I have yosemite, do I need virus or malware or spyware protection?

Are there things I should avoid doing online?

Allan Eckert wrote:
Just in case you missed it, no. In addition to slowing your Mac down, they cause problems rather then correcting them.
For starters avoid known questionable site such as torrent sites.
And any time a popup window appears offering to download software to test and/or protect your computer from malware treat it like the plague.
Apple does an excellent job of keeping current with known malware for the Mac and quickly releases updates to protect against them. So when you are prompted to install an OS X upgrade and it goes through the App Store, install the upgrade.

Similar Messages

  • Do I need to have any type of anti-virus or malware, spyware protection for my Macbook Pro?

    My Macbook is a year old. When I bought it, I was told by several people that I would not need any type of anti-virus software or anything to protect my computer because Mac did not get infected that often. However, I have had people today tell me that I do need protection for my computer. My Mac runs about as good as the day I got it, but I really don't want anything to happen to it. If I need to get an anti-virus, or malware/spyware software, what programs would y'all recomend? I am just looking for information. Thanks!

    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.
    If you find this comment too long or too technical, read only sections 5, 6, and 10.
    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 through any request for authorization without thinking.
    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. 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.
    10. As a Mac user you don't have to live in fear that your computer is going to be infected every time you install an application, read email, or visit a web page. But neither should you have the false idea that you will always be safe, no matter what you do. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

  • I have yosemite but i need java 6 to run one program.  how do i get java 6 installed?

    I need java 6 to work with a program i have, and i am running yosemite.  how do i get java 6 and still use the current version of java for my other apps?

    You can use the Apple provided Java installer:  Java for OS X 2014-001

  • Read the fixes and still having problems. Firefox will not open at all and I receive a crash report upon launch. Have restarted, shut down, run virus and malware checks and even tried downloading and reinstalling with no response. Please assist.

    Read the fixes. Cannot open Firefox in safe mode. Have tried reinstalling Firefox. Crash occurs each time I try to launch Firefox. Have run scans, checked for malware, spyware, installed all windows updates and still no luck.
    Have accessed my crash reports. One of the reasons indicated is:
    GenuineIntel family 6 model 23 stepping 10
    Crash Reason
    EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION_WRITE
    Have no idea how to fix this and have had crash reports since yesterday evening.
    Signature: nsStandardURL::SchemeIs(char const*, int*)

    Sorry believe something got miscommunicated. Wasn't trying to qualify firefox as malware - was terming it that way because the malware was crashing Firefox and no other issue. Worked on it and had isolated the virus in avast (put it in the chest) and was searching for assistance on why even after isolating the virus and restarting (some forums had indicated to then uninstall and reinstall Firefox, which I did), still would not launch without the crash report.
    Worked the problem and eventually installed a 5.0 version of Firefox and it launches. Only seems to have the crash report with 6.0 or higher.
    The forums had suggested that if after isolating the malware in avast or disinfecting it with MBAM (tried that too), to uninstall and then reinstall the latest version of firefox. That's when I tried the older versions. Had run a boot log scan as well and didn't see any additional problems. Just can't launch in 6.0 or higher.

  • Newbie to Mac - which must-have apps do I need?

    I just switched from PC to MacBook Pro. What are the must have apps that I have to have?  Do I need virus protection? Antispyware? I want an app to help me keep my Mac cleaned up. Is MacKeeper worth it? Should I stick with Safari or use something else? Is iPhoto all I need for my photos? Should I store my recorded videos in iPhoto videos or in Movies? Do I uninstall programs simply by dragging them to trash? Can you overcharge the battery? Should I unplug it after it's fully charged? Open to any and all advice! Loving my Mac!!!
    Cassandra in Gulfport, MS

    Browsers should set their own history number of days and quota for size, but they don't , and they can get 'carried away' with web caches, temp files, history. Safari even takes bookmarks and 'caches' it into individual files (so that Spotlight can find bookmarksj!)
    So yes I do. I don't like having to do so manually and think there are better ways.
    Chrome has and can get huge caches. Safari as well. Mozilla has "auto" and seems to try or you can manually set it to what you want.
    Any of the "cache" cleaners can be abused or over-used.
    I also like to "intelligently" remove ad-cookies and those that are not needed by me for web sites and that is another vote for using one and no OS X isn't smart enough to be totally self-sufficient.
    And all of that will fragment free space. Mac only deals with large files and works pretty well as long as there is "enough" free space to not be an issue. But then I find even cloning the system to a new drive - which also skips copyiing temp files and consolidates free space, works great and I do it regularly (the old drive becomes backup and use the clone as new boot drive).

  • My computer keeps freezing on me every 15 min do i have a virus I was told when you have mozilla firefox you don't need virus protection is that true and how can I scan if I have a virus and now do i get rid of it?

