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Anna Leif

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 3, 2015
34
4
Hello,

I was wondering if anyone uses Clamxav?

I already have MalwareBytes installed (which is excellent) but am interested in supplementing it with the sentry feature of Clamxav and using it as an occasional alternative scanner.

Thank you

Anna
 
Do you visit naughty sites or the dark web? If not, then there shouldn't be a reason to use an AV on a Mac.
 
I do have Clamxav with Sentry. Sentry by default monitors only the user account which is okay but I agree with the above in that it is really not necessarily. I have not noticed a performance hit but the more that you want Sentry to watch then the more your computer might be slowed. AV software that I tried on my 2012 MBP really did drag the performance. I think that a scan only AV program is all you might want and only in the sense that it might make you feel better.
 
Do you visit naughty sites or the dark web? If not, then there shouldn't be a reason to use an AV on a Mac.

Hello Bending Pixels,

The question of AV (I prefer the term Anti-malware rather than 'Virus' in relation to Mac) or not is moot in regards to the question, though your reply did make me smile :)

Anna
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I do have Clamxav with Sentry. Sentry by default monitors only the user account which is okay but I agree with the above in that it is really not necessarily. I have not noticed a performance hit but the more that you want Sentry to watch then the more your computer might be slowed. AV software that I tried on my 2012 MBP really did drag the performance. I think that a scan only AV program is all you might want and only in the sense that it might make you feel better.

Hello capandjudy,

Thank you for the information, especially re: 'performance hit'.

Much appreciated

Anna
 
Malware and viruses are two different entities. ClamXav will help protect against viruses and yes, I run it against my download and mail folders.

Malware is a matter of being smart and paranoid. MalwareBytes is considered the best MW solution so far that I've read about or experienced.
 
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