What Anti-Virus and/or Firewall software do you use?

[Odysee]

I am considering setting up a subscribe to Norton Anti Virus/Internet Security - I used to use it before when I had a Windows Machine and did like it.

However, I don't want it to be a system hog and for it to slow my machine down, do you use any? If so what and does it slow your machine down?

 

[Chundles]

Nothing. Haven’t ever on my Mac.

 

[S.B.G]

I don't use AV on all of my Macs, although I have a free license for Malwarebytes which I run on the Mac mini simply because I can. It doesn't hog any resources and isn't a nuisance either.

As for firewall software, I don't use any. I am behind a hardware firewall, a Negate SG-3100 running pfSense open source firewall software.

 

[MacDawg]

I used Norton waaaaay back in the day on System 7 I believe and it was worse than any virus I could have encountered
I dumped it and have never looked back

Since OSX and macOS days I haven't used anything and I don't believe it is necessary
I run Malwarebytes (free) occasionally if I think I need to, but have never really found anything

Common sense computing, staying away from sketchy sites and paying attention to what you install will keep you free of most malware
Avoiding pirated software and torrents in general will also provide you protection

Other than that, I don't use anything and don't feel the need for it at all
(I'm not in a position of sending a lot of Office files, so I don't need to protect Windows users, but ClamXav is still the go to for that I think)

 

[Ulenspiegel]

NAV will slow down your machine and will cause different problems.
MACs don't really need an AVS, nevertheless many of us here in MR use (sometimes) Malwarebytes, the free on-demand version. It means it does nothing in the background and scans your machine only when you require it.

 

[Fishrrman]

The answer:
Nothing. Nothing at all.

There has not been a single (not one) Mac "virus" that has escaped "into the wild" since the introduction of OS X back around 2001 or so.

ONE THING YOU DO NEED:
MalwareBytes Anti-Malware for Mac.
Get it here:
https://www.malwarebytes.com

It's free.
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
When you run MalwareBytes, it will keep "prompting you to upgrade to the paid version".
YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO THIS (all shouting intentional).
It will run "in free mode" forever.

Although there aren't any Mac "viruses", there ARE instances of Mac Malware and Adware (and other crapware).
That's why it's useful to run MB periodically to check for them.

It actually found something on my Mac several months' back (the very first "instance" I've had with anything in over 30 years of Mac'ing).
MB got rid of it right away.

 

[hobowankenobi]

We use SEP at work (required), and I can say it sucks less than it used to. Used to be a bad resource hog, now not so much.

Still would not recommend it.

As others have stated...Macs really don't need AV most of the time. Anti-malware...sure, but not AV.

Why do you think you want to use one?

 

[chabig]

Don't install anti-virus at all. It's completely wrong to assume that any third party has a better knowledge of the inner nuts and bolts of the OS than the people who designed it. This mindset is a decades old carryover from the days of Win 95 and Win XP.

 

[Lunder89]

Most Anti-malware software for Mac does not have pattern recognition, which means, unless the malware is in a specific form, that has already been encountered, then the malware scanner will not find it at all.

Apples own security systems, that are built, in will protect you from anything out there, unless you go for the "5-finger-discount" or too good to be true deals, on some not so nice websites.

A little common sense and you perfectly fine.

I forgot which one specifically, but recently a ransomware attach actually managed to hold some Mac users for ransom, and when it was found out, all anti-malware companies was out saying the where working on a fix for it. And if I remember correctly, Apple and the developer behind the compromised app, beat the anti-malware companies to it.
(Could have been either the Transmission or Handbrake attack... I am really not sure)

I have 4 Macs in my life (2 at home, 2 at work), none run any kind of anti-malware software.

 

[GGJstudios]

I am considering setting up a subscribe to Norton Anti Virus/Internet Security - I used to use it before when I had a Windows Machine and did like it.

However, I don't want it to be a system hog and for it to slow my machine down, do you use any? If so what and does it slow your machine down?

Macs are not immune to malware and no system is 100% secure, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on macOS, and there never have been any since it was released over 17 years ago. The only true malware in the wild that can affect your Mac is a handful of trojans, which can be easily avoided by being careful about what apps you install (no pirated software). 3rd party antivirus apps are not necessary to keep a Mac malware-free, as long as a user practices safe computing. In addition, some antivirus apps have themselves been used to introduce malware to Macs. In general, macOS malware is so relatively rare, that only a very small percentage of Mac users have ever encountered any.

 

[Panthera Tigris Altaica]

I am considering setting up a subscribe to Norton Anti Virus/Internet Security - I used to use it before when I had a Windows Machine and did like it.

However, I don't want it to be a system hog and for it to slow my machine down, do you use any? If so what and does it slow your machine down?

You don't need antimalware software. There have been no significant malware threats for Macs for 20 years. If you must get antimalware software, get MalwareBytes. You won't need it.

The best current firewall software for Macs is Little Snitch. The first few weeks that you have it installed it will drive you crazy asking about various items attempting to connect to or from your Mac. After you set up the rules properly things will settle down.

Please do not use Norton antimalware software. It is more dangerous than any Mac malware ever seen.

 

[Red Menace]

I use the wetware between my ears. It gets the occasional bug, but has worked without issue for many years.

 

[madmin]

If you're that serious about protecting your Mac, you should consider an outbound firewall. Letting your Mac talk to anything on the internet without your knowledge is a much bigger issue than viruses IMO. Personally, I use and recommend LittleSnitch, although it can be a PITA for non-technical users. However, if you want maximum protection, you'll need to become technical, no two ways about it.

 

[Mac4Brains]

if your going to go with a viral protection program, try avast for the mac <https://www.avast.com/en-us/index#mac>. there is a free version that will cover most basic issue. paying for the full version is up to you but may not be fully needed.

DO NOT USE NORTON

 

[ZStech]

I am considering setting up a subscribe to Norton Anti Virus/Internet Security - I used to use it before when I had a Windows Machine and did like it.

However, I don't want it to be a system hog and for it to slow my machine down, do you use any? If so what and does it slow your machine down?

I use Malwarebytest on my Mac. Recently it has found some infections, but now too much at all.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Been running several tests of free traditional AV tools: Sophos Home, AVG, Avast, Avira.

All work, and offer pretty good options for a free, limited tool. My ratings would be best to worst:

Sophos Home
Avira
Avast
AVG

All work, but the some nag you you to upgrade; Sophos and Avira don't.

Not arguing they are needed, but some folks in a BYOD environment are required to run AV, or feel better with some protection.

The part that remains mostly untested: Will any or all of these clean out the most common adware/malware that MalwareBytes typically catches and cleans?