    # Question
    My computer keeps freezing on me every 15 min do i have a virus I was told when you have mozilla firefox you don't need virus protection is that true and how can I scan if I have a virus and now do i get rid of it? edit

    Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
    * Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
    See:
    * [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]
    * [[Troubleshooting plugins]]
    If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.
    * Use "Disable all add-ons" on the [[Safe mode]] start window to disable all extensions.
    * Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
    There are other things that need attention:
    Your above posted system details show outdated plugin(s) with known security and stability risks that you should update.
    # Shockwave Flash 10.0 r32
    # Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_21 for Mozilla browsers
    Update the [[Managing the Flash plugin|Flash]] plugin to the latest version.
    *http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
    Update the [[Java]] plugin to the latest version.
    *http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE)

  • My Macbook Pro tells me I need OS X 10.5 or higher to install essential software, but I already have Yosemite (10.10.1). What is going on?

    My Macbook Pro tells me I need OS X 10.5 or higher to install essential software, but I already have Yosemite (10.10.1). What is going on?

    This is it. Programming was done by idiots. People at schools IT department 20 or so full time positions know less then kids at Best Buy GeekSquad minimum wage part time, don't know or even want to call to find out. They just sit there and ask if the antivirus is upto date, I cant install your software that check the antivirus, "ITS NOT THE ANTIVIRUS". Three weeks and as always I have to find the fix myself. My god, why do I work for my money when I can just sit and collect it. Sorry for the rant.
    This fix works and needs to be loaded on the campus network.

  • My time machine backup disc has apps from Mountain Lion that won't open now that I have Yosemite.  They all say need to be upgraded to Yosemite. Go to app store. But app store sees that I have yosemite so doesn't even show me an udate option. How can

    My time machine backup disc has apps from Mountain Lion that won't open now that I have Yosemite.  They all say need to be upgraded to Yosemite. Go to app store. But app store sees that I have yosemite so doesn't even show me an udate option. How can Update these files??

    How do you know they won't run in Yosemite? You're not trying to fiddle with stuff in your backup from the Finder, are you? If so you are likely to render that backup unusable.
    WHen when you restore them from your backup, they should be updateable.

  • I upgraded to OS X Yosemite and now need to upgrade iPhoto. I have an Airport Time Capsule that I have not employed yet to backup all my (thousands of) photos. I know, I am a fool. That aside, will I lose my photos in the upgrade?

    I upgraded to OS X Yosemite and now need to upgrade iPhoto. I have an Airport Time Capsule sitting on my desk that I have not yet employed to backup all my (thousands of) photos. I know, I am a fool. That aside, will I lose my photos in the upgrade? I am desperate to backup my photos and now wonder if I should revert back to my previous operating system. Help!

    iPhoto Library is essentially a large datafile in which your photos are stored. iPhoto is an application you use to do things with the photos stored in the datafile. If you backup iPhoto Library then you have backed up all the photos stored in the library. It's iPhoto that links you to all those photos stored in iPhoto Library. All you need do is to copy iPhoto Library to a backup drive. If you are doing regular backups, then you are already making a copy of the iPhoto Library on the backup drive.

  • My Mpow Swift 4.0 Bluetooth Headphones can't connect to my Macbook Pro. I have Yosemite installed. At first I could connect them but now I can't. The MacbookPro says they are connected but they aren't. I need help.

    My Mpow Swift 4.0 Bluetooth Headphones can't connect to my Macbook Pro. I have Yosemite installed. At first I could connect them but now I can't. The MacbookPro says they are connected but they aren't. I need help

    This doesn't work for Soen Transit speakers. My MacBook pro (mid2010) running Yosemite has never found the speakers. I'm considering returning them to Apple. Also chances of it discoing my new iPad Air is 50/50. Any ideas?

  • Do I need to have Yosemite installed to download and activate creative cloud?

    Do I need to have Yosemite installed to download and activate creative cloud?

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  • I have lion and i need an anti virus. does mcafee cover lion?

    i have lion and i need an anti virus. does mcafee cover lion?

    No, it doesn't. So far they only have support for Snow Leopard.

  • I am using osx yosemite,Do i need antivirus in my pc?

    i am using osx yosemite,Do i need antivirus in my pc?

