Virus/Spyware Scare

I'm pretty paranoid about Internet security, but I recently broke down and got a Tumblr account, naively thinking it was relatively safe. Today I was logged in and got a notification that someone had started following me. I clicked on the account name as I always do to see if I wanted to follow the person back and, instead of going to a Tumblr page, I was immediately redirected to what looked like might be a **** site (I didn't linger to find out for sure). Now I'm scared that my Mac might have picked up a virus or spyware from being redirected to this site, even for the few seconds I was on it.
I ran a scan with ClamXav, and another scan with Norton Antivirus for Mac (I know, everyone says not to use this, but as I said, I'm paranoid, and it gives me a feeling of extra security) - both scans came up negative for infected files. But I'm still worried. Should I be? I have my firewall enabled, but I do allow java, JavaScript, and plug-ins in my Safari settings. Are there any other scans you would recommend I do, any other precautions I should take? If I did pick up some kind of virus or spyware through that site, would I notice anything going wrong with my Mac? It seems to be working perfectly fine at the moment.
I'm not terribly knowledgable about all of this, so please be patient with me. I work from home on this Mac as well and just don't want to take any chances of spreading infected files to others. Thank you for your advice in advance.

Dever424 wrote:
I clicked on the account name as I always do to see if I wanted to follow the person back and, instead of going to a Tumblr page, I was immediately redirected to what looked like might be a **** site (I didn't linger to find out for sure).
I'm not familiar with that site, but it might be possible for a user to redirect you to a site and be reimbursed for doing so.
For other possibilities see Eliminating browser redirects and advertisements.
I have my firewall enabled
Not needed if you are on a trusted network behind router such as a home or business network, but when you take it to Starbucks, the library or other public networks it needs to be on. Using two firewalls will always slow your Internet access down slightly. See Do I need a firewall?.
but I do allow java, JavaScript, and plug-ins in my Safari settings.
It's never a good idea to leave Java enabled all the time, especially since you appear to be using an unsupported, unsafe version of Java. If you must visit a trusted site that requires it (there are not very many these days) then enable it only as long as you are there. Such sites would include financial institutions that you need to use and sites necessary for your profession. It would not include gaming sites.
If I did pick up some kind of virus or spyware through that site, would I notice anything going wrong with my Mac? It seems to be working perfectly fine at the moment.
Not necessarily, if the malware was written properly.
I see from your profile that you are still using OS X 10.5.8, which is unsupported and not protected agains today's threats. I would take this occasion to upgrade as soon as possible. 10.6.8 is the absolute minimum OS protected against all currently known malware and your version of Java is not patched against several know threats.

Similar Messages

Is Virus/Spyware/Malware Software necessary?

I am a recent Windows to Mac convert (I will be getting my MacBook TODAY!!:), and i've been trying to find out if it's necessary to run virus/spyware/malware protection on my MacBook. I have to admit, coming from Windows, the idea of NOT using anything kinda scares me...but like I said, i've always used Windows, so maybe i'm just conditioned to feel this way, lol. I also pay my bills online - are there security measures already built in to the Mac software that makes it safe to do without running additional protection software?
Thanks for your help and being patient with this Mac newbie

Mac OS X ≠ Windows. Discard your preconceptions...
No, you don't need anti-virus software for Mac OS X. In general, anti-virus software does more harm (system slowdowns, incompatibilities) than good, since there aren't any viruses in the wild that affect Macs. No software can protect you from user error - if you download some software from an untrusted source (e.g. a torrent of pirated software), then provide your admin password to install it, well, that's a 'wetware' error...
If you'll be running Windows (via Boot Camp or a virtualization solution) you'll certainly need it on the Windows side.
Likewise, the Mac OS X browser (Safari) provides secure connections to secure websites, along with a private browsing option so cookies, passwords, etc., are not saved.

What is the best virus/spyware software for OSX 10.6.8?

What is the best virus/spyware software for OSX 10.6.8 on an iMac?

