Don\'t Let Anyone Take a Bite From your Apple-Anti-Virus Options for Mac Users

I've been a Mac user for years, hoping on Macs for both work and play. Although the experts and pundits today are quick to warn that hackers are about to begin infiltrating our systems, I even have yet to listen to about an active virus or malware attacking the Mac OS specifically that wasn't designed, distributed, and contained by the IT Security research community.

Still, any day now I'm sure there'll be some nasty thing worming its way through Apples, and when the time comes I'd want to be prepared. It'll hit some mac users pretty hard if they are not expecting it (inside the ego, maybe).

I've been poking across the Internet to search out an inventory of a few free Mac A/V and anti-malware programs. Today there is a new one at the list, since F-Secure has just released a Mac A/V program-in beta. They promise prizes and a subscription to anyone willing to offer “active feedback” to enhance the software.

About.com also has a respectable list of Mac security programs with brief reviews detailing how well each protects against various threats. It is not as research-intense because the PC A/V reviews I posted last week, but simply describes the scope of the way the software blocks-or ignores-varieties of threats.

Here's an inventory of a few of the free Mac-based products on the market:

The problem with one of the free programs is that they focus solely on Mac issues and will not clean the computer-viruses that some files harbor. If those infected files are sent to a computer, they may still pose a threat.In case you use a dual boot or are working closely with other Windows machines, it usually is more helpful to get a program for Mac users bundled with the Windows version, together with Norton AntiVirus.

Or if you would like the ideal protection for the Mac, the product that appears the foremost comprehensive is Intego's Virus Barrier. The corporate focuses only on Mac issues, which has disadvantages should you switch systems, but could be ideal for folks working in a Mac-only environment. And a big plus is that the system uses heuristic scanning, checking for behaviors that resemble threats before they may be identified. At $70, it's kind of pricey, but when you are the type who desires to be fortified and absolutely prepared, which may be your best solution.

           

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 10:07 am.