware attacks

Similar Messages

Does a Macbook Pro need AV software? If so what brand is recommended?

Does a Macbook Pro need AV software? If so what brand is recommended?

No, it doesn't.
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection
An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.
See these Apple articles:
          Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection
          OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          About file quarantine in OS X
If you require anti-virus protection I recommend using VirusBarrier Express 1.1.6 or Dr.Web Light both from the App Store. They're both free, and since they're from the App Store, they won't destabilize the system. (Thank you to Thomas Reed for these recommendations.)
From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:
The facts are:
1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.
2. There is no anti-malware that can detect anything targeting the Mac because there
     is no Mac malware in the wild, and therefore, no "signatures" to detect.
3. The very best way to prevent the most attacks is for you as the user to be aware that
     the most successful malware attacks rely on very sophisticated social engineering
     techniques preying on human avarice, ****, and fear.
4. Internet popups saying the FBI, NSA, Microsoft, your ISP has detected malware on
    your computer is intended to entice you to install their malware thinking it is a
    protection against malware.
5. Some of the anti-malware products on the market are worse than the malware
    from which they purport to protect you.
6. Be cautious where you go on the internet.
7. Only download anything from sites you know are safe.
8. Avoid links you receive in email, always be suspicious even if you get something
    you think is from a friend, but you were not expecting.
9. If there is any question in your mind, then assume it is malware.

Does MacBook Pro needs an antivirus?

Anybody there?

A computer Virus, is specific to an operating system. For example, if you receive an email with a virus for Windows Vista attached to it, YOU will not get the virus, as you are not running the Windows OS. If however, you forward that email to someone who does have Windows Vista computer, they can get the virus. If you forward to someone who has Windows XP, they won't get it, as they are not running Windows Vista. It is not impossible to get a virus, but is highly unlikely.
You can forwarded a virus in an email, but not have it yourself. Why do you think that you have a virus?
Running a virus protection software, is about the only way you can safe guard against this, however may not be necessary.
For ideas on what antivirus softwares you can use, try these links - http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/15850/clamxav. and http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-mac-home-ed ition.aspx.
You may also want to look here regarding Mac Malware / spyware - http://www.reedcorner.net/mmg/
If the above isn't the case, and you don't feel it is required that you have antivirus software installed, then don't install one.

Does a Macbook Pro need a antivirus software?

does the Macbook Pro need a antivirus software?

OS X doesn't need any antivirus as it already comes with security systems. Also, other antiviruses may slow down your Mac and most of them are useless, because they are only valid for detecting Windows viruses. In this case, it's a good idea to install an antivirus if you have files that you will transfer to PCs, because you can infect other PCs. Note that PC viruses don't affect to Macs (unless you are running Windows). Read > http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg
If you want an antivirus, run ClamXav or Sophos. These are the best ones for Mac

I am wondering if my MacBook Pro needs an AntiVirus Protection?

I am wondering if my MacBook Pro needs an AntiVirus Protection? Thank you.

JulietSNour wrote:
I am wondering if my MacBook Pro needs an AntiVirus Protection? Thank you.
OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it that way with software updates from Apple. If you choose to install Microsoft Windows on your MBP, that's another subject altogether.
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.

Does my macbook pro need any antivirus softwares?

Ive recently got a macbook 13inch pro laptop. I've heard that they don't need any antivirus protection programmes but the shop assistant in john lewis said did? some of the basic antivirus softwares are norton and comodo. Thanks

some of the basic antivirus softwares are norton and comodo.
Those are two of the worst examples.
There will always be threats to your information security associated with using any Internet - connected communications tool:
You can mitigate those threats by following commonsense practices
Delegating that responsibility to software is an ineffective defense
Assuming that any product will protect you from those threats is a hazardous attitude that is likely to result in neglecting point #1 above.
... I've heard that they don't need any antivirus protection programmes
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 "clean up", "speed up", "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources.
Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
"Questionable sources" include but are not limited to spontaneously appearing web pages or popups, download hosting sites such as C net dot com, Softonic dot com, Soft pedia dot com, Download dot com, Mac Update dot com, or any other site whose revenue is primarily derived from junk product advertisements.
If you need to install software that isn't available from the Mac App Store, obtain it only from legitimate sources authorized by the software's developer.
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 iCloud, 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.
Java can be disabled in System Preferences.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Beware spontaneous popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > check "Block popup windows".
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but unsolicited popups are commonly used to deceive people into installing unwanted software they would never intentionally install.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever receive a popup window indicating that your Mac is infected with some ick or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
The same goes for a spontaneously appearing dialog insisting that you upgrade your video player right this instant. Such popups are frequently associated with sites that promise to deliver "free" movies or other copyrighted content that is not normally "free".
The more insistent it is that you upgrade or install something, the more likely it is to be a scam. Close the window or tab and forget 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. Most of these attempts are pathetic and are easily recognized, but that hasn't stopped prominent public figures from recently succumbing to this age-old scam.
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.