Csound1's answer albeit short is correct. Because there are no viruses (as in zero, none, nada, zip) for OS X having antivirus software is a waste of time, resources and possibly money. About the only need for antivirus software is if you frequently download files you know nothing about and then forward them to Windows users. In that case even though you still don't need anything for OS X you are protecting the Windows users from your passing along infected files. Most anti-virus software for OS X tend to create more problems than they solve however if you insist I'd recommend ClamXav which is free, non-intrusive and is frequently updated.
Roger

Free Anti-Virus/Spyware Program?

Are there any good, free anti-virus/spyware programs out there to protect my Mac? Ones that remove Mac viruses/spyware as well as Windows ones too? I know there aren't nearly as many threats out there for a Mac compared to Windows, but they are still out there so I want to be safe and know my Mac is secure.
I'm an ex-PC user of many years so I am used to having some comfort knowing I have protection...
Message was edited by: JerichoX

there are some trojans and I think keyloggers exist too but they can't be installed without your active participation. meaning you have to download it, install it and enter your admin password. These things are sometimes disguised. there were a few posts recently by people who got a trojan while visiting adult websites the trojan was disguised as a codec that they were prompted to install to view certain content. However, currently that's pretty much the only way something like this can get into your Mac. If you use a standard account for normal computer operation and take minimal reasonable precautions about what you install on your system there is no need for extra protection.

Best anti virus/spyware software to date?

Hello,
What is the best anti virus/spyware software to date?
Thanks,
Jordan

Jordan asks:
What is the best anti virus ... software to date
I sez:
Don't date software. Date girls.
But if you MUST date software and are concerned about catching cooties, may I suggest that Intego's new VirusBarrier 4X ?
Intego VirusBarrier X4 is the simple, fast and non-intrusive antivirus security solution for Macintosh computers, by Intego, the leading publisher of personal security software for Macintosh. It offers thorough protection against viruses of all types, coming from infected files or applications, whether on CD-ROMs, DVDs or other removable media, or on files downloaded over the Internet or other types of networks.
Intego VirusBarrier X4 protects your computer from viruses by constantly examining all the files that your computer opens and writes, as well as watching for suspicious activity that may be the sign of viruses acting on applications or other files. With Intego VirusBarrier X4 on your computer, you can rest assured that your Macintosh has the best protection available against viruses of all kinds.
Intego VirusBarrier X4 is an application that works in the background and checks everything that your computer does, looking for viruses. It detects and eradicates all known viruses, including Word and Excel macro viruses, and even viruses targeting the Windows operating system. It knows the unique signatures of all known Macintosh viruses, and whenever a new virus is discovered, Intego's Virus Monitoring Center goes into action to provide updated virus definitions, which you can download using Intego VirusBarrier X4's automatic NetUpdate function.
When you purchase a license for Intego VirusBarrier X4, you have access to virus definition updates for one year from the date of purchase. After this time, additional subscriptions, allowing you to extend your access to virus definition updates, are available from Intego, and can be purchased by using NetUpdate.
Intego VirusBarrier X4 was designed according to specific concepts. The main idea is that an antivirus program should not require the user to do anything once it is installed and configured, unless a virus is detected. The Intego VirusBarrier X4 philosophy can be summed up in three words: simple, fast and non-intrusive.

Virus/Spyware/Firewall Protection

As a PC (Dell) user looking to switch to a MAC...can anyone recommend any good virus/firewall/spyware protection suites for the MAC OS, Tiger?
I understand that the virus/spyware/hacker threat is lower for a MAC than a PC, but I always like to have extra protection if possible, better safe than sorry (especially if you are not a programmer).
Thank you very much for your time, attention and recommendations.