    Mac users often ask whether they should install "anti-virus" software. The answer usually given on ASC is "no." The answer is right, but it may give the wrong impression that there is no threat from what are loosely called "viruses." There  is a threat, and you need to educate yourself about it.
    1. This is a comment on what you should—and should not—do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the user's actions. 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 computer, or who has been able to take control of it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it.
    The comment is long because the issue is complex. The key points are in sections 5, 6, and 10.
    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. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
    The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; 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.
    As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
    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.
    Apple has so far failed to revoke the codesigning certificates of some known abusers, thereby diluting the value of Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. These failures don't involve App Store products, however.
    For the reasons given, App Store products, and—to a lesser extent—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. Sandbox security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
    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 effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
    5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they are not, and never will be, complete protection. Malware is a problem of human behavior, not machine behavior, and no technological fix alone is going to solve it. Trusting software to protect you will only make you more vulnerable.
    The best defense is always going to be 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 Internet criminals. If you're better informed than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some warning signs of danger.
    Software from an untrustworthy source
    ☞ Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website. Do not trust an alert from any website to update Flash, or your browser, or any other software. A genuine alert that Flash is outdated and blocked is shown on this support page. Follow the instructions on the support page in that case. Otherwise, assume that the alert is fake and someone is trying to scam you into installing malware. If you see such alerts on more than one website, ask for instructions.
    ☞ Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent, or Usenet, or on a website that also distributes pirated music or movies.
    ☞ Rogue websites such as Softonic, Soft32, and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
    ☞ The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web ads. Any ad, on any site, that includes a direct link to a download should be ignored.
    Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
    ☞ High-priced commercial software such as Photoshop is "cracked" or "free."
    ☞ An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission. All "YouTube downloaders" are in this category, though not all are necessarily malicious.
    Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
    ☞ A telephone caller or a web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
    ☞ A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
    ☞ You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
    ☞ Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you download an application of his choosing.
    ☞ A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
    ☞ Anything online that you would expect to pay for is "free."
    Unexpected events
    ☞ A file is downloaded automatically when you visit a web page, with no other action on your part. Delete any such file without opening it.
    ☞ You open what you think is a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file. Even if you don't get the alert, you should still delete any file that isn't what you expected it to be.
    ☞ An application does something you don't expect, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
    ☞ Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
    I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
    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 padlock icon in the address bar when visiting a secure site.
    Stay within the safe harbor, 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.
    7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" (AV) or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they are all worse than useless. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store—nothing else.
    Why shouldn't you use commercial AV products?
    ☞ To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. This technique is a proven failure, as a major AV software vendor has admitted. Most attacks are "zero-day"—that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based AV does not defend against such attacks, and the enterprise IT industry is coming to the realization that traditional AV software is worthless.
    ☞ Its 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, commercial AV 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 may also create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
    ☞ Most importantly, a false sense of security is dangerous.
    8. An AV product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject low-level code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. 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.
    An AV app is not needed, and cannot be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful, if at all, only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not really effective, because new Windows malware is emerging much faster than OS X malware.
    Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else. A malicious attachment in email is usually easy to recognize by the name alone. An actual example:
    London Terror Moovie.avi [124 spaces] Checked By Norton Antivirus.exe
    You don't need software to tell you that's a Windows trojan. Software may be able to tell you which trojan it is, but who cares? In practice, there's no reason to use recognition software unless an organizational policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in every email attachment until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, ClamXav or a similar product from the App Store may serve a purpose if it satisfies an ill-informed network administrator who says you must run some kind of AV application. It's free and it won't handicap the system.
    The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
    9. 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.
    10. As a Mac user, you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither can you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. Navigating the Internet is like walking the streets of a big city. It can be as safe or as dangerous as you choose to make it. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

  • I think I might have a virus or malware

    I know that the likelihood is very slim that I have a virus but I have been having some problems lately. Earlier I had my laptop on and then I closed it and when I opened it back up and typed my password in it kept saying it was wrong. I even checked to see if caps lock was on and it was not. I had to restart my laptop for it to work. I also opened firefox today and it said that it was the first time I used it when it was not. The "you have never used this application before." message popped up. My Internet has also been slow. Graphics/images have not been loading on the Internet or they're pixilated and take a long time to become the resolution the image is at. I also have been having trouble with charging. I will leave it unplugged and then I'll charge it but it will say "battery not charging" but it is plugged in and it shows that it is plugged in it is just not charging but it is still not decreasing in battery power. If it is not a virus what is it and how could I stop these glitches from happening? Thank you.

    Hi...
    Doubtfull it's a virus or malware.
    "battery not charging" but it is plugged in and it shows that it is plugged in it is just not charging but it is still not decreasing in battery power
    Try troubleshooting the MagSafe adapter
    If that didn't help, try Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
    And since there are numerous issues, the startup disk may need repairing.
    If you have Lion v10.7 insatlled, use Lion Recovery to repair the startup disk or reinstall the Mac OS X.
    If you have a prior Mac OS X installed, help here > Using Disk Utility to verify or repair disks
    And make sure there's enough free space on the startup disk.  Right or control click the MacintoshHD icon on your Desktop.
    Click Get Info. In the Get Info window you will see Capacity and Available. Make sure there's a minimum of 15% free disk space.

  • I have another computer that a virus may have taken over and I cannot log into it anymore.  I just downloaded Itunes on a new computer but most of my songs are not on there.  Is there a way to still access or find those songs?  Remotely or another way?  I

    I have another computer that a virus may have taken over and I cannot log into it anymore.  I just downloaded Itunes on a new computer but most of my songs are not on there.  Is there a way to still access or find those songs?  Remotely or another way?  Or do I need to take it to a tech to get my files off of my hard drive?

    Edit > Preferences > Store check Music under Automatic Downloads.
    Open the iTunes Store from left hand column, then select Purchasedfrom the column on the right, click the Not In My Library button and select the tunes you want to download again.
    That said, you seem to be under a misapprehension as to how iTunes works, or at least how it has worked in the past. It has, until recently, been up to you take care of your purchases once they have been downloaded. You had a one-time download which you were reminded to back up. With the recent change to this policy you can at least download your store purchases again, but having a personal backup of your iTunes store purchases, stuff purchased elsewhere and files ripped from your CDs will still be preferable to gathering all the stuff together again in the event of a disaster.
    For a backup strategy see this User Tip.
    tt2

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