Mac Antivirus Suggestions
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altrenda
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Not to get into the holy war of Macs and malware, but for users that operate in mixed environments we use Sophos.
It's free and works better than the Mac products from Eset and Kaspersky.
Here is a write up http://lifehacker.com/the-best-antivirus-app-for-mac-488021445/all
It's free and works better than the Mac products from Eset and Kaspersky.
Here is a write up http://lifehacker.com/the-best-antivirus-app-for-mac-488021445/all
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I haven't had very good experiences with AVs for the Mac. Sophos slowed down one iMac horribly & just the other day I had to uninstall Webroot because it kept on popping up every 10 seconds saying that it didn't install correctly even though it was installed over a year ago.
It just seems like the R&D for Mac AVs is a fraction of what it is for the PC side, so the quality of the programs is lacking.
For the minimal amount of Mac malware out there I would rather not deal with all the problems & don't install AVs on any customers Macs.
It just seems like the R&D for Mac AVs is a fraction of what it is for the PC side, so the quality of the programs is lacking.
For the minimal amount of Mac malware out there I would rather not deal with all the problems & don't install AVs on any customers Macs.
BrianofNazareth
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+1 for Sophos. Also, keep your client's Mac updated. Block Flash & disable Java when possible, and if they use Adobe products, keep them updated as well.
gunslinger
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I personally don't believe in AV for Macs unless they are on a Windows network and you need to protect the windows boxes. If you are going to install an AV on your Mac I recommend the same as above Eset and Kaspersky.
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MobileTechie
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Anyone actually got a virus on a Mac? I've never heard anyone first hand saying they did.
PBComputer
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I've seen scareware before on a mac, mind the toolu I ran did identify it as a torgen.
Paul
gunslinger
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I have never personally seen one in 10 years. I'm good friends with several other shop owners who have been at this much longer than I have and none have seen or heard of any Mac viruses in the last 6-8 years. I have been challenging people on tech forums including this one for 6 years to please send me a Mac virus and not a single tech has been able to yet.
So, while I can't say there arent any Mac viruses, I can say apparently they are so rare as to be non-existant. (not even highly motivated anti-Mac computer techs can find one) Install Chrome, turn on gatekeeper and tell the end user not to be stupid and I can almost 100% guarantee they will never get a true infection or malware.
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Hi all,
Thanks so much for your suggestions. I think I will try avast! first, due to the tests by TheSafeMac.com and the malware list from TechPJC. They both show that avast! has better detection rates than Sophos, though only slightly higher. Also, on CNET, many users have has a tough time trying to get rid of Sophos when it slowed down their computer.
Overall, avast! looks better, but Sophos will definitely be my second option.
Thanks Again,
Tech4Him
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Also, gunslinger, for your Mac malware, you might be able to look at thesafemac.com.
Thanks so much for your suggestions. I think I will try avast! first, due to the tests by TheSafeMac.com and the malware list from TechPJC. They both show that avast! has better detection rates than Sophos, though only slightly higher. Also, on CNET, many users have has a tough time trying to get rid of Sophos when it slowed down their computer.
Overall, avast! looks better, but Sophos will definitely be my second option.
Thanks Again,
Tech4Him
---------------------------
Also, gunslinger, for your Mac malware, you might be able to look at thesafemac.com.
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TechPJC
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No! No!
Never write that again, Tech4Him!
Next time, you dare to mention anything related to OS X Malware, you need to remember the the following statements:
When it comes to OS X Malware Analysis, 'shop owners' know better than
a) the professional Malware Experts found in the OS X AV Industry (e.g. Kaspersky, ESET, avast!, Sophos etc.),
b) the OS X Malware Testing sites like securityspread.com and
c) OS X Security sites like thesafemac.com
Once again, 'techs' on a 'shop owner'-level are the experts on the OS X Malware;
OS X AV-vendors and OS X Malware-Testers are Not!
Let's play 'Back & Forth' a little; just to have our...back covered...
Especially, when MD5 Hash-verified OS X Malware does Not ring a bell; not a single one...
Dear Tech4Him,
You know now...
I warned you about it...
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Dear Tech4Him,
You know now...
I warned you about it...
Haha. Now you've provided more bait, almost too much to resist.
The problem is, 99.99% of the time a mac user says they have virus, they don't, their problem is something else. Sometimes a tech will run an AV to humour them, but I have never seen it actually catch anything other than windows only threats.
gunslinger
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Exactly.
