What is a good security software for Mac

My bank seems to think that my Mac has a virus, as my accounts have had several attempted hacks over the last month. My computer seems to run fine and I haven't noticed any problems, but probably should buy some sort of security software before I change all my account numbers etc. I'm leary of just internet shopping for security software as I am not knowledgable enough to know if something is for real or not. What would you reccommend for as good security software?

My bank seems to think that my Mac has a virus...
More than likely your bank considers using a Mac or Safari is a "virus". A lot (not all) of investment sites, banks, etc. think Macs are just not significant to them and get "confused" or just plain reject Macs attempting to connect to them because they are entrenched with Microsoft crap and Internet Explorer's particular variant of HTML.
The way around this of course it just change your user agent to make them think you are using Internet Explorer. This will usually shut them up but of course if they are using a Microsoft variant of HTML some stuff may draw incorrectly.
The way you can change your user agent in Safari is to enable the Safari Develop menu (Safari preferences --> Advanced --> Show Develop menu checkbox). Then in the Develop menu change your user agent to one of the flavors of IE. See what happens then.
If you are using Firefox there are user agent add-ons. One is User Agent Switcher.
I'm sure other browser also have a way to change user agents as well; builtin like Safari or add-ons/extensions as with Firefox.

Similar Messages

What is the best security software for mac?

I had Norton years ago but found it slowed things down unacceptably at the time and so have never revisited it since. However, as internet infection becomes more prevalent on Macs I am considering some kind of protection.
1. What is the general feeling for the most optimal security software for Mac kit?
2. Are there any side effects that one should be aware of which might affect the Mac or software operations?
Thanks and regards

1. This is a comment on what you should—and should not—do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the user's actions. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the computer, or who has been able to log in to it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it.
If you find this comment too long or too technical, read only sections 5, 6, and 10.
OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
☞ It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
☞ It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
☞ It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
☞ A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
☞ An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
Apple has so far failed to revoke the codesigning certificates of some known abusers, thereby diluting the value of Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. These failures don't involve App Store products, however.
For the reasons given, App Store products, and—to a lesser extent—other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. Sandbox security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they are not, and never will be, complete protection. Malware is a problem of human behavior, and a technological fix is not going to solve it. Trusting software to protect you will only make you more vulnerable.
The best defense is always going to be your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "Trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the scam artists. If you're smarter than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some warning signs of danger.
Software from an untrustworthy source
☞ Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent, or Usenet, or on a website that also distributes pirated music or movies.
☞ Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website. Do not trust an alert from any website to update Flash, or your browser, or any other software.
☞ Rogue websites such as Softonic and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
☞ The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web ads. Any ad, on any site, that includes a direct link to a download should be ignored.
Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
☞ High-priced commercial software such as Photoshop is "cracked" or "free."
☞ An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission.
Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
☞ A telephone caller or a web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
☞ A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
☞ You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
☞ Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you download an application of his choosing.
☞ A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
☞ Anything online that you would expect to pay for is "free."
Unexpected events
☞ A file is downloaded automatically when you visit a web page, with no other action on your part. Delete any such file without opening it.
☞ You open what you think is a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file. Even if you don't get the alert, you should still delete any file that isn't what you expected it to be.
☞ An application does something you don't expect, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
☞ Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it—not JavaScript—in your browsers.
Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" (AV) or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they are all worse than useless. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store—nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial AV products?
☞ To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. This technique is a proven failure, as a major AV software vendor has admitted. Most attacks are "zero-day"—that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based AV does not defend against such attacks, and the enterprise IT industry is coming to the realization that traditional AV software is worthless.
☞ Its design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere. In order to meet that nonexistent threat, commercial AV software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
☞ By modifying the operating system, the software may also create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
☞ Most importantly, a false sense of security is dangerous.
8. An AV product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject low-level code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
An AV app is not needed, and cannot be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful, if at all, only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not really effective, because new Windows malware is emerging much faster than OS X malware.
Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else. A malicious attachment in email is usually easy to recognize by the name alone. An actual example:
London Terror Moovie.avi [124 spaces] Checked By Norton Antivirus.exe
You don't need software to tell you that's a Windows trojan. Software may be able to tell you which trojan it is, but who cares? In practice, there's no reason to use recognition software unless an organizational policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in every email attachment until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, ClamXav or a similar product from the App Store may serve a purpose if it satisfies an ill-informed network administrator who says you must run some kind of AV application. It's free and it won't handicap the system.
The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
10. As a Mac user, you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither can you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. Navigating the Internet is like walking the streets of a big city. It's as safe or as dangerous as you choose to make it. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

What are some recommended security softwares for Macs?

I've been getting security alerts about possible hacking and would like some suggestions to secure my network.

Sharineedshelpfast wrote:
I've been getting security alerts about possible hacking and would like some suggestions to secure my network.
There is none and one is not needed. Security is built into OS X.
For more info: http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg/
Best.

