Should I download an antivirus for my MacBook Pro?

I'm new to Mac and I just got a MacBook Pro today for college. I understand that Macs are resistant to viruses but would it be a good idea to download an antivirus anyway as an extra precaution or is that just a waste of time?

Never felt the need myself...
See Here  >  Antivirus Discussion
More Info Here  >  http://www.reedcorner.net/mmg/

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  • Do i need security/antivirus for mac macbook pro 15/ 2013

    do i need security/antivirus for my macbook pro 15 2013

    do i need security/antivirus for my macbook pro 15 2013
    If you are using OS X you already have it.
    There will always be threats to your information security associated with using any Internet - connected communications tool:
    You can mitigate those threats by following commonsense practices
    Delegating that responsibility to software is an ineffective defense
    Assuming that any product will protect you from those threats is a hazardous attitude that is likely to result in neglecting point #1 above.
    OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it that way with software updates from Apple.
    A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":
    Never install any product that claims to "clean up", "speed up",  "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.
    Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources.
    Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
    "Questionable sources" include but are not limited to spontaneously appearing web pages or popups, download hosting sites such as C net dot com, Softonic dot com, Soft pedia dot com, Download dot com, Mac Update dot com, or any other site whose revenue is primarily derived from junk product advertisements.
    If you need to install software that isn't available from the Mac App Store, obtain it only from legitimate sources authorized by the software's developer.
    Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
    Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
    Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
    Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
    Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iCloud, iTunes, or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
    Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
    Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
    Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
    Java can be disabled in System Preferences.
    Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
    Beware spontaneous popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > check "Block popup windows".
    Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but unsolicited popups are commonly used to deceive people into installing unwanted software they would never intentionally install.
    Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
    If you ever receive a popup window indicating that your Mac is infected with some ick or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
    The same goes for a spontaneously appearing dialog insisting that you upgrade your video player right this instant. Such popups are frequently associated with sites that promise to deliver "free" movies or other copyrighted content that is not normally "free".
    The more insistent it is that you upgrade or install something, the more likely it is to be a scam. Close the window or tab and forget it.
    Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
    The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. Most of these attempts are pathetic and are easily recognized, but that hasn't stopped prominent public figures from recently succumbing to this age-old scam.
    OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
    Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
    If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
    Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
    Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
    Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

  • Should i get a antivirus for my mac pro

    should i get a antivirus for my mac pro?

    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, 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 (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 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 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 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. How do you know whether a source 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 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.
    5. 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 never a good idea, and Java's developers have had a lot of trouble 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, Java on the Web is 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.
    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. In Safari, this is done by unchecking the box marked Enable Java in the Security tab of the preferences dialog.
    Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a specific task, enable Java only when needed for the task and disable it immediately when done. Close all other browser windows and tabs, and don't visit any other sites while Java is active. Never enable Java on a public web page that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, password-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 these guidelines, and you’ll be practically as safe from malware as you can be.
    6. 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. 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 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.
    8. The greatest harm done by anti-virus software, in my opinion, is in its effect on human behavior. It does little or nothing to protect people from emerging threats, but they get a false sense of security from it, and then they may behave in ways that expose them to higher risk. 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 in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.

  • I downloaded mountain lion for my macbook pro and i want to install it on my sisters' macbook air, my question is, how many times can i share my purchase?

    i downloaded mountain lion for my macbook pro and i want to install it on my sisters' macbook air, my question is, how many times can i share my purchase?

    Association of Associated Devices is subject to the following terms:
    "You may auto-download Eligible Content or download previously-purchased Eligible Content from an Account on up to 10 Associated Devices, provided no more than 5 are iTunes-authorized computers."
    That information is available here >   iTUNES STORE - MAC APP STORE - TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    If you re download Mountain Lion using your Apple ID on her Mac, your sister will need to use your Apple ID and password to install and update apps.

  • HT2476 I have just downloaded Mountain Lion for my MacBook Pro and now when my applications open they close and the error "This has just quit unexpectedly" message pops up. Does anybody know what is happening?

    I have just downloaded Mountain Lion for my MacBook Pro and now when my applications open they close and the error "This has just quit unexpectedly" message pops up. Does anybody know what is happening/how to fix it?

    Welcome to Apple Communities
    Press Command and R keys in boot and reinstall

  • I'm downloading ML for a MacBook. How can I download another copy for a MacBook Pro?

    I'm downloading ML for a MacBook. How can I download another copy for a MacBook Pro?

