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newmacuser02 · Nov 5, 2004, 03:07 AM

Hi,

Can anybody tell which is the best antivirus software for mac osx.

When I searched in google.com, I got on software called Authentium ESP for Mac. Can anybody tell how this software is.. and advice me.

Thanks

Randman · Nov 5, 2004, 03:15 AM

There's no viruses on a Mac, so if you're looking for something, I'd say get the cheapest option available, except avoid all Norton products. Bad mojo. If you have .mac, you can get virex, which isn't bad if you deal with lots of files that get interchanged with the PC side of computing.
Otherwise, spend your $$ on something really important, like more ram.

wataru · Nov 5, 2004, 04:42 AM

Do a search.

Millennium · Nov 5, 2004, 05:28 AM

Sophos and Intego make reputable products. If you have .mac then Virex will get the job done, though last I checked it was still a joke compared to its OS9 days. Avoid Norton.

Myself, I'm trying out the Open-Source ClamAV, but I do not recommend it for new users yet.

mitchell_pgh · Nov 5, 2004, 07:05 AM

I get norton for free so I've used it. Over the past year or so it seems to be a little more behaved then the first OS X versions (ick)... I do a scan at 4:00 am every day and it seems to update once in a while. It usually finds things that are sent to me from my Windows "friends". It's constantly finding the MS Word macro viruses (which wouldn't hurt my mac)... but other then that, it simply is one button that I click when I turn the monitor on in the morning.

Randman · Nov 5, 2004, 09:37 AM

Norton bad.

CharlesS · Nov 5, 2004, 01:09 PM

Norton puts kernel extensions in /System/Library/Extensions. Kernel extensions are known for being able to destabilize your system and cause kernel panics. Plus, there is no reason that a file scanner should require kernel extensions. Sophos doesn't.

jclarkv · Nov 21, 2004, 08:35 AM

If you need antivirus to protect your pc-using friends, Virex 7.5.1 does NOT appear to me to be a good option. From the readme:

FEATURES EXCLUDED FROM THIS RELEASE

Scan Contents of Mailboxes -- This Preferences feature of Virex 7.5.0 has been removed from Virex 7.5.1. This product is not meant to be utilized for scanning mails and mailboxes.

TETENAL · Nov 21, 2004, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by jclarkv:
you need antivirus to protect your pc-using friends

This is a rather lame argument for a virus scanner.

Mail removes attachments from mails you forward. So you would have to intentionally attach "kurnikova.jpg.exe" to mails you mail to PC friends. Even though you can't open the alleged image on Mac.

That's a highly unlikely scenario.

TETENAL · Nov 21, 2004, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
Norton puts kernel extensions in /System/Library/Extensions. Kernel extensions are known for being able to destabilize your system and cause kernel panics. Plus, there is no reason that a file scanner should require kernel extensions. Sophos doesn't.

Virex also installs a kernel extension. I think they do this so that files can be scanned the very same moment they are written to the file system. How else could this be done?

TimmyDee51 · Nov 21, 2004, 12:15 PM

Good anti-virus software for the Mac?

Good luck.

FXOLeary · Nov 21, 2004, 07:31 PM

I don't want to be a wiseguy, but mac osx IS the best antivirus software for mac osx. Like Randman suggests, spend your money elsewhere.

Cadaver · Nov 22, 2004, 09:43 AM

If and when there is a virus threat to MacOS X, then I'll spend the money on anti-virus software. Until then, there is really no reason to spend the money. Show me one virus out in the wild, aside from Microsoft Office Macro viruses (thanks Microsoft! Not!), that can affect Mac OS X....