What is the recommended security software for a Mac?

what is the recommended security software for a Mac

My standard spiel on malware:
At this time there have been no confirmed Mac OS X viruses (subject to the semantic debate about whether the old iChat exploit, now long since blocked, was 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 as long as users are careful about what they download from the Internet or accept as attachments via email.
The most common exploit is a recent outbreak of "scareware" that people are encountering while web surfing. This "scareware" pops up and claims that your system is infected with viruses, prompts you to download their "scanner", then tells you that you need to purchase their paid software to remove them. These fake applications, appearing by many names including Mac Defender, Apple Security Center, Apple Web Security, and many others, do nothing at all other than turn off the fake warnings once they have your money. DO NOT fall for these.
Security precautions for Mac OS X mostly are common sense: don't download and run files from sites you don't know, don't fall for any "you have viruses" messages, 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 with a non-trivial password and keep that password secure. In addition, don't leave your system available in a public place and unattended where someone unauthorized could use it and potentially install malware (such a policy is also a precaution against theft).
It is possible for a Mac user to inadvertently forward a Windows virus to a PC user though you'd have to do it manually so the above precautions would probably prevent such virus-spreading, 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. iAntivirus has also been recommended by others, though I have no personal experience with it.
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.
Regards.

What is the recommended security software for MacPro? I am getting popups, including offer to sell Mac Sheild. Is this legit?

What is the recommended security software for MacPro? I am getting popups, including offer to sell Mac Sheild. Is this legit?

No, it is not legit, it's a scam. Avoid such popups and DO NOT under any circumstances fall for any claims that your system has been infected by viruses and download any of this "scareware". See:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4650
For additional information, see also:
http://www.reedcorner.net/news.php/?p=138
http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/
If you do a forum search on Mac Defender, Mac Protector or Apple Security Center (this fake has a lot of different names) you will also find a lot of threads about this.
The most recommended "security software" is "none", beyond common sense and normal caution. If you do, however, 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. iAntivirus has also been recommended by others, though I have no personal experience with it.
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.
Regards.

What is a good security app for iphone 5s?

What is a good security app for iphone5s?

Since Apple is removing the few that managed to get on to the iTunes App Store, it now appears none.
Why do you think you need one?
Only jailbroken iPhone have security problems to worry about, so if your iPhone is not jailbroken one is not needed.

What is the best antivirus software for ma, what is the best antivirus software for mac

I'm looking for good antivirus software for my Mac --- any suggestions?

OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it updated 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.

Is there any voice recognition security software for mac

is there any voice recognition security software for mac

The problem is that there are probably few dry cleaners running Macs. It would be a big commitment for a developer to enter that market. As a potential user, I'm sure you would like it. From a developer standpoint, I would need 50 such dry cleaners ready to buy at $1000 each just to even consider it. I have some time to develop this year. Should I go after 200 million potential customers, a tiny fraction of whom might spend $5-10 apiece, or those 50 dry cleaners. I know that all of those 200 million people are running the correct operating system for my software. How many dry cleaners have Macs and $1000 to spare? I could go cheaper but then I would need more dry cleaners. Why wouldn't they just use some cloud based service instead?

What is a good anti virus for macs

what is a good virus protection for the mac mini

Considering that there are no "true" viruses for OS X, the best answer I'd offer is NONE AT ALL.
Other than a test I did for McAfee in 2004, after which I immediately removed their product, I've NEVER used antivirus in more than ten years and eight different Macs.
I've never seen any malware in that time either.

What's a good codec pack for Mac?

My friend recommended K-Lite Codec Pack, but it only works on PC and I have a Mac. Is there a good codec pack for Mac?

mattdwm wrote:
I keep running into video files that I have to figure out how to convert to something After Effects can work with. Such as .3gp from an Android phone.
That's not a "codec pack" issue, you just need a good all purpose conversion tool or two. Apple Compressor works well as do all of the other products mentioned here. Another good tool is a cheap PC with free Microsoft Encoder (or whatever they're calling it these days). You can pull in all kinds of aggressively non-Mac friendly files and output to any of several lowest common denominators.
Bringing in weird and highly compressed consumer movie files isn't as simple as converting to an editing codec (which raises the question, why are you bringing these clips into AE and not Premiere?) you also need to figure out how to do frame rate conversions, scale adjustments, and color space tweaks.
bogiesan

What is a good defragmenting software for the mac, and what is the price ranges if there are mutiple ones?

I have had my mac for about a 1 year 5 months, coming onto 6 months. And I want to keep it running in top shape, or as close as it can get. I Am just wondering what is are good softwares for defragmenting a Macbook and what are the price ranges, and what are the recommendations. Which would you rate from best to worst in other words.

First Mac OS X doesn't need defragged. If your harddrive is ~80% full heavy downloading could hurt disk performance but I'd say you're in the clear. If Apple considered defragging a necessity they would have included it into Disk Utility.

Need name of good security software for my Tiger Mac

Hi all, I hope everyone had a sweet Thanksgiving. My Power Mac G5 needs an anti-virus program, but I can't find any for Tiger. Any ideas? Thanks! Kate

Hi Kate, Free Sophos...
System requirements
Not sure if Sophos Anti-Virus will work on your Mac? These are the technical requirements:
Mac with Intel or PowerPC processor
256 MB of memory
150 MB of available disk space
Mac with OS X 10.4 (Tiger), 10.5 (Leopard), 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or 10.7 (Lion)
Supports all Apple Mac hardware including iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air
http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-mac-home-ed ition/system-requirements.aspx

Best internet security software for Mac?

