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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Operating System
Malware protection for MAC, is it necessary?
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<blockquote data-quote="MacInWin" data-source="post: 1832621" data-attributes="member: 396914"><p>Welcome to the forum.</p><p></p><p>Your question is going to trigger some discussion. The background is that there are NO viruses for the Mac at this time, and no known vector by which one can be written. That said, there is malware, usually found in internet pages, that can do some annoying things like hijack your browser, pop up annoying bogus warnings, etc. </p><p></p><p>Malwarebytes can find and remove any such malware. You don't really need the "Pro" version, the free version is fine. If you go with MWB, the download will run the Pro version for a trial period, nagging you to pay. At the end of the trial, it will revert to the free version and stop nagging. The difference is that the Pro version loads at login and stays in the background, working like a Windows antivirus system to scan everything on the fly and the free version only runs when you invoke it to search for any potential malware. I don't think it's necessary to run in the background. No malware for the Mac is that disruptive that you can't run MWB after it appears to remove it.</p><p></p><p>Another, and I think better, malware finder/killer I DetectX Swift. Does what MWB does, but I like the interface better and it has other bells and whistles.</p><p></p><p>Avoid Sophos at all costs. Just. Say. No.</p><p></p><p>Can't speak to Intego, but as there are no viruses, it's not going to do any real work, won't protect you from anything. All of the A/V applications are a bit like being sold protection against attack from Polar Bears in Miami. There isn't any risk, or the risk is so low as to be practically non-existent, so having any protection from polar bears is useless. I mean literally use-less. It won't get used as there are no polar bears from which to protect you. Same for viruses on the Mac.</p><p></p><p>Just use common sense when browsing. Don't go to dodgy websites, don't click on links unless you absolutely know where it's going, don't download crapola because it's "free" and don't fall for scammers. And make frequent backups because the perversity of the Universe tends to a maximum.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MacInWin, post: 1832621, member: 396914"] Welcome to the forum. Your question is going to trigger some discussion. The background is that there are NO viruses for the Mac at this time, and no known vector by which one can be written. That said, there is malware, usually found in internet pages, that can do some annoying things like hijack your browser, pop up annoying bogus warnings, etc. Malwarebytes can find and remove any such malware. You don't really need the "Pro" version, the free version is fine. If you go with MWB, the download will run the Pro version for a trial period, nagging you to pay. At the end of the trial, it will revert to the free version and stop nagging. The difference is that the Pro version loads at login and stays in the background, working like a Windows antivirus system to scan everything on the fly and the free version only runs when you invoke it to search for any potential malware. I don't think it's necessary to run in the background. No malware for the Mac is that disruptive that you can't run MWB after it appears to remove it. Another, and I think better, malware finder/killer I DetectX Swift. Does what MWB does, but I like the interface better and it has other bells and whistles. Avoid Sophos at all costs. Just. Say. No. Can't speak to Intego, but as there are no viruses, it's not going to do any real work, won't protect you from anything. All of the A/V applications are a bit like being sold protection against attack from Polar Bears in Miami. There isn't any risk, or the risk is so low as to be practically non-existent, so having any protection from polar bears is useless. I mean literally use-less. It won't get used as there are no polar bears from which to protect you. Same for viruses on the Mac. Just use common sense when browsing. Don't go to dodgy websites, don't click on links unless you absolutely know where it's going, don't download crapola because it's "free" and don't fall for scammers. And make frequent backups because the perversity of the Universe tends to a maximum. [/QUOTE]
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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Operating System
Malware protection for MAC, is it necessary?
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