Recommendations for anti-virus software OS X Mountatin lion

Just bought a mac and am looking for suggestions for anti-virus software.

Tony S. Wu wrote:
OS X does not come with any anti-virus
Yes it does:
Quarantine
GateKeeper
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
OS X Mavericks- Protect your Mac from malware
There is also a Malware Removal Tool (MRT) that will run once with each OS X Security update that you install. It's designed to remove all commonly found OS X malware that might have previously been installed and not yet detected.
There is a feature in Safari (and several other browsers) that monitors your browsing habits and will alert you before visiting any site that Google's Safe Browsing system has recorded as dangerous. Make sure that option is enabled in Safari Preference->Security->Fraudulent sites:.

Similar Messages

What is recommended for anti virus software?

I had a free copy of Grisoft AVG 7.0 antivirus on my PC...but now am a convert to a new Intel Duo 2 Core system...
Haven't seen much information up front on advice for anti virus software, have heard it said Macs don't really need it.
So...what is the low down and heads up on this? Is it best to have it?
Typically...anti virus software tends to go deep deep into the system, and will this affect the operating systems of OS X ???
thanks...

Apple recommends that we all use antivirus software; Mac OS: Antivirus Utilities. They know that evil people will be trying to write virus for Mac OS X.
I use ClamXav. It is free. It is continually supported and I update the virus definitions daily. It has never caused an issue, but has alerted me to a number of PC virii. It monitors my Downloads folder and my email.

Recommendation for Anti Virus software

Hi Folks,
Can someone please recommend a good anti virus program? Thank you.

John:
There is no known virus for Mac OS X and most Mac users never use a-v software. If you are running Windows either in BootCamp or an emulator like VMware Fusion or Parallels, a-v software like MaAfee is recommended. That said, some Mac OS X users feel more comfortable using a-v software, and many of them use ClamXav.
cornelius

Please recommend good Anti-Virus software?

for my PowerBook 4?
I heard that virus and some spy-ware? are safer or mostly not harmful on Macintosh. I don't know about it correctly and didn't think about it seriously.
But I heard that if some spy-ware? like virus or something is on my computer, other people can spy what I'm doing and get my personal information. Is that true? Are there good resources I can read about them seriously? Also, please recommend good Anti-Virus software.
Thanks much in advance!

I searched and found there is one Anti-Virus software for Mac. (but not sure though) There is Norton Anti-Virus 10.1.
Even though I feel like my Mac PBG4 doesn't have any problems, there could lots of virus on my PBG4?
I read an article (from MacWorld's buying advice) and it says that "...if you’re just going to try it out, be careful about all the components it installs on your Mac..."
I'm not quite sure about the point of this advice. Do you recommend to install it if I'm not quite serious about it? Still, I'm concerned about my all the personal information and important data on my PBG4 and so on.
Thanks for advices and comments!
Message was edited by: blue sky

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANTI-SPAM SOFTWARE?

Hello !
Can anyone recommend a good anti-spam software to purchase? I have a new MAC and I use Netscape Navigator for my mail managing system. I really want to be able to block out some email users from my account - but on MAC.com we don't get that option (like we can on Yahoo for example).
So any recommendations for anti-spam software?
Thank you! Pam

Set "Rules" in "Preferences," in the "Mail" application, to delete: "Sender is not in my Address Book", and "Sender is not in my Previous Recipients."
I have resorted to that BOLD move because of all the spam I was receiving that started several weeks ago. The spam was a graphic in the body of the email, which no rule would touch, except for the one as stated above, nor could it be bounced back.
It is working very well, and I am not using any other anti-spam software.
Paula
iMac 1.9 GHz PowerPC G5 1.5 GB DDR2 SDRAM (Owned a Mac since 1984!) Mac OS X (10.4.6) Slot Loading 8X Dual Layer SuperDrive, iSight & Apple Remote; iPod Video

Suggestions for anti-virus softwares?

Hi everyone,
I recently brought a Macbook Pro and is preparing to set it up with different softwares. Right now, I am still not sure which anti-virus software I should use for the macbook pro. I have read online articles recommending Norton, Intego, and McAfee.
Can anyone please give me some suggestions or pros & cons to which anti-virus software I should use?
Thanks everyone!

