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Malware/Virus cleaning app?

B

bobright

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
4,817
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I know lots of folks say Macs dont or rarely catch viruses but for precautious reasons is there any apps I can run to be safe? I've lately been getting popups and random websites loaded that say my system is infected. It'll say Malware something.

What should I run to be sure I'm safe?
 
I agree, Malwarebytes is all you need to clean out most annoying malware. Since there are currently no viruses in the wild that can infect your Mac, you do not need an AV app.
 
bobright said:
I know lots of folks say Macs dont or rarely catch viruses but for precautious reasons is there any apps I can run to be safe? I've lately been getting popups and random websites loaded that say my system is infected. It'll say Malware something.

What should I run to be sure I'm safe?
Click to expand...
Yeah! You've been 'fingerprinted'. It is how we know who you are without even 'knowing who you are.'

As you browse the interwebs you gain cookies, sessionIds, local storage variables, indexed databases, ect all saved by your browser. After an <undisclosed time period> your data becomes unique enough to target you. Even without knowing your name.

You want the easy fix, keep a fresh copy of Malware Bytes ( be sure to get a legit copy and not some seeded copy ) and run it every month or so. Also for the extra paranoid clear ALL of your browsing data. Fingerprint erased, at least temporarily. As you begin visiting sites that you normally visit, the fingerprint gets stronger and stronger.

Good luck.

PS. None of this is a virus. Just a way of tracking your habits. Like watching you when you leave work/home to see what make/model/type of transportation you typically use. Then tracking the average timing of your trips and routes. Pretty soon, high accuracy estimates of your location at any given time can be made. Tag, you are fingerprinted.

PSS. Vary your routes. Wear tin foil hats.
 
Malware bytes has received reasonable reviews, but it's not the best. PDWorld's tests placed it in the top 3rd of products (89% caught, vs 98% for the top rated product).

Unfortunately the reviews are for the Windows software. My assumption is that the Mac app gives the same results.

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/malwarebytes-free,review-2204.html
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2455577,00.asp

MacWorld U.S. top rated ones are Avast and Sophos:

https://www.macworld.com/article/3263722/software/best-antivirus-for-mac.html

MacWorld U.K. rates MalwareByes #4:

https://www.thetop10antivirus.com/top-10-malware-removal

although their reviews don't seem as thorough as the U.S. ones.

Intego Virus-barrier for years was the top rated MacWorld U.S. product. It is now not recommended as it doesn't handle newer threats, such as ransomeware, well.
 
Those reviews are comparing Malwarebytes with other regular AV packages. Since there is no need to run AV software on your Mac, the comparison is not realistic. As everyone has mentioned, Malwarebytes is all you need.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware app is not an anti virus application. Avast, Sophos, and Intego Virus barrier are all primarily anti-virus software. I realize that some folks because of their work or school are required to run an AV package in which case those might be good choices.
 
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HDFan said:
So why do you think MacWorld (and other sites) say that you need to run virus protection as well as malware protection?
Click to expand...

1. Malware, short for “malicious software” is an umbrella term.

"Malware is considered an annoying or harmful type of software intended to secretly access a device without the user's knowledge. Types of malware include spyware, adware, phishing, viruses, trojan horses, worms, rootkits, ransomware and browser hijackers."
(Source)

"Malware refers to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software, including computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, scareware, and other malicious programs".
(Source)

2. From the same source (MacWorld) you have cited (extracts):

"Apple goes to great lengths to protect you from malware by making it almost impossible for you to download it in the first place. The company has built anti-malware protection into macOS."

"The Mac's malware scanning tool, Xprotect, works invisibly and automatically in the background and requires no user configuration. Apple has a list of malicious applications that it checks against when you open downloaded applications. Updates happen invisibly too. This is similar to having antivirus software from another software developer running on your Mac, with the bonus of being written into the operating system and therefore it doesn't hamper the speed of your Mac."

"In addition, macOS blocks downloaded software that hasn't been digitally signed - a process in which Apple approves the developer. The system at work here is called Gatekeeper."

"Software that is approved by Apple is also Sandboxed, which means apps do only what they’re intended to do. App sandboxing isolates apps from the critical system components of your Mac, your data and your other apps, so they shouldn't be able to access anything that could allow them to do any damage."

"As we've explained above, it's certainly not an essential requirement to install antivirus software on your Mac. Apple does a pretty good job of keeping on top of vulnerabilities and exploits and the updates to the MacOS that will protect your Mac will be pushed out over auto-update very quickly."
 
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Ulenspiegel said:
The company has built anti-malware protection into macOS."
Click to expand...


I am aware of the internal protections. Following your argument that virus protection isn't needed because it is built in, since malware protection is already (by your quote) there then why duplicate it with with malwarebytes?

My response to that question would be

Ulenspiegel said:
it's certainly not an essential requirement to install antivirus software on your Mac. Apple does a pretty good job
Click to expand...

"pretty good job" is not sufficient for me, for virus or malware or ransomeware or ... I have too much to lose even if the possibility is a fraction of a percent. But that's a a personal choice.
 
HDFan said:
I am aware of the internal protections. Following your argument that virus protection isn't needed because it is built in, since malware protection is already (by your quote) there then why duplicate it with with malwarebytes?
My response to that question would be
"pretty good job" is not sufficient for me, for virus or malware or ransomeware or ... I have too much to lose even if the possibility is a fraction of a percent. But that's a a personal choice.
Click to expand...

1. As it was explained in post #11 malware is (still) an umbrella term that includes viruses, worms, trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, scareware, and other malicious programs. The term has to be used properly.

2. To be precise, it is not my argument, but an argument of MacWorld that you have cited and referred to in your posts #8 and #10.
Next time pay attention to making relevant statements.

3. It is a personal choice without any doubt. Malwarebytes is my choice and it was my argument. (See post #2).
 
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09872738 said:
Websites popping up and claiming to have found malware is just Scareware. Don't get fooled.

Malwarebytes is a good recommendation.

Stay away from MacKeeper, CleanMyMac and the like!
Click to expand...

Malwarebytes cured my popups problem, freezing of YouTube videos and final required step to get rid of the evil MacKeeper app.
It is a rare gem app.
 
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Does anybody have any comment about the Eclecticlight article saying that XProtect has not been updated since 13th March 2018? (https://eclecticlight.co/2018/08/15/xprotect-missing-presumed-dead/).

I have the WallsOfTroy app, which quotes a last updated date of 21st July 2018, but I understand that this date is the last compiled date, not an Apple issue date.

If anybody can give me a dummy's guide of how to see, directly on system, what the protection includes and the update date, I would be very happy.
 
Just look at the last modified date of this file. Mine was last updated on July 24.

Code: 
/System/Library/CoreServices/XProtect.bundle/Contents/Resources/XProtect.plist
 
Thanks Weaselboy, I have a date of 21st July 2018 as given by WallsOfTroy, but wonder about the Eclecticlight article's date. Is that from the SU catalogue, and if so, how do I see it?
 
Thanks, I appreciate that, but still puzzled by what others are saying about the 13th March being the last Apple update.
 
I am seeing the 21 July date in the XProtect plist "modified" date, but think this may not be the 2099 version issue date. Where do you see this?
 
putnik said:
I am seeing the 21 July date in the XProtect plist "modified" date, but think this may not be the 2099 version issue date. Where do you see this?
Click to expand...

I went to the area listed above by "Weaselboy". It clearly shows the modified date as 13 March 2018. Which leads me to believe that the XProtect updates may not be the same for everyone but may depend on which version of macOS you're running?
 
This is for version 2099 in Mojave?

upload_2018-8-21_21-27-47.png
 
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