TechPJC said:
Yes, yes they do. You see, techs get to deal with actual computers in the wild. Not a simulated system in a lab. Its not real hard to say "I get in maybe 10-15 systems per week, out of the 50 per month 6 are Macs and I havent seen an actual infection in a Mac in 6+ years." This is a far cry from the so called "security expert" that has a mission to sell AV saying that in theory there could be an infection. Whats possible and what actually happens in real life are two very different things. So actually, techs ARE the best, most informed people to ask.
Also, if I asked any tech on technibble right now to send me a virus for the PC, I guarantee I'd be flooded with them in my inbox within minunits. Not so for the Mac. Not a single person in 6 years.
I'm sure you are a smart guy, you run your own business. You really need to come off the Mac bashing dude. Its making you look bad. It makes you look like you lack common sense.
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As has been posted already, there are some java exploits kicking about for macs, particularly the FBI warning type.
In this case, its technically not a virus, more an irritation intended to scare people into paying a "ransom"
Resetting the browser removed it.
That didn't stop my customer paying up last week though.
In this case, its technically not a virus, more an irritation intended to scare people into paying a "ransom"
Resetting the browser removed it.
That didn't stop my customer paying up last week though.
Geeked
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We support a great deal of both PC & Mac users. Over 99% is the amount of viruses we see on Windows workstations with the remaining <1% being linux web server infections (man, those can be a chore).
We tell our Mac customers not to bother with AV... but I also tell them that Mac's doesn't make them immune to threats either. Macs could be a target one day, but virtually all malicious attacks that we see on a daily basis (for 12 years), occurs on Windows. Some Mac customers still insist for some kind of AV product, and if they do, I honor it and let them (i can count on one hand the Mac clients in the last 12 years who have insisted). Usually, they have a product in mind and I just let them do that. A year or so later, they usually take my advice and save the renewal cost.
I've jokingly told Mac customers, that if they do catch a virus, to give us a call right away because we'd all want to come over and see it in person. We're THAT curious. We collect PC viruses on special flash drives and do our own AV testing on fresh Windows installs in our own testing environment about once every other year with the viruses we see on the field most often (that's a different story). The minute we do start seeing a credible virus targeting Mac's in any capacity.. I'll be the first to start calling our Mac customers.
We tell our Mac customers not to bother with AV... but I also tell them that Mac's doesn't make them immune to threats either. Macs could be a target one day, but virtually all malicious attacks that we see on a daily basis (for 12 years), occurs on Windows. Some Mac customers still insist for some kind of AV product, and if they do, I honor it and let them (i can count on one hand the Mac clients in the last 12 years who have insisted). Usually, they have a product in mind and I just let them do that. A year or so later, they usually take my advice and save the renewal cost.
I've jokingly told Mac customers, that if they do catch a virus, to give us a call right away because we'd all want to come over and see it in person. We're THAT curious. We collect PC viruses on special flash drives and do our own AV testing on fresh Windows installs in our own testing environment about once every other year with the viruses we see on the field most often (that's a different story). The minute we do start seeing a credible virus targeting Mac's in any capacity.. I'll be the first to start calling our Mac customers.
gunslinger
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Sure there are things like that. Its more a social engineering scam and annoying than a true threat that will actually do real damage to the OS. You can't fix stupid, and the customers that will pay up are also the same ones that will listen to the guy from "microsoft" when he calls.
Geeked said:
Exactly what I been saying for years. Yet there are still people on here like TechPJC who insist Mac are as easily infected as PC. To hear them tell it Macs are even more vulnerable. This is complete nonsense. These so called "techs" either are completely ignorant about Macs or they are populously lying and spreading FUD. It really is that simple.
Back to the OP. If you must use an AV on the Mac there are several good ones out there. They are only going to catch windows infections but it will keep the Windows networks safe.
gunslinger
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I'm not doing this with you again. Its just taking away from the thread. All you have done is rant endlessly about your "security experts" and all the so called Mac malware they have seen. Meanwhile, back in the real world where techs are removing real viruses and malware in shops all over the world, no one is seeing these infections. I'm not saying someone doesn't get the occasional browser hijacker or fall for some social engineering scam. I'm saying there are no Mac viruses in the wild that I know of and neither me or any of the other techs who have responded on here or that run shops around here have ever seen one.
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Digital Sage
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I've serviced heaps of macs. It's my main business. Never ever seen a virus. Have heard of a browser homepage change in chrome but that's it. Every single
Change to the core needs to the password to entered. Still waiting to find Virus on the mac.
Change to the core needs to the password to entered. Still waiting to find Virus on the mac.
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