Why does Macbook Pro have gray "curtain"and msg to shut down when playing video online?

Hi,
I have a MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard v 10.6.8 and have put on all the security updates.
I bought this machine just days after the newest MBP's were released with Lion because I wanted to stay with Snow Leopard
From the very beginning I would have occasional "gray screens" with a message that I'd encounterd a problem and needed to shut down. It always occured while I was watching a streaming video online (Flash?) but it didn't always happen. I updated my Flash plugin and that seemed to help. I use both Safari and FireFox and both are now updated to the latest versions.
I had also noticed via iCleanMemory that my memory availability was very low .....I always have many tabs open in my browsers and have backup software that backs up to online storage running and when I watched a video, it dropped to almost 0 and everything ran slow. I had 4 GB Ram.
So, I ordered new ram and put that in and now have 8 GB. Machine runs fast. Love it....except it keeps giving me that veil of gray and the message to shut down. It happens several times a day now and while usually in conjunction with watching a video clip, it's not always the case. But I have lots of available memory. That wasn't the issue.
I found an Apple Support paper relative to needing a video update on some mid 2010 MBP's and downloaded it. It won't install and says it won't run on my system so that didn't help.
I'm at my wits' end trying to keep this thing running. Everytime I have to shut it down it means a minimum of 8 min...sometimes more.....before it will restart. If I try to restart sooner than that, it begins to boot and then just has lines and lines of numbers and code running across it....and often continuous beeping sounds and I have to hold the button down to shut it off again. If I wait long enough, it does boot back up and sometimes runs fine as long as I'm not watching video clips, a streaming tv show or clicking on a lot of links in web pages.
I don't believe it has shut down when I was doing anything that wasn't web related....i.e. on a browser. And, when I was running with only 4 gb ram, it rarely shut down, just ran very, very slowly. Now with 8 gb ram it is speedy but doesn't seem to want to keep working!
Anyone have any ideas what I should try next?
Thanks
Paula

Hi Allan,
Thanks for your reply.
I have been closing iCleanMemory but the shut down (kernel panic) was still happening. Not sure how to go about uninstalling it as it's one that runs at start-up and dragging it to the trash might not get rid of it completely. I"ll find it's web site and see if they have any info.
Haven't checked your web link yet (it's late and gotta get to bed) but will do so tomorrow.
I also run Backblaze and DropBox that begin at startup and are constantly updating in the background, iStatMenus and Sharpshooter.
The kernel panics were happening....tho much less frequently.....before i put iClean Memory on. If I remember right, I installed it just because I had those periodic shut downs and wondered if it was a lack of memory. Because I then saw that memory was very low all the time, I decided I must need to put more memory in. And that seems to have made the issue worse while also making the machine work faster for the time it is running.
Now, I've been working on here for a couple of hours and had no problem at all......but I haven't asked it to play any kind of video. Before I quit for the night, I'll try to watch the last one I tried that caused it to shut down and see if it does it again.
I do appreciate your help as I have just enough knowledge about these things to be dangerous.
Paula

Stumbled on an online product called MacKeeper.   It says my MacBook Pro needs cleaning, etc. and will do it for free. Is this advisable?

Has anyone used MacKeeper? Is it safe to use to clean my Macbook Pro?

You both dont need it, and certainly do NOT want to get that.
Ignore MacKeeper at all costs
Do not use under any circumstances. See ...
Do not install MacKeeper: Apple Support Communitie
Thomas' Corner : Mac Malware Guide   and ...
              Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection

Does MacBook Pro need more than 4gb ram to run osx lion?

Machine is mid 2009, 4gb ram, 2.26 ghz processor. Since installing the operating system update and updates to iPhoto, most programs take a longer to load than originally. I have plenty of hard drive space available for virtual memory.
I have priced up adding ram, but want to be sure before I spend the money.

I think it is safe to say, yes Lion requires more RAM to run and maintain the OS compared to your previous Snow Leopard or Tiger. But still 2 GB of RAM is advertised as the minimum requirement.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4949
The new Mavericks does seem to manage memory better however the RAM requirement is the same.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5842
RAM is considered your best bang for the buck, if you do decide to upgrade.