Dear all
I will soon be purchasing an Apple iMac. I'm new to Apple computers and wish to buy a good internet sercurity package for it - I'd be grateful if any of you could pass on your recommendations.
Norton scores terribly on Amazon... Not read too much though about McAfee or Kapersky?
I look forward to hearing your recommendations

I'll agree with Paul, but add one little conditional statement of: Yet.
Some day, no one knows when exactly, things will likely change. Someone will figure out a reliable cross platform attack vector and pave the way for all the miscreants of the world to start creating havoc in the Mac world.
So, at least for the time being you can enjoy running your system without any security software installed. However, you should be keeping an eye on the weather, so to speak. Right now the sky is sunny and clear, but somewhere over the horizon some clouds are forming for the coming storm. Keep an eye out for those clouds, and be prepared to board up the windows, etc.
And when that day comes, avoid suites. They are kind of the exception to a number of rules. While it may be convenient to have a single set of programs that are all updated at the same time, they also have a shared code base. That means they all share a potential common attack vector. Someone finds a way to exploit that common code, they can topple the entire suite in one fell swoop. You're much better off having individual programs made by different companies. If one program is compromised, odds are good that attack won't work on the others.
We can also hope that by the time that storm hits, AV companies will have gotten their collective act together with the Mac versions of their products. They've had it a little too good for a little too long in the Windows world. They've gotten lazy, fat, and slow. With the Windows versions blowing goats, I can't imagine why the Mac versions would magically be any better. Not everything will be like MS Office, where the Mac version puts its Windows counterpart to complete and total shame.

What is the best antivirus software for macs?

iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9) I have a free subscription to Sophos now but I don't like it. I was wondering what would be the best antivirus software for my mac. I looked into VirusBarrier X4 but I didn't want to buy it until I had some feedback. Thanks!
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Welcome To Discussions aurala19!
You might want to take a look at this free, donations accepted, AV utility.
ClamXav.
It has received many favorable reviews.
Good Luck!
ali b

What is the best Maintenance Software for Mac?

I am looking for the best maintenance software out there for mac, anything similar to clean my mac..etc, etc,
What do any of you recommend. Price is not an issue.

1. Disk Warrior - fixes many problems Disk Utility can't even find. The most common potentially
serious problem Disk Warrior fixes that Disk Utility won't fix are Directory Structure problems.
2. iDefrag - a disk optimizer.
Why Defragment?
It has often been asserted that defragmentation (or disk optimization) is not a good idea on
systems using Apple’s HFS+ filesystem. The main reasons given for this historically have been:
HFS+ is very much better at keeping files defragmented than many other commodity filesystems.
Advanced features in recent versions of HFS+ can easily be disrupted by a defragmentation tool
that does not support them, resulting in decreased performance.
There is a risk associated with defragmentation.
Whilst these arguments are certainly valid, they are not the whole story. For one thing, iDefrag,
unlike most other disk defragmentation tools, fully supports the most recent features of HFS+,
namely the metadata zone (or “hot band”) and the adaptive hot file clustering support added in
Mac OS X 10.3. Not only does it avoid disrupting them, but it is capable of fixing disruption caused
by other software by moving files into or out of the metadata zone as appropriate.
Sensible arguments for occasional optimization of your disk include:
HFS+ is not very good at keeping free space contiguous, which can, in turn, lead to large files
becoming very fragmented, and can also cause problems for the virtual memory subsystem on Mac
OS X.
Older versions of the Mac OS are not themselves aware of the metadata zone policy, and may
disrupt its performance.
HFS+ uses B-Tree index files to hold information about the filesystem. If a large number of files
are placed on a disk, the filesystem may have to enlarge these B-Tree structures; however, there is
no built-in mechanism to shrink them again once the files are deleted, so the space taken up by
these files has been lost.
Whilst HFS+ is good at keeping individual files defragmented, mechanisms like Software Update
may result in files that are components of the same piece of software being scattered across the
disk, leading to increased start-up times, both for Mac OS X itself and for applications software.
This is a form of fragmentation that is typically overlooked.
Defragmenting disk images can be helpful, particularly if they are to be placed onto a CD/DVD, as
seeks on CD/DVD discs are particularly expensive.
Some specific usage patterns may cause fragmentation despite the features of HFS+ that are
designed to avoid it.
We do not recommend very frequent optimization of your disk; optimizing a disk can take a
substantial amount of time, particularly with larger disks, far outweighing the benefits that are
likely to be obtained by (say) a weekly optimization regime.
Optimization may make more sense, however, following large software updates, or on an
occasional basis if you notice decreased performance and lots of hard disk seeking on system
start-up or when starting an application.
3. Snow Leopard Cache Cleaner.
- Lots of goodies in that one.
4. Clix - literally, hundreds of utility scripts.
Kj

What is a good security software for Mac

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