You're welcome.
What type of Mac do you have - Desktop or Portable?
If a Desktop, do you plan on using a direct Ethernet connection to your modem or do you plan on creating/using a wireless network?
If wireless and you go with Apple's new Airport Extreme base station or the Airport Express which is very small and portable (I have both), these include a hardware firewall as do most other wired and wireless routers these days.
A router is a go between - between your computer and your DSL or Cable modem.
If a wired router (via an Ethernet port connection), the router is connected to the modem and your Mac is connected to the router. Most wired routers include several connections so you can have a number of computers connected to the router and sharing the internet connection at the same time. You can also create a computer network this way - sharing files, etc. between all computers that are connected to the router.
A wireless router also connects to the modem but computers with a wireless card connect to the router wirelessly also sharing the same internet connection. You can also create a computer network this way. I have an external USB hard drive connected to my Apple Airport Extreme Base Station which any computer that is connected to my wireless network can access. I also have a USB printer connected so I can print wirelessly with my PowerBook from anywhere in the house. I use a Dell notebook running Windows XP at work that includes a wireless card so I can access my internet connection and print wirelessly from my Dell notebook when at home.
So it depends on if you want a wired or wireless router and some are a combination of the two. I prefer using Apple's wireless routers (although a little more expensive than others) but I don't have to worry about router firmware updates from the manufacturer as is sometimes required when Apple releases OS X and Security updates.
When checking and deciding on a router, just be sure the specifications include a firewall. This provides double the protection and a firewall backup of sorts. If the hardware firewall fails (which isn't likely but anything is possible) and you keep the built-in firewall included with OS X enabled, there is your backup.
Best of luck to you!

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.

Viruses, spyware and Co.

Hello -- I am a happy Mac user for the past 5 years. And never have had any problems that I know of with viruses, spyware, malware and this whole gamut of invaders which I battled constantly on my old Windows based PC.
BUT..... I was interested if there have been any changes in this realm, i.e. is there any need to be checking for these problems? And if so, what are the recommended applications?

+I also had the peculiar experience of receiving what appeared to be an email from my own gmail account several weeks ago with a very obscure message. That made me wonder about a virus but nothing untoward has happened since.+
That simply means that someone was able to get into your Gmail account and address book there. I would have immediately changed my user name and password (make the password very difficult to guess) - you might consider doing that.
+A friend recent got a warning about one of our emails from her MacAfee software, even though there were no attachments. Is there any way we can tell if this is the case?+
I don't know of any way; I've been careful not to open anything unless I know the sender and I generally do not forward attachments. I have no idea why your friend would get a warning; but then I don't put much faith in MacAfee - it may have been a case of not recognizing a different format and therefore assuming it was bad.

Removed ALL of my anti-virus/spyware software and CANNOT CONNECT TO STORE

***?
iTunes 9 will NOT allow me to connect to the store. I don't have any firewall issues and have removed all of my anti-virus/spyware software. HELP!

This worked for me.
++molly15 wrote:++
++I was having the same problem. Finally figured it out! You have to uncheck "use proxy server" under control panel -> internet options -> connections -> LAN settings. Works just fine now.+

Anti-virus, spyware, adware

Hi,
I have not been using any 3rd party security software, but am now required to make sure that I have anti-virus, spyware, and adware protection with respect to my interface with a Windows network at my office. Two questions, please:
- Does my OS 10.5.6 already provide those security elements?
- If not, what security software would you recommend?
Thanks!

