Functional Security Software for Snow Leopard?

Hi everyone. I just made the move to Snow Leopard (10.6.1), and I'm curious about what security software is decent and available for SL. My school provides access to Symantec AntiVirus for OS X, but unfortunately the only version they provide is incompatible with Snow Leopard. I've been trying out ClamXAV, but on Snow Leopard it crashes quite frequently, and isn't very good at catching threats. I can't find much else out there that might be a good security solution...
Today during a scan ClamXAV caught something called "PHP.Defash.B" in my Opera cache folders. I deleted the file, but I know it's never that easy! I never thought I'd see the day when a Mac could be infected by anything, but I'm slowly realizing that times are changing. Can anyone tell me what software would be best to use to keep things secure and stable, preventing Trojans, Hacks, and other malware? Thanks!
Message was edited by: Carbonyl

Snow Leopard's anti-malware measure has been regarded as rudimentary at best.
The only complaint I've seen has been a claim that it only scans things that have been downloaded by Safari, but I only saw that in one place and have no way to verify whether or not it is true. It's hard to find malware information that doesn't come from the makers of anti-malware software, which can hardly be considered unbiased sources. They want you to buy their software, after all!
If you've found a decent source where someone not affiliated with one of these companies has done some testing, I'd like to see it. (Not being sarcastic... I really would like more information, which seems to be sparse so far. Everyone seems to be taking Intego's word on the matter despite their obvious bias.)
It's limited to two trojans, and doesn't seem to be something that will evolve over time.
Currently, all Mac trojans in the wild are variants of the two that are detected. Whether or not this means that it will detect all these variants is unclear, but it seems odd that Apple would spend the resources to add this feature and not spend a tiny fraction more to add definitions that would match all current Mac trojans. Until I see a report from an unbiased source saying "I tested every known Mac trojan (and here's a list) and it didn't detect these," I'm going to assume that Apple didn't do something that makes no sense whatsoever.
As to whether it will evolve over time, I'm not sure why you think it wouldn't. The current design makes it very easy to update a single, small definitions file with a security update.

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Don, I did check with the update and I must have installed it because there is nothing available. This problem started yesterday, 2/11/12 and is continuing today.
I am checking to see if the update is the issue, or if my computer has a different issue. The only problem seems to be the disk spinning at wake up from sleep. I can shut down and reboot. Thankfully.

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do a hard shutdown of the mac (holding down the power button until it shuts off) then do an SMC reset, the following article tells how to do this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
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The ntp-4.2.8 folder that's created when you download the /ntp-4.2.8.tar.gz file and unzip it. Inside it are subfolders, such as clockstuff w/propdelay.o and libntp w/a_md5encrypt.o, assertions.o, atoint.o, etc. Many .o files abound.
OK, but this isn't .o, it's -o. I don't know of any file extension that uses the - hyphen. Are there any?
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Security updates for snow leopard

Hello Apple People,
I seem to be getting conflicting advice around upgrading my browser.
I'm on Snow Leopard on a mid-2009 Macbook. As I'm not receiving security updates and there are some websites telling me I need to upgrade, I decided to buy Mountain Lion from the online Apple Store. I couldn't redeem the code. I spoke with Apple who said I didn't need to get ML anyway, that I'd been given the wrong advice in-store and that I can go straight to Yosemite. They are refunding me which is good. Still, I'm no further ahead. I had prepared the way for upgrading: added 2GB RAM so I have 4GB. I've installed Office 2011 so that I shouldn't lose my Word 2004 docs. I have an external hard drive that I back up using Time Machine.
My concern is that I am vulnerable security-wise. Can anyone suggest what I do next? Maybe maximise my security settings? How can I find these?
Thanks.

Nothing compels you to keep using Safari. Firefox and Chrome work very well with Snow Leopard and are kept up to date. Interesting that the people who handled your problem with Mountain Lion were so eager to push you to Yosemite, rather than fix the problem.
The other thing you can do right now is go into your System Preferences/Date & Time and turn off "Set date and time automatically". You can fix this vulnerability yourself with a little not-too-difficult work:
http://www.macissues.com/2014/12/24/how-to-manually-patch-ntp-for-os-x-10-6-and- 10-7/
I am not at all expert in using Terminal to do stuff like this, but I was able to assemble the necessary peices and get it done. It is well worth it to me to be able to keep using the best OS Apple has produced in the OS X era.
Regardless of which one you choose, there is no support for older apps that dowork with Snow Leopard because it has Rosetta, which allows continued use of PPC applications. Sounds like you are preparing for that end of things.
There are many changes to the user interface in both Mountain Lion and Yosemite, and they are generally not improvements. There are problems with improper external disk ejection in both of them that will apparently never be fixed by Apple. You should make a bootable clone of your Snow Leopard system in case you want or need to keep using it. This would involve using an external HD other than your current Time Machine disk. Not a big expense, as it affords you an additional, fully functional backup, and it would be better than burning your bridges by installing over your currently functioning system.

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The original one did have such issues.
The revised v. 1.1 version got rid of those issues.
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Is Apple going to release a security update for Snow Leopard to patch the new 'bash' bug?

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STWriter wrote:
OSx 10.6.8 IS INFECTED TOO -- news says ALL for about 25 YEARS !
I posted a site link -- check the thread.
10.6 does have the bash bug (I confirmed that a few replies back in this thread, and I mentioned the 25 years in another reply to this thread). But that is NOT an infection. Bash did not catch it. The bug was not put there on purpose. And the bug itself does not actively do anything. It is a flaw that can allow a web server using server side scripts written in the bash shell scripting language, or a server side script that invokes bash. Or a user that allows anonymous remote ssh logins. Or has enabled the CUPS web management interface.
All of which was said before in this thread. Along with why it is most likely not a problem for the typical Mac consumer.
This is a serious problem for many web servers. And there are instructions for patching bash (see above).
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Check the Apple link below.
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FileMaker Pro

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http://www.yousoftware.com/desktops/desktops.php
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Correct me if i'm wrong, but spaces is really only spaces in wich you can put different programs in. Not different desktops, with seperate files on echt desktop, different backgrounds, maybe different docks.
I don't think there's ever been a virtual desktop application for the Mac that allowed for separate files on each desktop, nor different docks.
This app
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Regards
TD

Have updated from Snow Leopard to Lion with Safari Version 5.0.5. Now I can not update to Safari 5.1. There is no update in the Software Updater, and on the apple-download page, I only found a Safari 5.1 for Snow Leopard. When executing it, there is an e

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https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/mac_os_x_technologies#/?tagSet=10 48

I have a macbook pro and the software with snow leopard only has upgraded to 10.5.8, do I need to purchase mountain lion to upgrade to 10.6.8?

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But only as part of a recent security update. Still, those still with Snow should take advantage of the security upgrades that we thought would not happen.
Available through Software Update.

Are you kidding? That would be a HUGE step backward. It's almost as if Apple snuck this into the security update just so they could sabotage Safari for Snow Leopard. Is Apple that desperate to get us to leave 10.6.8 and go to Mountain Lion?
It's really screwed up that I'm now going to avoid a security update just because Apple decided to sneak a Safari update inside of it. This is a highly unusual and suspect way to "update" Safari.
Can anyone else verify tking13's issue?
tking13 wrote:
Has anyone else noticed the old flashing page bug (page goes white when switching tabs). I have a bunch of tabs open at a given time (100+) and the problem has returned with 5.1.8 (they had resolved it with an earlier update).
Tim King

Functional Security Software for Snow Leopard?

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