Recently bought a Mac

[nastynate]

Hello, I've had recently just bought a Macbook Pro and wanted to know whether I should run an Antivirus and if so what Antivirus should I use? There a lot of discussions on this forum about Antivirus but it's really only related to PC's and not Mac's.

 

[Terry Ganzi]

This link should be of some help: (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2406379,00.asp)

 

[nastynate]

Thanks, silly me I've should have used Google. But I was looking for more personal experiences if anybody wanted to share some.

 

[jamescv7]

Well even though I'm not using Mac but holding my experience with IOS OS (Ipod Touch), its an optional to have AV even though there are few emerging threats around, still your common sense should take care of and most viruses are Windows executable.

Likely use adblocker for browsing habits and add extension like WOT to notify about the dangers of website especially phishing.

 

[Vasudev]

Well even though I'm not using Mac but holding my experience with IOS OS (Ipod Touch), its an optional to have AV even though there are few emerging threats around, still your common sense should take care of and most viruses are Windows executable.

Likely use adblocker for browsing habits and add extension like WOT to notify about the dangers of website especially phishing.

Download apps only from Apple's app store and you'll be safe.

 

[Tony Cole]

I did have a mac, but hated the darn thing, it's just apple, apple and more apple. I used Kaspersky, then changed to avast! It eventually went in the bin.

 

[Ink]

You need to Turn On the Firewall.

I haven't one installed at the moment, but all accounts are Standard rights with a single Admin account.

 

[Secondmineboy]

AVs on a Mac and also its security features are useless: https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.synack.com/RSAC+2015+Final.pdf

Go to settings>Security>Firewall and enable it, and activate Incognito mode in advanced.

Make sure Gatekeeper is set to Mac App Store only, or App Store+verified publishers.

Get an external HDD and plug it in once and set it as Time Machine Backup drive, OSX will prompt you.

Go to the Apple logo on the top left and run the software update.

Here are some good free tools: https://objective-see.com/products.html

 

[rienna]

Sadly yes.
Macs do indeed need Antivirus. Not as badly as windows but it is STILL a necessity especially if you want to avoid accidentally infecting your friends that are running Windows.

I would take the same steps above with gatekeeper and the firewall.
but also add-on something like

http://www.clamxav.com/ (or you can get it from the app-store if you don't need or want drivesentry (actually a folder/file monitor that monitors said folder/files of your choice) and do regularly scans once in awhile.

And perhaps WOT (Web Of Trust) to help steer clear of infected sites in the first place so your browser doesn't become a vector.
And I honestly highly recommend it.
(Note: It's a browser extension, and it works in most major browsers from Mac, to Windows, to Linux).

I take the same safety procedures on Linux using ClamAV (with ClamTK GUI).
Although for linux it's only just to be sure I don't give my Windows partition or my family malware by mistake since there's almost no malware for it. (And the malware that does come out for linux doesn't get to live very long before the hole or "exploit" it used to come through is patched up).

Also although this page is dated 2013 it does provide helpful advice.
http://appducate.com/2013/05/should-a-mac-use-an-anti-virus-or-anti-malware-app/

 

[nastynate]

Thanks guys so much helpful tips/links. I love this place

 

[Deleted member 21043]

And perhaps WOT (Web Of Trust) to help steer clear of infected sites in the first place so your browser doesn't become a vector.
And I honestly highly recommend it.
(Note: It's a browser extension, and it works in most major browsers from Mac, to Windows, to Linux).

I like it too, however bear in mind that results can be faked.

 

[rienna]

I like it too, however bear in mind that results can be faked.

True after witnessing the WOT team frame several sites and claim malwarebytes and hpHOSTS labels them as dangerous (even though said sites ARE not listed in hpHOSTS and malwarebytes nor does any other site rating/reputation service rate them bad) I have kinda dropped them my own usage and recommendations list likewise with webutation (100% ratings for scam sites, yet a 50 or 40 on a site I know well to be safe? Not cool).

I might recommend trafficlight from bitdefender, or adguard free with it's antimalware/spyware site/domain filters enabled (if running chrome or firefox) but WOT and Webutation have lost all of my trust.