If you are running Windows you need all the protection money can buy. But if you are running Mac OS X:
No viruses that can attack OS X have so far been detected 'in the wild', i.e. in anything other than laboratory conditions.
It is possible, however, to pass on a Windows virus to another Windows user, for example through an email attachment. To prevent this all you need is the free anti-virus utility ClamXav, which you can download from:
http://www.clamxav.com/
However, the appearance of Trojans and other malware that can possibly infect a Mac seems to be growing, but is a completely different issue to viruses.
If you allow a Trojan to be installed, the user's DNS records can be modified, redirecting incoming internet traffic through the attacker's servers, where it can be hijacked and injected with malicious websites and pornographic advertisements. The trojan also installs a watchdog process that ensures the victim's (that's you!) DNS records stay modified on a minute-by-minute basis.
SecureMac has introduced a free Trojan Detection Tool for Mac OS X. It's available here:
http://macscan.securemac.com/
The DNSChanger Removal Tool detects and removes spyware targeting Mac OS X and allows users to check to see if the trojan has been installed on their computer; if it has, the software helps to identify and remove the offending file. After a system reboot, the users' DNS records will be repaired.
(Note that a 30 day trial version of MacScan can be downloaded free of charge from:
http://macscan.securemac.com/buy/
and this can perform a complete scan of your entire hard disk. After 30 days the cost is $29.99. The full version permits you to scan selected files and folders only, as well as the entire hard disk.)
A white paper has recently been published on the subject of Trojans by SubRosaSoft, available here:
http://www.macforensicslab.com/ProductsAndServices/index.php?mainpage=document_general_info&cPath=11&productsid=174
Also, beware of MacSweeper:
MacSweeper is malware that misleads users by exaggerating reports about spyware, adware or viruses on their computer. It is the first known "rogue" application for the Mac OS X operating system. The software was discovered by F-Secure, a Finland based computer security software company on January 17, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacSweeper
On June 23, 2008 this news reached Mac users:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/23/mac_trojan/
More information on Mac security can be found here:
http://macscan.securemac.com/
The MacScan application can be downloaded from here:
http://macscan.securemac.com/buy/
You can download a 30 day trail copy which enables you to do a full scan of your hard disk. After that it costs $29.95.
More on Trojans on the Mac here:
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/63574.html?welcome=1214487119
The latest news on the subject, from July 25, 2008, is:
Attack code that exploits flaws in the net's addressing system are starting to circulate online, say security experts.
The code could be a boon to phishing gangs who redirect web users to fake bank sites and steal login details.
In light of the news net firms are being urged to apply a fix for the loop-hole before attacks by hi-tech criminals become widespread.
Net security groups say there is anecdotal evidence that small scale attacks are already happening.
Further details here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7525206.stm
A further recent development is the Koobface malware that can be picked up from Facebook (already a notorious site for malware), as reported here on December 9, 2008:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_7773000/7773340.stm
There may be other ways of guarding against Trojans, viruses and general malware affecting the Mac, and alternatives will probably appear in the future. In the meantime the advice is: be careful where you go on the web and what you download!

Anti Virus, spyware for Macbooks

Hi everyone, Im a new Mac user. Iam just confused about the Mac security, do Macs needs anti-virus, spyware software?? Someone said not necessary, others said Macs do get Virus so they need anti-virus software
any suggestion??

At this time there have been no confirmed Mac OS X viruses (subject to the semantic debate about whether the iChat exploit is properly classified as a virus or a trojan horse and not counting the Word macro virus that can affect Office v.X or non-updated copies of Office 2004), very few trojans and no adware or spyware. I therefore do not feel that antivirus or antispyware software is necessary at this time. It's never wise to become complacent, though, so security precautions are not wasted. Such security precautions mostly are common sense: don't download and run files from sites you don't know, don't double-click on attachments in emails you aren't expecting and/or from people you don't know, and make sure you password your system and keep that password secure as well as not having your system available and unattended (which also is a precaution against theft). In addition, it's possible for someone to inadvertently forward a Windows virus or worm to a PC user though you'd have to do it manually and said Windows malware cannot infect the Mac.
In addition, it's possible for someone to inadvertently forward a Windows virus to a PC user though you'd have to do it manually, and said Windows virus cannot infect the Mac.
If you do decide you wish to run antivirus software, I think that the donationware clamXav should be more than enough provided you remember to scan your system from time to time.
If you are running Windows on your system, either via BootCamp, Parallels Workstation or another solution, then that copy of Windows is subject to all the myriad exploits common to the Windows world, so you need to take full precautions, including running both antivirus and antispyware software.

What about anti-virus -spyware protection

Is Virus ,spyware protection aval. for i pad.

AV software cannot run on the iPad even if it existed.
iOS sandboxes apps, not allowing them to affect other apps or make system wide changes.
All AV software could do was scan itself for malware or possibly your email.

I think I have a virus/spyware/adware???

