Virus protection for OS 10.8.5

[RD10004]

One of my Mac's has older, but essential software that will not work with anything newer than OS 10.8.5

We realize that it's just a matter of time before even basics like Chrome will no longer function, but we'll try to keep going with this OS as long as possible.

Looking for malware / virus protection that will work with 10.8.5

Bitdefender still supported an older version that worked, but no longer.

Anyone know of anything that's still available?

 

[Slydude]

Many of our users don't bother with virus protection. I think there was a version of Malware bytes for that OS but I have to find the link.

I've moved your post to the Security Awareness area as that seemed like a more appropriate area.

 

[RD10004]

Many of our users don't bother with virus protection. I think there was a version of Malware bytes for that OS but I have to find the link.

I've moved your post to the Security Awareness area as that seemed like a more appropriate area.

Thanks, it feels better having something.
I can go on Malware bytes

 

[harryb2448]

Obviously you are froma Windows background and pre-conditioned to 'having to have' AV protection. There are no Mac OS X viruses. Malwarebytesformac used to be free but the premium edition is annual pay as you go. Try this old link for an early model to suit your operating system. No guarantee it will work:-


https://blog.macsales.com/31993-tech-tip-how-to-install-and-run-malwarebytes-anti-malware-for-mac

 

[RD10004]

Actually a Mac user going on 22 years. And whether virus or malware I've definitely run into several that needed to be identified and uninstalled,

 

[Sawday]

Actually a Mac user going on 22 years. And whether virus or malware I've definitely run into several that needed to be identified and uninstalled,

Do tell. Many here would love to know about the hitherto unknown mac viruses that you have come across. Stand by to become famous.

 

[harryb2448]

The newspapers will pay millions for this information!

 

[ferrarr]

Malware then. Nothing else comes close.

 

[toMACsh]

If you can't/don't use the internet, you don't need anti-malware apps of any kind.

 

[dtravis7]

It's not a Virus. Malware is different. A true Virus self installs and self replicates.

 

[MacInWin]

Obviously you are froma Windows background and pre-conditioned to 'having to have' AV protection. There are no Mac OS X viruses. Malwarebytesformac used to be free but the premium edition is annual pay as you go. Try this old link for an early model to suit your operating system. No guarantee it will work:-


https://blog.macsales.com/31993-tech-tip-how-to-install-and-run-malwarebytes-anti-malware-for-mac

Actually, the non-resident version is still free. The way it is presented makes it look like you have to subscribe, but at the end of the "free" period for the resident version, it reverts to the run-on-demand free operation.

 

[harryb2448]

That is the first time we have had that Jake and it is good news. Does it revert back to version 1.2.4.584 do you know? That is the latest free version I can find.

 

[ferrarr]

Malwarebytes is now version 3. When it installs, it installs the one month trial of the "Premium" version for free. After the month is over, it reverts to the free version, unless you choose to pay for the Premium version. Same as it is for winOS.

 

[MacInWin]

That's exactly it, Bob. The wording is specifically geared to make you think, if you just read it quickly, that once you start the trial of the "resident" version when it gets to the end of the free period you HAVE to pay, but the reality is that the ability to run resident is all that goes away. I never use it that way, so I don't care that I've lost the resident aspect.

 

[artmaker]

Obviously you are froma Windows background and pre-conditioned to 'having to have' AV protection. There are no Mac OS X viruses. Malwarebytesformac used to be free but the premium edition is annual pay as you go. Try this old link for an early model to suit your operating system. No guarantee it will work:-


https://blog.macsales.com/31993-tech-tip-how-to-install-and-run-malwarebytes-anti-malware-for-mac

HEY I'd like to dive into this one..... little bit afraid I just got infected. NEVER bothered with anti anything before but dang.

So... story, I've been playing a poker game for years now... (no point in mentioning the site.)
Anyway just this month they finally started doing that thing where they detect my adblocker. At first they posted a note saying turn it off.... well around the 18th of this month they finally fixed it so I HAD to disable adblock or the game won't play. So fine, I did. And it STILL won't play. And a whole lot of people have the same complaint.
Well TRYING to find support.... omg... non existent. I started searching social media for support and landed on a youtube page with a phone number. I called, got connected right away (to India)
Now I feel stupid writing this all down. Right there should have been a huge red flag. This company has proven to be IMPOSSIBLE to reach. This was just too easy.
But ok, I described the issue, she had me download a dmg file called GoToAssist and launch it.
(Yes.... real stupid thing to do I know. Kicking myself royally already.)
Anyway this gave her access to my screen. She launched terminal and had me enter a few things that did not raise any alarms. My game user name and a website with the games name in it. Far down a page full of code, looks to my non tech eye like all the IP addresses I visited... down the long list said TCP4 error connecting. Something like that.
She said the game is fine, nothing on their end is a problem, that it's something to do with my connection but could not tell me what.
She went to connect me to someone else and the call dropped.

Now I NEVER entered a password, of any kind.
I was NEVER asked for money or anything. All she did was that brief thing in terminal and got my game user name.

Right after this I deleted the little app and restarted the computer.
Then called my daughter (who IS a tech.) And who promptly scolded me for allowing ANYONE access to my screen.
(Only other time I did was with Apple and they warned me first they would be able to SEE my screen but not do anything. This lady never told me and actually did have control over my curser.)

So now I'm a bit freaked here.
My daughter will be here next week, she can go through everything.
Until then, I'm thinking a free anti virus scan thing might not hurt. BUT I'm still on an old system.
10.8.5
So.... thoughts? before I go installing something else?


BTW... I posted that phone number in the games forums and a mod promptly deleted it and told me it's NOT their phone number. THEN I googled the number and OH MY GOD! It comes up as the support number for any number of big companies. All using the SAME NUMBER? The red flags would be smothering me had I looked it up first.
Shees.....

So.... again, would that malwarebytes thing be a good idea? Or no?

 

[harryb2448]

Malwarebytes for Mac is always a good idea. Download, do nor register and as said earlier after 30 days the free version runs just great.

 

[harryb2448]

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/

Always good idesa MWBFM. Download, do not register and after thirty days will be the free version 3.6.21.

 

[MacInWin]

Well, depends on how much the lady from India decided to take from your machine. Get Malwarebytes from malwarebytes.com, run it to see if it finds anything she left behind. You don't have to pay for malwarebytes, it will nag you for a month to pay, then revert to the free version that does not run in the background, but only when you launch it. I would change every password on every account ever used on that Mac, as the lady in India may well have all of them downloaded. And watch for your credit cards and various account for any strange activity.