XProtect works with all applications that set the "quarantine" attribute on downloaded files.
I'm not questioning your expertise, but how exactly do you know that? I'd definitely like to read more about it, and especially the "'quarantine' attribute".
It may not be something Apple publishes in its ads, but it's documented in Apple's developer documentation. See (search these documents for "quarantine"):
http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#releasenotes/MacOSX/WhatsNewInOSX/Articl es/MacOSX10_5.html
http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#releasenotes/Carbon/RN-LaunchServices/_i ndex.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40001369
http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/General/Reference/InfoPlist KeyReference/InfoPlistKeyReference.pdf
Apple is, as usual, a bit tight-lipped about XProtect, but I can assure you that XProtect's action is tied directly to the quarantine system. I have verified this through testing with a collection of malware. If the quarantine attribute is set on a piece of malware, trying to open it triggers an XProtect warning. If the quarantine attribute is not set, you can open it freely, with no warning.
That includes all built-in Aqua applications
By "built-in" I assume you mean Apple apps bundled with the OS. (Just making sure.)
That is correct.
other popular web browsers and mail clients.
And what if I'd like to use an unpopular browser?
You might not be a believer in popularity, but if a browser does not implement this feature as Apple has recommended to all developers, you'd be wise to avoid it, as they've dropped the ball. If a browser developer drops an easy ball like this, there are likely to be many other balls on the floor that you haven't seen.
How exactly do I find out if it's on 'the list'?
Carolyn posted a link to my Mac Malware Guide earlier... if you read that, it'll tell you. Basically, if you've got a question as to whether a browser or other file downloader complies with Apple's developer guidelines on this topic, just download a known good app from a known good site. If you can then open that app without a warning, saying the app was downloaded and asking if you're sure you want to open it, then that downloader is unsafe. (Of course, if you have disabled those quarantine warnings, this test does not apply, but that doesn't matter as you've pretty thoroughly turned off all the built-in malware protection anyway.)
And why is this 'list' such a secret, anyway?
There's really no secret involved, it's just a feature that most apps implement (since it's easy to do) and few users care whether it's there or not. It's not talked about, but it's no secret, in the same way that you probably never think or talk about the catalytic converter in your car.

Recommendations for anti-virus, spyware for mac.

Any suggestions for virus, spyware programs or is the OS strong enough to do without?

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 "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.

What's the best anti virus software for the Mac?

My Power Mac G4 (OSX 10.6.8) has possible been infected with a virus. Can anyone recommend good anti virus software?

Besides ClamXav, you might also consider Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition. It is also free (for non-commercial use) & shares some features (most importantly the same malware definition database) with that company's commercial AV products.
I have been using it for over a year. It has never caused any problems or slowed down my Macs in any noticeable way. The interface is very polished & Mac-like, easy to use & preconfigured with the options enabled that give you maximum protection & control over detected threats.
Compared to ClamXav, its database seems more complete & more quickly updated when new malware variants appear, & its "on access" scanner seems (to me anyway) to be a better approach to 'always on' scanning than ClamXav's Sentry (available only in the download from www.clamxav.com, not in the Mac App Store version).
Also, ClamXav can have problems scanning an entire hard drive (see http://www.clamxav.com/faq.php#Q7). You don't need to do this often: if you have some 'on access' type scanner running you really only need to scan the entire drive once to make sure nothing harmful was installed before you started using the software. Sophos does this with its configurable "on demand" scanner. It takes a very long time to complete, especially if you set it to check inside compressed files (zips, dmg's, etc.), but it doesn't hang like ClamXav might.

Anti-virus software recommendation

Would anyone be able to recommend an anti-virus software for my PowerBook? I frequently exchange files with Windows XP.

There is quite a bit of debate over the need for an AV program on a Mac, but if you want to use one, I think ClamXav is the one to use.
www.clamxav.com

What anti virus software is recommended for iphone 3gs

what anti-virus software is recommended for iphone 3GS?

You don't need it for an iPhone, assuming that you have not made any unauthorised changes to the OS, such as jailbreaking.

Who can recommend a functional anti virus software for imac and macbaook

Alarm! Great problems with Internet Banking!
Access closed by bank because of "Trojaner" on my imac. Can't believe.
Who can recommend a good anti virus software for imac, macbook and even ipad?
Thanks for helping
Eva

ClamXav.
You will find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435
The User Tip (which you are welcome to print out and retain for future reference) seeks to offer guidance on the main security threats and how to avoid them.
More useful information can also be found here:
http://www.reedcorner.net/mmg/

Any Anti-Virus software for E51 to recommend?

Want to download a anti-virus software not toosure which is the best? any helpers?

Why...?
Fact: there are NO viruses for any Symbian OS 9 smartphone -
http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/viruses.htm
Edit:
here is the boss of symbian on the subject:
http://www.symbian.com/symbianos/insight/insight9.html
Message Edited by peterf on 08-Feb-2008 06:31 AM

Once and for all: Do I need anti-virus software for my Mac?

