Anti-Virus for Mac

[Gillian Snoxall]

I have finally got rid of Sophos Anti-Virus from my computer. It was a real pain -- constantly detecting "threats" which had to be removed manually, but with no obvious way of doing so.

Is there another anti-virus for Mac program that is recommended?

Gilly

[John Patrick]

What software do you use daily and what type of activities do you do
on your mac?

The reason I ask as I don't have anti virus running on any of my mac's
over the last 6 years. I am aware if I plug in unknown usb devices, or
connect via public wifi, go to dodgy websites then I'm exposing mac to
a risk.

e.g. public starbucks wifi don't use anything apart form https
use multiple browsers, i use firefox for general web surfing, chrome
for personal stuff and safari for online banking etc, but that's just
me
i use google mail instead of any local mail clients so spam and
viruses should be detected by them an it restricts the potential
exposure as it got to pass google, be html based and crack the browser
before it could infect the mac

not saying you should not use anti-virus but i don't, but i'm aware of
the potential risks to.

John

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[Gillian Snoxall]

Thanks, John, that's interesting. I only use Mail, iPhoto, Safari, that sort of thing -- nothing exotic -- so perhaps I really don't need anti-virus either. Someone in SMUG (I can't remember who) recommended Sophos, which is why I put it on.

Gilly

[Chris Webb]

Gillian,

I'm sure that if there was a threat to be concerned about, you'd hear about here from one of the techies that frequent the Group.

In over 30 years of being one of said 'techies,' I've only know of a handful of 'real threats' that were patched with updates from Apple, normally within hours of their discovery.

I have ClamXav installed on my computer but only so that I can reassure clients who've been told by various financial institutions that the reason their account has been emptied is because they have a virus on their computer. Never lost a case yet.

Chris Webb . Principal

MacService 

Woodside, Brightling Road

Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5EL 

t: 01580 881212

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[Gillian Snoxall]

Thanks Chris!

Gilly

[macabee]

I use Avast for mac, it's free. I only use AV software as I bank online and my bank 'advise' that you use antivirus software in their online safety advice. Should I become a victim of online bank fraud they won't be able to say 'but you did not use AV software?'

[itsa...@mac.com]

Like John I don't use any and I've been using a Macintosh since 1984 and I have never installed any anti-virus software and I have never had a problem.

The thing is that because of the infestations rife on Windows PCs it's fairly well knocked into all of us that every computer should have anti-virus software installed because even those of us who've used Macs for decades invariably use Windows at work where the company invariably installs AV software which is constantly warning you of things and having to be updated and slowing down your computer.

Personally, I would take this opportunity to just scrap it and don't worry. The only reason that I can see to get AV software is to prevent passing on a PC virus or such to a Windows using colleague ... but then that's for them to deal with I reckon ...

Also, I've been online since about 2000 or something so it's not as though I live in some locked-down Mac never touching the internet.


Stephen

David Dinsmore, managing editor of the Sun discussing their decision to publish photos of Prince Harry naked:

"This is about our readers getting involved in the discussion with the man who is third in line to the throne - it's as simple as that."

[Gillian Snoxall]

Great! Thanks everyone. I'll just carry on being careful about opening things, and won't worry about installing anti-virus programs.

Gilly