best Security / Anti Virus for Macbook Pro

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OnceBitten

494 posts

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#148550 23-Jun-2014 10:48

Ok so we've loaded all the files that I copied from the old compaq and wife has set up MYOB...etc...
Now we just need a good anti virus / security for the MacBook Pro.
I was using Panda cloud? on the old compaq, but that didn't have a firewall apparently.

can someone recommend a good (cheap or free) anti virus system for the Macbook Pro?

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#1072449 23-Jun-2014 10:55

Eset seems widely regarded as a great product everywhere I visit. It's not free, not even that cheap, but it seems to be one of those "get what you pay for" situations.

I don't use it yet, but I plan to soon.

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MikeB4

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#1072455 23-Jun-2014 11:01

If you really feel the need for it Avast or Sophos both have free versions.

gehenna

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#1072467 23-Jun-2014 11:13

Don't bother. If you're not downloading and installing dodgy software from TPB your chances of infection are infinitesimal.

12 years of running Macs and I've never had an infection.

andrewNZ

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#1072471 23-Jun-2014 11:16

gehenna: Don't bother. If you're not downloading and installing dodgy software from TPB your chances of infection are infinitesimal.

12 years of running Macs and I've never had an infection.

I hope you have good backups...

gehenna

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#1072472 23-Jun-2014 11:18

Of course.

MikeB4

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#1072474 23-Jun-2014 11:18

gehenna: Don't bother. If you're not downloading and installing dodgy software from TPB your chances of infection are infinitesimal.

12 years of running Macs and I've never had an infection.

Thats why I put "if you really feel the need" I have been running Mac for years without AV and never had an issue.

Tockly

335 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1072497 23-Jun-2014 11:30

I fun Sophos, mainly for piece of mind. It's free and just sits there. Better safe than sorry I reckon.

PoHq

459 posts

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#1072516 23-Jun-2014 11:59

I'm another Mac user. Coming up 10 years using macs. Never used any anti virus, never had an infection.

gzt

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#1072535 23-Jun-2014 12:31

Also running Sophos, but just started having problems with it this morning. There are not a high number of users so less random information around when things go wrong. Sophos forum might be helpful. Yet to try it.

Iirc I may have run Avast on other osx machines but removed due to a performance hit mainly due to age of machine I suspect.

One valid reason to run av on mac, avoid passing on dormant windows viruses.

If I was going to pay for one it might be ESET. They are known for keeping a close eye on the performance effect. Anyone know of a special offer? ; ).

gzt

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#1072544 23-Jun-2014 12:50

Btw this guy appears to be the recognised independent authority on macav. He tests with a real-time and on-access detection turned off, so the tests do not assess runtime detection just filescan detection. Sophos is in the top three.

michaelmurfy

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#1072574 23-Jun-2014 13:24

Common Sense 2014 - like I say with all these AV threads.

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sir1963

2276 posts

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#1072828 23-Jun-2014 17:27

OnceBitten: Ok so we've loaded all the files that I copied from the old compaq and wife has set up MYOB...etc...
Now we just need a good anti virus / security for the MacBook Pro.
I was using Panda cloud? on the old compaq, but that didn't have a firewall apparently.

can someone recommend a good (cheap or free) anti virus system for the Macbook Pro?

Well I have been using Macs for 25+ years and since OSX I have not had a virus checker on any of my machines
which includes 2 servers at home.

But if you really want get ClamXav off the Apple App Store

gehenna

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#1072841 23-Jun-2014 18:13

IIRC all of the recent viruses for Mac have been distributed through cracked versions of software from Bittorrent sites, iWork 11 was one example, and Photoshop a few years ago too. I don't recall any instances of viruses being distributed in the usual Windows ways (browser ads, email attachments, etc)... though I may be overlooking something. But that's why I don't bother with any antivirus, because I'm not installing pirated software, and any viruses on Mac are BIG news when they happen so it's pretty easy to keep on top of things.

alasta

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#1072884 23-Jun-2014 19:50

I agree that anti-virus is a waste of money. You will be fine without it as long as you make sure you understand what you're authorising each time you are prompted to enter your administrator password.

gzt

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#1072887 23-Jun-2014 19:53

Like the recent fake Adobe Flash installer for instance.

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