My macbook pro magsafe stays green and wont charge ,what should i do ?

THe magsafe light stays green ,and wont charge even after 2 hours ,and whe i plug in the orange light does not appear

Let the battery drain to say 90% and then put in the charger, it should charge to 100%.
When you put the charger in when the battery is 95% or higher, it will not charge, the light stays green and the battery will stay at the percentage it has.
If charging does not start when the battery is low, there is something amiss: do the SMC reset.
Lex

I am going to buy a macbook pro for grade 12, and I need to know wheather I should get a macbook pro or a macbook pro retina. If someone could tell me (in a very simple way) which one is,better for me and why, I would be ever so apprreciative.

I am going to buy a macbook pro for grade 12, and I need to know wheather I should get a macbook pro or a macbook pro retina. If someone could tell me (in a very simple way) which one is,better for me and why, I would be ever so apprreciative.

Why do you need a expensive MacBook Pro?
Your attending high school and unless everyone else is rich also your likely going to be a target by the more poorer students for theft or damage to the machine.
You could keep it home, but if you need it for class then your exposed again.
Also at that age your not very careful yet, a MacBook Pro is a expensive and easily damaged machine.
Unless your made of money and so are others at your school, I would recommned a low profile, just does the job cheap Windows PC.
If it dies, gets lost, stolen or damaged because of your inexperince handling senstivie electronics then it's no big deal.
You can buy a Mac later on when your sure you have a need for it, currently there isn't much advantage of owning a Mac compared to a PC, they do just about the same things now, one just looks prettier than the other.
Since 95% of the world uses Windows PC's your going to have to install Windows on the Mac in order to keep your skills up there or be unemployed, so it's a extra headache and expense.
good luck

Do Macbook Pros need antivirus protection? if so, what is the best antivirus protection software?

Do Macbook Pros need antivirus protection? if so, what is the best antivirus protection software?

Mac OS X versions 10.6.7 and later have built-in detection of 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 is your own intelligence. All known Mac malware takes the form of trojans that can only operate 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 software, such as a “codec” or “plug-in,” that comes from that same site, or an unknown site, 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.
“Cracked” versions of commercial software downloaded from a bittorrent are likely to be infected.
Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. No intermediary is acceptable.
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 ClamXav -- nothing else.

If my iphone, ipad, MAC and macbook pro are all linked, and then I upgrade only my phone to iOS 7.0, does that have an effect on my calendar, etc. It doesn't seem to be showing the same data it was before the update. Lost lot of info from calendar.

If my iphone, ipad, MAC and macbook pro are all linked, and then I upgrade only my ipone to IOS 7.0, does that have an effect on the linking to my other MAC products. It seems my calendar has lost a lot of information since the upgrade.

If you purchased Lion for your iMac, just log into the Mac App Store from your MacBook using the Apple ID under which you purchased Lion and go to the Purchases page. You will be able to download and install Lion there.
searching the internet i found a link to upgrtade to 10.7
The only place you get get Lion is from the Mac App Store. If you found some other site, that was an illegal copy and almost certainly tied to someone else's Apple ID and hence unusable by you. If the link was just to the Mac App Store, see above.
As to the problem with synchronization to iCloud, that's not a 10.6 question, so I'd suggest you take up that specific issue in either the Lion or iCloud forums, providing full details, and someone there can probably help you sort things out.
Regards.

I have a early 2011 MacBook Pro upgraded to mavericks and windows 7 install cd what do I need to install bootcamp properly?

I have a early 2011 MacBook Pro upgraded to mavericks and windows 7 install cd what do I need to install bootcamp properly? I have the bootcamp assistant in my utilities folder but do I need an older version it's the 5. Something from mavericks and which drivers do I need my my computer?

Boot Camp Assistant is already installed.
Boot Camp 5.1- Frequently asked questions
Mac Basics- Using Windows on your Mac with Boot Camp
Boot Camp- Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8
Boot Camp- Installing Windows 7 Frequently Asked Questions

I have a mid 2010 macbook pro with 4GB memory and need to purchase an additional 4 GB. Do I need to purchase 8GB of memory to upgrade or can a 4GB upgrade be placed next to the existing memory?

I have a mid 2010 macbook pro with 4GB memory and need to purchase an additional 4 GB to. Do I need to purchase 8GB of memory to upgrade or can a 4GB upgrade be placed next to the existing memory?

You need to purchase 8 GBs as two 4 GB modules. Must meet these requirments:
Maximum Memory
8.0 GB
Memory Slots
2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

Does Macbook Pro need an antivirus? And if so what program is recommended?

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