AV software is a great target. It opens and parses untrusted files and runs with elevated privileges, which is the best combination when you're looking for software to attack.
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Best Virus Software
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AV software is a great target. It opens and parses untrusted files and runs with elevated privileges, which is the best combination when you're looking for software to attack.
I've been using Intego for about 8 years without any issues, running Mojave now.
It's the one piece of software I pay for consistently every year no matter what.
Macs can get viruses just like any other computer don't let anyone fool you.
They are more secure than other OS's (Microsoft I'm looking in your direction), but nothing is fool proof!
(because, ya know, fools are so ingenious..
It's the one piece of software I pay for consistently every year no matter what.
Macs can get viruses just like any other computer don't let anyone fool you.
They are more secure than other OS's (Microsoft I'm looking in your direction), but nothing is fool proof!
(because, ya know, fools are so ingenious..
Oh, cool, can you post proof of this happening?
Technically @iPhonagain is incorrect. There are no 'viruses' for Mac OS operating systems.
There are, however exploits that have been around for many years. To name a few of the publicly known actors:
- Spectre
- ZombieLoad
- Fallout
- RIDL
- Meltdown
The bad news, we are all susceptible to these sorts of vulnerabilities.
The good news, we are all boring and at low risk for an attack of this sort. They are NOT trivial script kiddie exploits.
There are many Malware attacks that affect software loaded on your computer. These can still be used in a harmful way, just not capable of replicating to other machines on your network.
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Sure, here's couple of lists: https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac-software/mac-viruses-list-3668354/
Do Apple Computers Get Viruses?
Information and reasons why Apple computers do get computer viruses and are still vulnerable to attacks.
www.computerhope.com
Mac antivirus
Can Macs get viruses? Does my Mac need antivirus program? How can I tell if my Mac is infected with malware, ransomware, or adware? We’ve got the answers to these crucial questions and more.
www.malwarebytes.com
Don't get me wrong, the Mac OS is probably the most immune to viruses that exists, but nothing is perfect.
Windows (any version) is the absolute worst, both for how many viruses exit on it and how hard it is to protect the OS or get a virus off of it. I work in IT and I only use Apple products at home because they are the most secure and the best quality that exists.
I don't think that list can be used as a basis of proof. That list was likely written by someone who doesn't fully understand the distinction between "virus" and other types of malware.
Unless you exchange data with PC users -- data that might contain malware/viruses that could be "passed on" to other PC users (I'm thinking of MS Office macros, may be irrelevant any more), you don't need "virus protection" on a Mac.
All you need is "MalwareBytes", because there is the occasional occurrence of malware, adware and crapware on the Mac.
You don't need to buy a paid subscription to MalwareBytes.
It will run FOREVER "in free mode".
Just ignore the "upgrade now" button and click "scan now" instead.
All you need is "MalwareBytes", because there is the occasional occurrence of malware, adware and crapware on the Mac.
You don't need to buy a paid subscription to MalwareBytes.
It will run FOREVER "in free mode".
Just ignore the "upgrade now" button and click "scan now" instead.
So, no Mac viruses in the wild. Gotcha. Malware, Trojans, no virus.Sure, here's couple of lists: https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac-software/mac-viruses-list-3668354/
Do Apple Computers Get Viruses?
Information and reasons why Apple computers do get computer viruses and are still vulnerable to attacks.Even the Malwarebytes site says so: "While it’s true Macs are more secure than PCs, they’re still vulnerable to viruses, and they always have been."Mac antivirus
Can Macs get viruses? Does my Mac need antivirus program? How can I tell if my Mac is infected with malware, ransomware, or adware? We’ve got the answers to these crucial questions and more.
Don't get me wrong, the Mac OS is probably the most immune to viruses that exists, but nothing is perfect.
Windows (any version) is the absolute worst, both for how many viruses exit on it and how hard it is to protect the OS or get a virus off of it. I work in IT and I only use Apple products at home because they are the most secure and the best quality that exists.
Seems like everyone on MR plays the same dumb semantics game when someone asks about "viruses". We all know the average person is not talking specifically about self-replicating malware at the exclusion of all others, but about security and malware more broadly. To cling to the narrowest possible definition of "virus" and then triumphantly declare that Macs don't get viruses as if this is actually meaningful in a security context is not useful or even honest.
