Determine safety of apps

[ddo]

Hi - as a long time Windows power user, but new Mac user, there are several things I'm adjusting to.

I'm very concerned with security, and have a question regarding .app files. After reading the mac virus and security FAQs and posts on this site, they mention to ask about unknown .app files. My question is, with Windows I basically trust little to nothing from the internet - with Mac I assume the same would be true. The only app files I've ran from sources other than Apple or Microsoft directly are f.lux and OpenTTD - of which I would assume both are safe as they have a good reputation (advise if wrong here, I am going from Windows experience)?

What level of paranoia is valid - is even running the above two apps safe, or would it be best to obtain 100% of software through the Apple app store? Checking through searches for the above software shows many users running them on OSX, so I would inclined to think they wouldn't have any malicious code in them, but is there any better way other than guessing? Windows has many software tools to assist in search and detection of malware (and yes I know that they are far from 100% reliable).

Thanks!

 

[simonsi]

In order of safety first I would say:

• Mac App Store (MAS) Apps
• Non-MAS Apps by publishers who publish other Apps on the MAS
• Apps you pay for AND from a publisher with history and/or references from MacRumours
• Free Apps (other than MAS free Apps)
• Copies of legit Apps from known dubious sources (i.e. who use their own installers that have been known to install ad or malware)
• Outright pirated software (you know Photoshop costs right...)

 

[satcomer]

I only trust the Mac App Store and MacUpdate.com.

 

[ddo]

Thanks for the replies guys - has anyone on this forum verified if openttd and flux are 'clean' apps before?

Thanks

 

[satcomer]

OpenTTD

Flux

I found these at MacUpdate and they have mixed reviews. Use at your own peril and they both have been updated just after Yosemtie.

 

[ddo]

Thanks satcomer. Looking through that website it is pretty neat. I'm assuming you were being sarcastic though about the mixed reviews as I only see fully positive reviews there.

(Also I mean F.lux not Flux - http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/37261/f-lux)

Have a great day!