Is really mac free of virus, plishing and so on ?
im new at mac and want to know if im safe ,is there realy no viruses or other thing to worry about?
There are no viruses, but that does not mean there is no malware, and phishing can bite anyone, regardless of OS. (Phishing involves fooling you to go to a site that looks like a real site and gets you to enter a password, giving hackers access to your account.)
For more information on this topic, see my Mac Malware Guide:
http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus
(Note that my pages contain links to other pages that promote my services, and this should not be taken as an endorsement of my services by Apple.)
Similar Messages
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Which product is the best to keep my mac free of viruses?
I have never put a security / spam protector on my mac. Do I need to and which product is the best?
Cumscheid wrote:
I have never put a security / spam protector on my mac. Do I need to...
No.
3rd Party AV Software is Not Needed...
Read Here > Antivirus Discussion
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 -
Hi looking for a bit of free anti - virus and firewall for osx 10.8.2
hi looking for a bit of free anti - virus and firewall for osx 10.8.2 any pointers also any one used Mac cleaner ?
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.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." 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.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets (see below.)
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 another 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 actually been tested by Apple (unless it comes from the Mac App Store), 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. For most practical purposes, applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed can be considered safe.
Gatekeeper 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 find some other way to evade Apple's controls.
For more information about Gatekeeper, see this Apple Support article.
4. Beyond XProtect and Gatekeeper, there’s no benefit, in most cases, from any other automated protection against malware. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. 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 reduces 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. How do you know whether a source is trustworthy?
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.
5. Java on the network (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related) is a weak point in the security of any operating system. If a Java web plugin is not installed, don't install one 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.
6. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" 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.
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.
7. 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 can 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. If you don't need to do that, avoid it. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.
8. The greatest danger posed by anti-virus software, in my opinion, is its effect on human behavior. When people install such software, which does little or nothing to protect them from emerging threats, they get a false sense of security from it, and then they may do things that make them more vulnerable. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.
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. -
theres are free upgrade for my mac on our apple store and i cant seem to download it, theres are free upgrade for my mac on our apple store and i cant seem to download it?
It'd be really helpful it you told us what the upgrade is, which Mac you currently have, and what OS you're currently using. And you only need to say it once.
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Hello.
Recently a new free anti-virus came out at App Store.
I had already VirusBarrier free... no problem until now.
I was wondering if this new Virus Bitdefender is really better.
Is there any problem if I install both of them?
ThanksThere seems to be a bias in favor of ClamXAV among the communities users, have you tried that AV software?
Installing more than one is usually not a good idea as they will see the virus signature definitions in each other and think there is a problem. -
it should be all the MacBook Pro mid 2010 with symptoms, there should get their logic board changed for free, mine mac is 3 month late and i had this problem for over a year, but i first saw this article today
Hey Clintonfrombirmingham
I called Apple technical support in Denmark, but with no positive reply.
She couldn't do anything, and said that They had sent a recall Email about the problem and with their offer to repair the Macbook Pro, but I'd never recieved an Email about the problem. She wasn't in power to make an exception. It can't be true that i paid a lot of money, for a product that can't barely stand on its own feets, Apple didn't tell me that the product I was about to buy, would restart every 5 minute. and now when they know the problem, they wont repair it? it just don't make sense for me. If a car seller discovers that all the brakes in a car he had sold, will crash after some years he will call all the cars back to repair no mater what. i just don't understand how Apple will make good service for their custumers, by extending the warranty from 2 to 3 years, but wont take the computers there is a little bit to old, 4 months will make the difference. i can't believe it.
What can i do now?
best regards Oskar -
What is the latest update available for Mac OSX 10.5.8 that will allow me to get the latest update for iTunes. I really need to update my iPhone and CAN'T!! GRRRR!!!
Minimally you need Snow Leopard or greater:
Upgrade Paths to Snow Leopard, Lion, and/or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. To access the App Store you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later installed.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard — Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mountain Lion if your computer meets the requirements.
Snow Leopard General Requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
2. 1GB of memory
3. 5GB of available disk space
4. DVD drive for installation
5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
fees may apply.
6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
terms apply.
Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mountain Lion, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service — this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
Lion System Requirements
1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
or Xeon processor
2. 2GB of memory
3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
4. 7GB of available space
5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Upgrading to Mountain Lion
To upgrade to Mountain Lion you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Purchase and download Mountain Lion from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Mountain Lion is $19.99 plus tax. The file is quite large, over 4 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
OS X Mountain Lion — System Requirements
Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 7,1 or later
2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) —
Model Identifier 5,1 or later
3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 2,1 or later
5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
7. Xserve (Early 2009) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
Are my applications compatible?
See App Compatibility Table — RoaringApps.
For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion. -
what is the best virus remover and protector for 10.5.8 version of mac os x??? I have this thing called macprotector that keeps popping up and trying to get into my computer. I have heard of a maleware remover...
First you do NOT I repeat DO NOT have a virus, currently there are no virus's for OS X. This means you do not need antivirus software, if you insist on installing antivirus software then I'd recommend ClamXav. You have what is called a Trojan, the primary difference between the two is the user has to give permission for a Trojan to download and install itself. The one you got is going around right now however the good news it's quite easy to get rid of. Please read the following article for instructions.
Malware Removal
Roger -
Hi.. I'm new to mac, I've got a mac book air and time capsule is it possible to save music,video from iTunes Store directly to time capsule leaving my 128GB Mac free? If so please help..
You can move your iTunes library.. Apple have explicit instructions to do it. If the library is moved to the TC and accessed over wireless, the efficiency of the whole system will drop dramatically..
A file you download goes.. Modem---TC--Laptop--Back to TC--Store on disk. Double looping the wireless slows it dramatically..