    Just copy over the installer.
    Make sure your MB Pro supports Mountain Lion

  • I just downloaded Mountain Lion for my MacBook Pro from the App Store.  Can I also download it for my iMac without paying the $19.99 fee again?

    I just downloaded Mountain Lion for my MacBook Pro from the App Store.  I was curious if it is possible to downloand Mountain Lion to my iMac without paying the $19.99 fee again?  Not trying to be a cheapskate, just curious if App Store purchases are universal like iTunes Apps.

    You can re download Mountain Lion for free on all your authorized Macs using the same Apple ID used for the original purchase.
    How to re download apps from the Mac App Store:
    Open the App Store. From the menu bar click Store > Sign In
    Click Purchases from the top of the App Store window.
    Select  Mountain Lion.
    Then right or control click where you see Installed then click Install.

  • Can i download microsoft office for my macbook pro?

    Is it possible for me to download microsoft office 2010 for my macbook pro? i keep trying but it will not let me download

    Hi luvbigbang
    As Kappy has said, you can download Office for Mac 2011 from the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/mac
    This can be done right away under their free 30 day trial offer.
    Assuming that you then want to keep the software by buying a properly licenced version, you can take your time and shop around during those 30 days to find the same version (ie Home and Student or Home and Business) at the cheapest available price.
    Good sources for discounts will vary depending upon where you're based, but Amazon (.com / .co.uk) is often a good place to try. You can then simply enter the licence code from your purchased product to fully activate the version that you've already downloaded as a trial.

  • How do i download nba 2k14 for my macbook pro

    hi i would like to know how to download nba 2k14 or nba 2k13 for my macbook 13inche without retna didplay 2012 edition

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  • Should I get a fully upgraded MacBook air or should I compromise the thinness for a MacBook pro retina

    Hi I need to get a Mac for high school should I get a MacBook air with i7 and 8gb of ram or should I get a MacBook pro retina
    I make music surf the web and check emails and play games on my Mac should I compromise the portability of the air for the power of the pro
    Please please please help

    My suggestion - go with the maxed out Air.
    Right now, there are so many issues with the Retina. Nothing against the Retina since I ordered one.
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    Whatever you decide to purchase in the end, I'm sure you'll be quite happy with it.
    Good luck.

  • I can't download the software for my macbook pro. Help?!

    I got my notebook this summer and I am terrible with electronics. I am unable to update my macbook pro and there are many things I am unable to do because of it. I have tried everything but it always says it is unable to save. Please, if anyone knows how to help please do!

    What are you trying to update?  Where are you downloading the software?  What apps?  Maybe your hard drive is full, but I would expect a different notification.

  • What is the best antivirus for a MacBook Pro Retina Display?

    I would like to know what is the current best FREE and PAID antivirus out there the MacBook Pro

    If you are running as a admin based users which most people are you should run something.  Apple doesn't maintain good patch levels for OS X.  Malware threats for mac are growing and even Apple as increased their updates to check daily and automatically install.  Just like Microsoft does today by default.  This all stems from the 600,000+ Macs infected by FlashBack, 59% of which were in the US.  Oracle had patched the flaw in java months before but apple simple didn't do anything about it.
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    Now they cannot even mass produce Retina displays, they are delayed 4+ weeks, i hear 6+ weeks.
    Rush to get things out, poor quality is creeping in.
    What I've been dealing with lately is not being unable to netboot varoius models of Macs.  We have tested with 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 model macs and all behave differently.  The 2008 is the best as it will tftp the booter and kernelcache files in about 20 secons.  This is because it uses a block rate of 8192 by default.  The 2011 model takes more than 5 minutes to do the samething because some genius set the tftp rate to only use 512 block which kills performance.  And there is no way to manually increase this block rate.  On top of this all the mac models have a hard coded 5 minute time out.  This means that if the booter and kernelcache (phase 1) take longer than 5 min to boot up the entire process fails.  This is an issue with the newer models which only allow 512 blocks.  Who thinks this stuff up.  Really!

  • How do I download Microsoft Office for my macbook pro retina display without a disc drive

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    wj's link works very well...I downloaded my Office '11 from MS a year ago without a hitch.  Just follow his link and have a credit card handy

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    can i download adobe reader for my macbook pro? is it safe or will i be at risk for viruses?

    You may be confusing Adobe Flash - which is known for security issues - with Adobe Reader perhaps.
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  • Trackpad Fix for All Macbook Pro and Macbook Models.

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    Download it here:
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    Thanks a lot for the effort you made. Rightclick/Scroll problem is not as bad as before, but its still there. What exactly did you change in the driver files? I'm very interested in this.
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