Macs and the 3rd party software that run on them are full of security vulnerabilities and always have been. Pick anything that handles untrusted data and you'll find a list of CVEs for it, whether it's a web browser, email client, wireless firmware, PDF reader, or anything else.
Macs and the 3rd party software that run on them are full of security vulnerabilities and always have been. Pick anything that handles untrusted data and you'll find a list of CVEs for it, whether it's a web browser, email client, wireless firmware, PDF reader, or anything else.
Would you agree that using proper terminology helps to alleviate misunderstanding? I feel that, especially in a security context, using proper terminology helps to narrow the field of focus and aid in troubleshooting efforts. A trojan and a virus are two different things, with different goals and payloads, yet I still see people stating that they have a "trojan horse virus" on their machine. I don't see it as the "semantic game", I see it as helping others understand. The "anti-virus" makers aren't going out of their way to help either.
The question was “best anti-virus”. The best one I use is none. Why add a vector if you don’t need to? Now, once there is a virus in the wild, I’ll add anti-virus to my Mac.
My PCs all have anti-virus applications.
Why wait? They find all types of malware. I think they're fairly overrated on all platforms, but it's not like there's nothing out there for them to do.
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I am okay with being accurate, but not if it's a disingenuous fanboy attempt to feel superior for not using Windows, which is the sense I get when I read the incessant bickering over virus vs malware. Someone asking if they need anti-virus is asking about whether it will provide value to them, the answer to which is not "No, there are no viruses for Macs".
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My snarkometer hit 100% at "Macs can get viruses just like any other computer don't let anyone fool you."
There are no viruses for Macs in the wild, so no current need for anti-virus. I'm not sure what answer you want.
OK so I understand this point in isolation. Has anyone seen any studies to try and determine is AV software is a net benefit or increases risk, considering both it is a target itself plus the functionality of it versus not having it. There may be enough data points to do this for researchers on Windows & Linux I guess but maybe not macOS, mainly due to scale.
I doubt there are any studies, but if your threat model is mass targeted malware, it's probably a benefit, even if not a very great one. This is generally not very sophisticated malware and not targeted at your systems specifically. A signature based system, which most AV is, is reasonably effective at catching it. If your threat model is skilled attackers targeting you, then it's more complicated and you need to plan for your AV to fail and/or be a target itself.
Thanks. If your threat model is skilled attackers targeting you, then either using no protection or shelfware AV isn’t really going to help you versus engaging some serious IT cyber security professionals I guess.
The October issue of Macworld rated Malwarebytes Premium 3.5 mice out of 5. Couldn't find it on their website, but it is in Apple News+.
"Best virus software for Mac is common sense.". Is the same with windows, or in real life, but not all people think like you. Some people want to surf any web, try things o download anything. In real life for example we have extreme sports, and that is why safe equipment exist and in analogous, antimalware, antivirus in computers. Besides that, not all your family, for example your old parents, know how a computer works, so why don't have a safe solution for they.
For about the millionth time, there are no virus' for macOS in the wild. However DetectX Swift will remove/quarantine everything else.
Mac OS has gatekeeper and Windows has Defender for real life. Any additional AV software allows root access and another path for bad actors to access your computer. Keeping one door protected is easier than keeping several.
Update; not to change what I have already said regarding the lack of actual virus' for macOS I was recommended an app anoyingly called Intego VirusBarrier Scanner (free on the App Store). I duly tested it out and I was very impressed. No only does it visibly scan everything, if that's what you choose, takes about 30min for my 500Gb. Reassuring really, it's hard to believe Malwarebytes can scan your whole HD in 5min. I found nothing on my device so I ran it on my wife's 2018 MBP. It found 3 instances of spigot malware files and quarantined them. I then used it to remove said files.
All up I'm very happy with the app, its easy to use, has a nice UI and simple usefully preferences. I have set it up to run scheduled scan and so far it hasn't skipped a beat.
All up I'm very happy with the app, its easy to use, has a nice UI and simple usefully preferences. I have set it up to run scheduled scan and so far it hasn't skipped a beat.
