Mac anti-virus software?

Spizz

Spizz

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Rocking the new M2 512gb Air since yesterday and thought I'd grab a 4k version of The Batman from the high seas to check out the beautiful screen. Haven't visited for a while but one search and pop ups all over the place so decided not to bother. Made me think though, does anyone with a Mac/MacBook bother with anti-virus software? I believe it's a USP of the Macs that it's not required, but just wondering if anyone here does and if so, what have you installed? Thoughts?
 
Personally do not run one, but I also do my sailing on a server hosted in another country and considerable network security in my house.

While it’s potentially less essential than say windows, it’s probably not the worst idea if you intend on sailing more regularly.

I’d say rather have it and not need it. Avoid ESET, while I personally do choose that as one of my favorites, on Mac it installs as a standard application and not a system one so closing it is child’s play, which gives me the impression it’s less reliable as an actual security tool. We had to use it at my previous company and I literally just right clicked and closed and that was the end of that, it only opened up again the next time I restarted, which only ever happened with OS updates.
 
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CranialBlaze said:
Personally do not run one, but I also do my sailing on a server hosted in another country and considerable network security in my house.

While it’s potentially less essential than say windows, it’s probably not the worst idea if you intend on sailing more regularly.

I’d say rather have it and not need it. Avoid ESET, while I personally do choose that as one of my favorites, on Mac it installs as a standard application and not a system one so closing it is child’s play, which gives me the impression it’s less reliable as an actual security tool. We had to use it at my previous company and I literally just right clicked and closed and that was the end of that, it only opened up again the next time I restarted, which only ever happened with OS updates.
Click to expand...
Are you sure? That doesn't sound right.
 
Soulware Technology said:
Are you sure? That doesn't sound right.
Click to expand...

Yep, I was quite happy when we moved to ESET from Avast, until I found out just how pointless it was.

At least Avast required effort and system level permissions to be closed, uninstalling was a ballache, which given its purpose is great, uninstall ESET, right click and move to bin poof it’s gone.

It cannot even remotely be considered a security utility with that level of ease and simple to shutdown and remove.
 
No need, its baked right in. XProtect along with hardware and software by design to the job.

Protecting against malware in macOS

On devices with macOS, malware defenses are structured using the followingApp Store, or Gatekeeper combined with Notarization, and XProtect.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

Apple Platform Security

Learn how security is implemented in Apple hardware, software, apps and services.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

Just keep it updated and you are golden.

It’s my opinion that it’s far more risky allow these third party software the permissions and levels of access they require to operate, than to just not run them.

As long as you aren’t an idiot and giving root access when running random things asking for it you’ll be just fine. Also worth keeping Gatekeeper set to AppStore only and then override it only when necessary, although these days even by default it’s near impossible to bypass with bad ****.

****

There is a misconception that Macs don’t need any antivirus / anti malware because they aren’t targeted.

They don’t need it because it’s already there is the real reason.
 
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CranialBlaze said:
Yep, I was quite happy when we moved to ESET from Avast, until I found out just how pointless it was.

At least Avast required effort and system level permissions to be closed, uninstalling was a ballache, which given its purpose is great, uninstall ESET, right click and move to bin poof it’s gone.

It cannot even remotely be considered a security utility with that level of ease and simple to shutdown and remove.
Click to expand...
What Eset product were you using? Maybe it has been updated or some bug. There is no way that Eset kernel is not protected.
 
Soulware Technology said:
@CarnialBlaze

You need to allow system extension for Eset to be running protected kernel.

[KB7636] Allow system extensions for your ESET application for macOS

support.eset.com support.eset.com

@SauRoNZA

"root" is required by any security app. It needs the privilege to scan and repair system files.
Click to expand...


I know.

And that’s a bad idea to give access to anything that’s just doing something already baked in.

Completely unnecessary.

Now their app gets compromised and every device running it.

No thanks.
 
SauRoNZA said:
I know.

And that’s a bad idea to give access to anything that’s just doing something already baked in.

Completely unnecessary.

Now their app gets compromised and every device running it.

No thanks.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't trust Windows Defender. Maybe Apple security is on it, but Eset only focuses on one aspect Security. They are usually on top of their game. New zero day, they could be the first to deploy signatures to protect against it.

In the Windows world Eset is king.
 
Soulware Technology said:
I wouldn't trust Windows Defender. Maybe Apple security is on it, but Eset only focuses on one aspect Security. They are usually on top of their game. New zero day, they could be the first to deploy signatures to protect against it.

In the Windows world Eset is king.
Click to expand...

I have over a thousand deployed devices without anything third party installed on them for many many years.

It’s not necessary.

Apple deploys zero day updates as quickly as anyone.
 
Soulware Technology said:
What Eset product were you using? Maybe it has been updated or some bug. There is no way that Eset kernel is not protected.
Click to expand...

Whether or not it’s protected, closing and uninstalling works the same as any other app. It’s not security if all I need to do is cmd+q to kill it entirely and render it useless.

No background task, no prompts, no warnings, no password or biometric requirements, half a second of effort and poof, it’s shutdown.

The entire Mac team saw that, honestly we where quite happy, pointless having AV on a Mac anyway, we only installed it cause businesses wanted it too, being installed was the requirement, they never told us it needed to actually be running too. Lol.
 
CranialBlaze said:
Whether or not it’s protected, closing and uninstalling works the same as any other app. It’s not security if all I need to do is cmd+q to kill it entirely and render it useless.

No background task, no prompts, no warnings, no password or biometric requirements, half a second of effort and poof, it’s shutdown.

The entire Mac team saw that, honestly we where quite happy, pointless having AV on a Mac anyway, we only installed it cause businesses wanted it too, being installed was the requirement, they never told us it needed to actually be running too. Lol.
Click to expand...
It's not installed properly if you can “Alt + F4” it.
 
Soulware Technology said:
It's not installed properly if you can “Alt + F4” it.
Click to expand...

Well, I download, I install. It should not require unknown effort to install it “properly “, it’s security software. If 10 IT professional cannot install it “properly”, how is your every day moron meant to do it.
 
Spizz said:
Rocking the new M2 512gb Air since yesterday and thought I'd grab a 4k version of The Batman from the high seas to check out the beautiful screen. Haven't visited for a while but one search and pop ups all over the place so decided not to bother. Made me think though, does anyone with a Mac/MacBook bother with anti-virus software? I believe it's a USP of the Macs that it's not required, but just wondering if anyone here does and if so, what have you installed? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Pop-ups? What you essentially need is browser add-ons, not AV. Something like Ublock origin and Duckduckgo essentials. Maybe even Decentraleyes.
 
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