How long will it be safe to use Big Sur?

[hewastl286]

Hello,
how long will it be safe to use Big Sur on my Macbook Late 2013?
The Macbook runs just fine, I mostly use it for browsing...

Will it be more safe when I use chrome instead of safari?

Sould i better install any antivirus software?

 

[bogdanw]

You are no longer safe, as Apple stopped providing security updates for Big Sur in September.
macOS Big Sur 11.7.10 11 Sep 2023 https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213915
Safari 16.6.1 macOS Big Sur 21 Sep 2023 https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213930

Yes, it’s safer to use Chrome, as it’s constantly updated.
Chrome browser for Mac (DMG) https://chromeenterprise.google/browser/download/#mac-tab

You can scan downloaded files on https://www.virustotal.com
and use BlockBlock to monitor software that tries to install itself persistently (run on every start) https://objective-see.org/products/blockblock.html

 

[saudor]

no. dont use antivirus software. Many are resource hogs/borderline viruses themselves considering how they're found spamming up every prebuilt PC .

You'll be fine as long as you use an updated browser like firefox, edge or chrome.

 

[Patrice Brousseau]

no. dont use antivirus software. Many are resource hogs/borderline viruses themselves considering how they're found spamming up every prebuilt PC .

You'll be fine as long as you use an updated browser like firefox, edge or chrome.

Still on Sierra on an MBP early 2011, Mojave on an MBP 2015 and my Hackintosh Z390 and Big Sur/Monterey on another Hackintosh, a Dell XPS 8930 I7 8700.

Not sure I’ll keep Monterey as I had a couple of bugs compared to Big Sur.

 

[hewastl286]

Ok thank you all!
So when i use Chrome on the MacBook Pro Late 2013 with BigSur i will be safe.

But what is with the apps on the mac? Like the Mail App form Apple? Will i be safe when using this?


Also what is with the data (Excels, Words, Pictures) on the Mac? is the macbook safe enough?

 

[bogdanw]

But what is with the apps on the mac? Like the Mail App form Apple? Will i be safe when using this?

Apple Mail might suffer from some of the same vulnerabilities as Safari.
You can use Thunderbird https://www.thunderbird.net/ or another updated e-mail client.

 

[Patrice Brousseau]

Ok thank you all!
So when i use Chrome on the MacBook Pro Late 2013 with BigSur i will be safe.

But what is with the apps on the mac? Like the Mail App form Apple? Will i be safe when using this?


Also what is with the data (Excels, Words, Pictures) on the Mac? is the macbook safe enough?

Unfortunately, Office isn’t updated anymore on Big Sur as you probably know. Now, it will work but new functionalities or security patches (I guess there could be attacks via Office docs) won’t be available to us.

In my case, I’m thinking right now if I should keep Ventura (second try) or fall back to Big Sur as I have my Pioneer external DVD drive not playing nicely with Ventura. Mind you, I am using an Hackintosh (triple boot Win11, MacOS 11 and 13) so it could be the root cause of this « bug » .

 

[saudor]

In my case, I’m thinking right now if I should keep Ventura or fall back to Big Sur as I have my Pioneer external DVD drive not playing nicely with Ventura.

As long as you did your USB map correctly, it's likely a ventura thing. Optical drives have been in a slow decline for a while.

I also have a ventura install but cant switch to it full time because of tiny issues like mouse acceleration changes (since 12) and the forced use of file provider which means it's hard as hell to backup my files that are on the cloud (onedrive)

 

[Patrice Brousseau]

As long as you did your USB map correctly, it's likely a ventura thing. Optical drives have been in a slow decline for a while.

I also have a ventura install but cant switch to it full time because of tiny issues like mouse acceleration changes (since 12) and the forced use of file provider which means it's hard as hell to backup my files that are on the cloud (onedrive)

It’s indeed a new thing since Ventura. USB map work flawlessly on the Big Sur side but, sometimes, on Ventura, the external Pioneer refuses to respond after sleep. Unfortunately, it’s a random bug so, hard to pinpoint.

 

[bogdanw]

Unfortunately, Office isn’t updated anymore on Big Sur as you probably know. Now, it will work but new functionalities or security patches (I guess there could be attacks via Office docs) won’t be available to us.

Regularly updated, free alternatives to Microsoft’s Office:
LibreOffice https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice/
ONLYOFFICE https://www.onlyoffice.com/download-desktop.aspx
I use LibreOffice 7.5.9.

 

[hewastl286]

ok..
i think i will also install windows 11 on bootcamp on my MBP Late 2013.. so i will be more safe

 

[Chuckeee]

If you don’t click on unknown links and avoid pirated software, what are you afraid of? What are you safe from?

 

[hewastl286]

i don't know... i use the MB for Mail, Web-Browsing (News, YouTube, Twicht, Amazon...) i only surf on sites i mostly trust

 

[Racineur]

Apple Mail might suffer from some of the same vulnerabilities as Safari.
You can use Thunderbird https://www.thunderbird.net/ or another updated e-mail client.

Thunderbird? Are you out of your mind friend? Almost suggesting using Linux. Yes Thunderbird if you don't mind using a byzantine hyper complicated and ugly email client. Stop the madness for God sake. Use Outlook but forget about turning your mac into a Ubuntu or Debian or Mint OS.

 

[Racineur]

i don't know... i use the MB for Mail, Web-Browsing (News, YouTube, Twicht, Amazon...) i only surf on sites i mostly trust

That's the way to go. Are people now having paranoia injected in their veins by also paranoid users that believe cruising the Net is safer with a 2 days patch and patch again in 5 days and again in 10 days? Don't use a computer, a phone and wifi and stay in 1976 then. This paranoid view is getting out of control.

 

[aespana]

You are safe. Just don't go to shady sites and that's all. Use an updated browser as Chrome or Firefox and you will be fine.

 

[sdfox7]

No software is 100% secure. ALL software has vulnerabilities that haven't been found. Yes, even the "latest" Chrome. In some cases the developers are aware but haven't created a patch or fix yet.

Windows 7 is still extremely popular, hasn't been patched for home users in 4 years. I haven't heard of any exploits.