I've always heard that you don't really need anti-virus or anti-spyware software for Macs - but I do wonder that there has to be viruses about that would affect Macs?
I do alot of creative and professional work on my Mac. The data on it, means a **** of a lot to me, and I'd hate for my Mac to be infected with something horrible.
Could anybody please tell me if I really do need anti-virus or anti-spyware software for my iMac? And if I do, which one do you recommend? (Ideally I would want it to be cheap and not hog lots of system resources)...
Thank you!

Hi
I can only give you my personal experience on this one.
The short answer is "no". I've been using macs for the past 4 years, my partner for many more. Neither I nor she have an anti virus program installed.
We both use firewall on both the os x setup and via our router. I tend to install the security updates posted by apple after they are released and check the forums to be aware of any potential problems.
A much better idea is to back up your important projects etc on a regular basis to dvd and external hard disk.
I have one experience of anti-virus software on the mac:
About 2.5 years ago i thought i had a virus - my diskspace was being eaten up at a very very fast rate - and i was worried. Found out that the os update from 10.3.2 to 10.3.5 had an incompatability issue with the mcafee shock game controller driver (obscure eh!)
Anyway, after this experience and deleting the driver which i no longer needed, i decided to err on the side of caution and tried out both mcafee and norton. Both of which slowed down my system and norton especially caused problems when i was running logic pro etc. really really annoying.
Once i'd got over my "insecure" stage and having spoken to other mac users i realised anti-virus software was causing many many more issues than resolving any - and besides since then i have still had no problems and have never come across any viruses on mac os x.
It all depends on what makes you feel safer. Personally i wouldn't recommend ant-virus programs... i wonder if anyone has any positive experiences of anti-virus software on the mac?
that's my 0.02 pence

Shall i buy anti virus software for my MAC pro lion

Do I need to install anti-virus software for my Mac pro?

You do not need any anti-virus for a Mac.
Do not download any software from the web to protect your Mac.
Apple releases updates that will offer all the protection a Mac needs.
Keep the software updated.
Many in this community use ClamXav and recommend using it.
Best.

What is Apple's position on Anti-virus software for the mac?

I have started replacing my customers PCs with iMac's and Mac-Mini, and I have always operated on the assumption that anti-virus software is not necessary, but I fear that my opinion might need revisiting. So I would pose the question again, does the community and/or Apple have an opinion on the need for Anti-Virus, Malware and all the other nasty inflictions. If you, as a group or individually do recommend, what product would you recommend? Thank You --- Bill Shaw - Kansas City, Mo.

This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an attacker who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files. The recognition database is automatically updated once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders. In most cases, there’s no benefit from any other automated protection against malware. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there is another layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications that are downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Applications certified in this way haven't actually been tested by Apple (unless they come from the Mac App Store), but you can be sure that they haven't been modified by anyone other than the developer, and his identity is known, so he could be held responsible if he knowingly released malware. For most practical purposes, applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed can be considered safe. Note, however, that there are some caveats concerning Gatekeeper:
It doesn't apply to software that comes packaged as an installer. Treat all third-party installers with caution.
It can be disabled or overridden by the user.
It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets (see below.)
It only applies to applications downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
For more information about Gatekeeper, see this Apple Support article. Notwithstanding the above, the most effective defense against malware attacks is your own intelligence. All known malware on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. If you're smarter than the malware attacker thinks you are, you won't be duped. That means, primarily, that you never install software from an untrustworthy source. How do you know a source is untrustworthy?
Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. [Some reputable websites did legitimately warn users who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.]
“Cracked” copies of commercial software downloaded from a bittorrent are likely to be infected.
Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. No intermediary is acceptable.
Java on the network (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related) is always a potential weak spot in the security of any operating system. If a Java web plugin is not installed, don't install it unless you really need it. If it is installed, you should disable it (not JavaScript) in your web browsers. Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you won’t be missing much. This setting is mandatory in OS X 10.5.8 or earlier, because Java in those obsolete versions has known security flaws that make it unsafe to use on the Internet. The flaws will never be fixed. Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java can never be fully trusted, even if no vulnerabilities are publicly known at the moment.
Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can reasonably be.
Never install any commercial "anti-virus" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav — nothing else.
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 filesystem. Malware gets into the system by being downloaded, not by materializing from nowhere.
In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability and poor performance.
By modifying the system at a low level, the software itself may create vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware attackers.
ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks.

Recommendations for anti-virus software OS X Mountatin lion

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