As far as using TC for your iTunes.. you CAN.. but SHOULD YOU?
Store files on the TC.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/24380694#24380694
This is asked several times a day.. obviously people are struggling with their latest SSD being too small.
The TC is not suitable for network file server.. but many people having no choice press it into service as such.
It cannot be partitioned. It was and is and ever shall be a backup device for Time Machine.
Major issues.
1. No backup.. no way Time Machine can backup a network drive. No place to backup to.. So all your files will be at risk. And you will need to buy a third party like CCC to do backup.
2. The TC cannot be partitioned and mixing TM backups and data is not great.
3. The drive is slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. there is no controls.
4. iPhoto in particular can easily corrupt its entire library with wireless networking causing a disconnection to one photo. Even if you do this;;; do not move your photo library... you have been warned!!
5. iTunes will constantly lose connection to the library. The disk is too slow to respond.. itunes on the computer will constantly spit out errors. Even in the midst of streaming the TC can spin down the disk due to caching.
6. Do not use any live files on the TC no matter what else you do.. if you edit files in whatever program the file must be on the local hard disk.
7. The only suitable location for most libraries is a computer. You can plug in an external hard disk.
Read pondini for some work arounds.
Q3 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html -
I have a 6.1.6. MAC desktop and my on-line bank has recommended I download separate anti-virus software and turn on Firewall
Please advise
Thank you
KarinbandI concur with Etresoft. If they persist in their demands for you to install AV software and turning on a firewall, ask to speak to a manager of the bank and suggest to them that you are seriously considering changing banks. That usually changes their tune.
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How can I reset my Mac to default settings? Or how can I reset it to a prior date? My Mac has a virus and I would like to get rid of it. I would appreciate your help concerning this matter.
To restore it follow these instructions: What to do before selling or giving away your Mac.
Before you do the above check out the following;
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Problems
If you are having an immediate problem with ads popping up see The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide, AdwareMedic, or Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac - Apple Support.
Open Safari, select Preferences from the Safari menu. Click on Extensions icon in the toolbar. Disable all Extensions. If this stops your problem, then re-enable them one by one until the problem returns. Now remove that extension as it is causing the problem.
The following comes from user stevejobsfan0123. I have made minor changes to adapt to this presentation.
Fix Some Browser Pop-ups That Take Over Safari.
Common pop-ups include a message saying the government has seized your computer and you must pay to have it released (often called "Moneypak"), or a phony message saying that your computer has been infected, and you need to call a tech support number (sometimes claiming to be Apple) to get it resolved. First, understand that these pop-ups are not caused by a virus and your computer has not been affected. This "hijack" is limited to your web browser. Also understand that these messages are scams, so do not pay any money, call the listed number, or provide any personal information. This article will outline the solution to dismiss the pop-up.
Quit Safari
Usually, these pop-ups will not go away by either clicking "OK" or "Cancel." Furthermore, several menus in the menu bar may become disabled and show in gray, including the option to quit Safari. You will likely have to force quit Safari. To do this, press Command + option + esc, select Safari, and press Force Quit.
Relaunch Safari
If you relaunch Safari, the page will reopen. To prevent this from happening, hold down the 'Shift' key while opening Safari. This will prevent windows from the last time Safari was running from reopening.
This will not work in all cases. The shift key must be held at the right time, and in some cases, even if done correctly, the window reappears. In these circumstances, after force quitting Safari, turn off Wi-Fi or disconnect Ethernet, depending on how you connect to the Internet. Then relaunch Safari normally. It will try to reload the malicious webpage, but without a connection, it won't be able to. Navigate away from that page by entering a different URL, i.e. www.apple.com, and trying to load it. Now you can reconnect to the Internet, and the page you entered will appear rather than the malicious one. -
When I bought my Mac they gave me a free hp printer. My mac is a 10.7 and the printer is for 10.6 and below.... so why did they give me this printer? Can I use it somehow or should I ask for a different one that is compatible with my computer?
Can I use it somehow or should I ask for a different one that is compatible with my computer?
No, that's not necessary.
You Mac most likely sat in inventory before it was sold so the latest drivers were not installed.
If you tried using the printer and couldn'tget it to work, go here > http://www8.hp.com/us/en/support-drivers.html
If this is a USB connected printer, make sure it's connected to your Mac, then at that link click: Detect Your Product
Download and install drivers for v10.7 / Lion. -
i have purchased my new mac book pro retina display 2 weeks , should i get mountain lion upgrade for free !!! and how to download my free copy..?
i'm from Australia, i have used your link to register , when i have given my details, its showing my country is United states.. is there any separete link form AUS?
cheers.
john -
I had installed Maverick on two computers. The firs one is a new MacMini that my husband purchased last week. When I had installed Maverick the applications Numbers and Keynote were free and installed on his computer. When I do the same on my iMac, I had to pay 19,99$ for each applications. We have two differents Apple ID. Why I do pay for these applications when those were free for the iMac and in the add Apple say it's free? Or, is somebody can tell me how to installed those for free.
Thank you.They are only free via the account orginally purchased or if they came pre installed on the computer. Depending on what you have purchased already us the one account for the app store - saves headace and hassel in the future thus not double buying software. Do you have iwork installed on your imac? meaning the iwork 09? if you do your should be able to to to the store and update it. Worked fine for me since i bought the DVD version of iwork 09 and Aperture 3. I did not want to have to rebuy them so the app store noticed i had them installed and changed the update via the app store.
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I have never used my mac for desktop publishing before and am running into some real problems. How do you put a border around a text box? Can you edit the border - color, thickness, etc.? Help!
I think the best solution is to read Pages documentation, go to Help and you have a long list of options. Pages is capable of quite sophisticated things, some features are above Nisus or Mellel, so it is not so simple to summarize things in a few lines.
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