Hello!
Last week while I was on www.google.com searching images, my Safari download manager popped up and began downloading "soft_58s7.exe". I immediately deleted it and assumed that I had clicked on an image that took me to a link that gave me a virus. I continued on using google, and when searching something completely different the download occurred again, and again. Each time I deleted the file from my computer by locating it in Finder and dragging it to the trash.
However, not I get random pop-ups everyone once in awhile while using sites that I know do not have pop-ups (Google search, aol.com, facebook). So I think I have a virus.
I also tried to download ProtectMac Antivirus, but it tells me that it cannot be downloaded because there is another antivirus software on my computer that it is not compatible with. I checked my applications and there was an app called "VirusProtect", which I drug to the trash as well. However I still received this message that ProtectMac could not be installed because of another antivirus application. I believe that I either did not uninstall VirusProtect correctly, which I need help doing because the icon is no longer there, or this is also an effect of the virus.
Please help!!
Im on a MacBook, running OS X 10 .5.8
Thank you!
I think this is also an effect of the virus because I have no virus protection on my com

.exe files are Windows executables that do not run on Macs, and simply downloading one will not give you a virus. Random pop-ups in your browser may occur but as long as you dismiss them there should nothing of concern.
You cannot delete virus protection software by dragging it to the Trash. You must use the appropriate uninstaller that is included with the software.
Also see:
Do You Need Anti-Virus Protection for Your Mac?
According to Rich Mogull's article, Should Mac Users Run Antivirus Software?,
"The reality is that today the Mac platform is relatively safe. There are hundreds of thousands of viruses and other malicious software programs floating around for Windows, but less than 200 are known to target the Mac, and many of those are aimed at versions of the Mac OS prior to Mac OS X (and thus have no effect on a modern Mac).
It's not that Mac OS X is inherently more secure against viruses than current versions of Windows (although it was clearly more secure than Windows prior to XP SP2); the numerous vulnerabilities reported and patched in recent years are just as exploitable as their Windows equivalents. But most security experts agree that malicious software these days is driven by financial incentives, and it's far more profitable to target the most dominant platform."
Mr. Mogull is a computer security expert. I recommend reading the entire article as it is quite informative.
For additional information on viruses, trojans, and spyware visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on viruses and spyware.

Viruses/Spyware/Malware/Trojans etc. Protection

I am new to Macs but am pretty tech savvy. Do I really need a virus scanner? Do I need spyware protection? I use ClamXav for virus scanning. But it seems pretty unsecure and not reliable. Are there any other free virus scanners/anti-spyware software? Also is the OS X firewall secure enough, I know that it doesn't stop outgoing connections? How do you deal with these problems? Do you use any protection? Thanks.
iMac Core Duo/iPod Photo 30 gig/Windows Knowledge Mac OS X (10.4.8) 17 inch

Hi.
I'm surprised that you find ClamXav "…pretty unsecure and not reliable". It is the usual recommendation for free virus scanning on these boards. In what way do you find it so? Has it failed to pick up a Mac virus that you know is on your system? Unlikely as there are no true Mac viruses 'in the wild'.
The OS X firewall is generally considered to be 'industry strength' but can be fine tuned with tools such as Snort in conjunction with Henwen, or Flying Buttress.
As regards outgoing connections, Little Snitch is a lovely little shareware application. The usual comment on Little Snitch is that it does one thing and does it well.
You might like to take a look at Dr Smoke's Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware, &/or, if you've got half a day to spare, put 'virus' into the search box over there------->>>>
Reams of comments have been posted and I'm not going to reopen the argument now as it's all been said before, but just so you know which side of the camp I'm on, I use no AV software. I have the Mac and router FWs on, I use Little Snitch and common sense.
Have fun,
Adrian

Virus/Spyware/Worm or what ?

I have N6600. Nowadays, some anonymous multimedia messages are automatically generated to my Outbox folder. And I can’t delete or move those messages to Drafts. Some .sis messages are also being sent via Bluetooth. If u think it’s a spyware issue, then please suggest some good Anti-Spyware softwares. Advance thanks to everyone!
CoOL

Hi, y can get rid off of these bad things by doin these things:
1. Format the memory card on PC usin card reader and clean up the card by PC's default anti-virus system.
2. Format Phone memory by *#7370#
But if y want to avoid these steps then buy F-secure from their site or get BitDefender-it is free and take less time.

Virus/Spyware Scare

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