Favorite Antivirus and Firewall programs

**sl4mdaddy** · 01-05-10, 12:23

AVG / Zone Alarm

**Littlelebowski** · 01-05-10, 12:51

Originally Posted by Icculus

Just because its based on BSD doesn't mean that its completely safe. Mac's can still get bugs, viruses, etc. If I currently owned one (a Mac that is, I have several linux boxes), I would still run something like ClamX for protection, use a good browser, etc. Having a Mac doesn't mean you can run wild on the internet and not expect to pickup something nasty. Yes the OS does play a part but its more about the end user and how their actions and usage patterns can either keep them safe or get them into a lot of trouble and this applies to Windows and Mac equally.

OP if you want a Mac and like the interface go then go for it; they are great machines (although having some proprietary hardware irks me some as well as the price). However, if you like your Windows box then stick with that and don't buy into all the Apple elitist BS. Mac is not the magic wand to keeping you safe and I don't feel any less chic or cool because I run a pc. Then again I use my machines for real work and not just writing blogs in the park while I sip on my iced double mocha chai latte

Here we go again with another really stupid and lame attempt to hate on Macs and YES, it's uninformed as well! I mean, Todd doesn't even like " iced double mocha chai lattes"

Macs are POSIX compliant. Refresh my mind again about all of those viruses running around the POSIX world, please? Show me all of those malware outbreaks in the wild in Mac/POSIX land? The only malware for Macs are executables (usually shell scripts) disguised as something else. And you still have to execute them with root permissions so.....

And don't waive your IT professional credentials at me. I'm a Solaris guy. I see Macs in the DOD server rooms everyday. Don't tell me they're not being used in the real world.

**BAC** · 01-05-10, 13:10

Originally Posted by ToddG

The obvious.

A change in hardware isn't really an option for me. Unless you want to buy it, that is.

I'll have a look at the ESET AV. So far COMODO has done fairly well, and the combo of it and the Avira AntiVir seems to work well. It was good timing getting an external HD for Christmas to back everything up on, so I'm a little more willing to try different bug protection programs than I was. (I am using a router, by the way, so that base is covered at least.)

-B

**silentsod** · 01-05-10, 14:15

Originally Posted by ToddG

Anyone with even a little experience using an Intel Mac in a business environment can tell you this is not true. With something like Parallels, you can run almost any Windows application on your Mac simultaneously and seamlessly with your Mac apps; no need to reboot. The only time you'd use Boot Camp is for running Windows applications that make hardware-specific calls to your video card (mostly 3D games or CAD).

For most people, the whole Parallels/Boot Camp thing is a crutch that Apple uses to ease folks into the idea of having a Mac. Many Mac users find after a short while that they're not really relying on any Win-specific applications. I haven't even loaded Parallels on my new MBP.

I've never used a Mac in a business environment so I can't say anything about them there. I've used PCs and Linux boxes, though, and I will say it really annoys me that Windows doesn't have a native compiler that comes with the OS (though there are good IDEs available). I will further say I don't know if AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and the like even have Mac versions.

I do have a bunch of Windows specific software (I sure as Hell am not buying another copy of MATLAB, for instance), however, so my viewpoint is probably not one most end users share. Shit, I'm still using XP because the Vista beta did nothing for me. I hear a lot of good things about 7 though, pretty slick UI and both Vista and 7 are solid as far as reliability goes. I can't remember if Vista managed it, but 7 finally separated the video driver layer from the rest of the OS so if they go down they just get restarted and the system keeps humming along.

I'll also be one of the first to admit that a slick UI, tightly controlled hardware and software integration (which makes it odd Macs crash about as much as Vista/7 machines), or a "complete package" don't really mean much to me. I like to piece my own components together, it doesn't phase me if I accidentally nuke my OS HDD in a partitioning gone wrong, etc. Oddly I do like the complete package for my phone (iPhone).

I'm a person who had a subscription to MacAddict back in the day, and my uses of a computer more or less dictated I abandon the platform. Macs are nifty, and I wouldn't mind owning an Apple laptop, they're just not for me.

**Icculus** · 01-05-10, 14:45

Originally Posted by rickrock305

HA! Lets see your PC handle a 200+ track audio project, or video graphic rendering, or the myriad of other CPU heavy tasks that Macs handle every day.

Gladly. I'm POSITIVE my desktop can handle it. I didn't use the my pc can do this/that/or the other that your mac can't argument...so you don't get to use the opposite.

This was a security based discussion anyway

Originally Posted by Littlelebowski

Here we go again with another really stupid and lame attempt to hate on Macs and YES, it's uninformed as well! I mean, Todd doesn't even like " iced double mocha chai lattes"

Excuse me but where exactly in my post did I hate on Mac's? I even said its a great machine. I'm just not drinking the cool aid that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread and that PC's are inherently dangerous, cumbersome and antiquated which is what most Mac users seem to imply or believe. And for the record, its the Mac side of the world that is constantly hating on PC's, not the other way around--hell, look at their advertisements. I run Linux/windows/whatever the situation dictates.

Originally Posted by Littlelebowski

Macs are POSIX compliant. Refresh my mind again about all of those viruses running around the POSIX world, please? Show me all of those malware outbreaks in the wild in Mac/POSIX land? The only malware for Macs are executables (usually shell scripts) disguised as something else. And you still have to execute them with root permissions so.....

Malware for a Mac. Sure I'll get you one. You know if they weren't out there then nobody would be in anti-malware for Mac business now would they. Did I ever say there are fewer viruses for a PC than a Mac--no I didn't. I simply stated the idea that just because you run a Mac doesn't mean you are now in a virus free eutopia where you can romp around the interwebs carefree--which is what the other people suggesting "Just buy a Mac" are implying. Oh and most malware for pc's are also excutables disguised as something else that has to be user initiated. You act like my pc's going to get infected just because I turned it on without me clicking on or running anything.

Originally Posted by Littlelebowski

And don't waive your IT professional credentials at me. I'm a Solaris guy. I see Macs in the DOD server rooms everyday. Don't tell me they're not being used in the real world.

Again re-read my post. Where exactly did I waive my IT professional credentials at you? You're the only one who flashed those here. Solaris guy? What do you want a pat on the back for not getting with the times. I guess next you'll tell me how excited you are about the new Sparc servers. So yes maybe I was a little harsh with the latte comment but seriously would you like to compare corporate usage %'s of pc's vs mac's (and not just in the DC but all workstations and servers).

Damn you Mac folks get defensive in a hurry -- inferiority complex

And I'm done. Its a debate that can't be won and the OP isn't switching hardware anyway. Sorry for the hijack.

**Cohibra45** · 01-05-10, 15:40

Anyone here try these guys besides me..........daily updates to keep up with nasties!!!

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

**Von Rheydt** · 01-05-10, 15:42

AVG, its free.

**four** · 01-05-10, 16:10

ES/ET NOD32 for the win.

here's the thing about macs. there are two types of people that use Macs.

The first is people who cant be bothered to deal with PC's and all the crap that goes along with having 8 bajillion developers messing with their OS. so they go MAC where everything comes through Apple. They take what Apple gives them and they're happy.

The others are geeks who know what /usr/var/bin is and actually know why Sudo Sandwich is funny. (if you don't know what that is, you're not one of them.)

I know many Jobsians devotees, and I've never met one that doesn't fall into one of those two groups. I even know a couple of them that have been compromised by Malware.

That said, you always have the choice of Linux. Personally I am of the Ubuntu persuasion and it runs wells even on older hardware. To make it run well it helps to know what a command prompt is for and how to use it-- but it's not required. Barring that, ES/ET is what I make people buy when they ask me.