AV/Malware Protection for Mac

Question for Mac users that have AV/Malware software installed.

So I’m coming up on a year of being a first time Mac user, M1 Mac Mini and I love it! I’ve installed tons of apps via the App Store and 3rd party websites. Have tons of junk files probably on my Mac but that’s part and parcel of using a computer right. I understand Mac has XProtect and Gateway installed which is great. I have software updates set to automatically update as well. I also have Little Snitch installed. Love it but it can be a bit over my head sometimes. I use Safari/Firefox with adblockers. I use a password manager and 2FA, etc. So I tick off all the boxes as far as privacy and security are concerned EXCEPT for have AV/Malware protection installed. Also human error on my part can bypass all these safeguards. And XProtect doesn’t have a UI on demand scan like Windows AV software does. In this year of using my first Mac there’s been times where it’s behaved weird, wondered if it was a malware or just too much of the proverbial “software junk files” installed.

With all that said I want to consider installing some AV/Malware protection and maybe a system cleaner (UGH uncouth for Mac users lol I know). But again the reality is there’s a lot of attack vectors and stupid human errors online. The other reality is I’ve tons of personal information on my computer, passwords, searches, documents, pictures, and videos. If this was in the physical world I wouldn’t leave this stuff just sitting in my front yard without protection. So for that Mac users here what AV/Malware and system cleaners do you have installed? What did you like about them what do you hate?

I’ve been looking at MacCleaner Pro and CleanMyMac X because they are Mac specific and they seem to have good reviews where ever I go. I’m also considering BitDefender for AV/Malware. I used to use them on my Windows machines and it also scored well with AV audit sites and it’s foot print my computer was small.

Thanks in advance!

Conversation 18 comments

  • stassi801

    Premium Member
    05 February, 2022 - 7:46 pm

    <p><br></p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    06 February, 2022 - 1:30 am

    <p>Anti-virus, and especially system cleaners are a difficult subject on Windows, let alone the Mac. If I was going to use one, I’d use one of the big, well-known names, such as Eset or Kaspersky. I’d definitely avoid unknown companies and bloatware such as Norton or McAfee.</p><p><br></p><p>The Mac, like other UNIX based systems, cleans up behind itself. When an application is deleted, it should take all of its junk with it. Likewise, there are jobs that run on hourly, daily and weekly schedules that clean up behind the OS, rotating or truncating log files etc.</p><p><br></p><p>There should be little or no need for third party cleaning tools, just like they have been redundant on Windows for most users for around a decade. Basically, if the system isn’t generating errors, you don’t need a cleaner.</p><p><br></p><p>With my last run-in with OS X – 2007-2013 – I did install ClamAV, an open source AV software, but its main purpose was to detect Windows malware in files and email and stop them from being spread to Windows PCs.</p><p><br></p><p>Just like the AV software on my Windows PC, ClamAV never gave alarm. To be honest, I’d have no clue what the Windows Defender (my home Windows 10 PC) or the Kaspersky (work PC) alerts look like. The same goes for XProtect on the Mac.</p><p><br></p><p>If you feel you need extra protection, then go with one of the big names, with a good reputation, there are a lot of fly-by-nights and malware masquerading as system repair or AV tools out there – for all platforms, including Windows, iOS and Android, as well as macOS.</p>

    • bkkcanuck

      06 February, 2022 - 1:58 am

      <p>Last time I had anti-malware software running on macOS — I ended up reading through everything that it was known to block… and it was pretty much things that someone would have to have access to it to install. I know there is macOS targeted malware out there, but I have never felt the need to install it. I know that Apple in the past has been known to update their security software and remove known malware that has hit the radar — though I think those are done usually through silent updates if it is in the middle of revisions. </p>

    • dftf

      07 February, 2022 - 3:12 pm

      <p>"Anti-virus, and especially system cleaners are a difficult subject on Windows […]"</p><p><br></p><p>Is it still a "difficult subject" even thesedays? "Just stick with the built-in <em>Windows Security</em> solution" is pretty-much the only advice I see or hear now. And why not? According to third-party AV testing sites, like <em>AVComparitives </em>or <em>AVTest</em>, it’s detection-rates usually rank amongst the best, especially if you leave the "cloud-delivered protection" setting on. And while not on by-default, its "ransomware protection" feature will also help stop rogue apps from altering files in certain folders.</p><p><br></p><p>"[…] third party cleaning tools […] have been redundant on Windows for most users for around a decade."</p><p><br></p><p>Not to mention they can often cause more-harm-than-good. I’d suggest just these four things:</p><p><br></p><p>In most browsers, you can request they delete the cache when you exit them fully.</p><p>The "Storage Sense" feature can automatically delete temporary files, Recycle Bin files or old Download folder items.</p><p>You can delete all but the most-recent <em>System Restore </em>point using <em>Disk Cleanup</em>.</p><p>And if you’re sure your PC is running fine and you don’t need to uninstall any recent Windows Update, fire-up an admin Command Prompt and run: <strong>DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase</strong></p><p><br></p><p>"[…] I did install ClamAV, an open source AV software […]"</p><p><br></p><p>There’s a blast-from-the-past! The last time I even tried that app it still didn’t support live-scanning, only on-demand, which makes it somewhat useless for most people. Plus in testing its definitions are somewhat weak. I guess the fact you can run it from a single folder might make it useful to clean a PC you can’t risk connecting to the Internet or local-network — but then "Microsoft Safety Scanner" is essentially a single-file download version of the same thing: on-demand scanning only.</p><p><br></p><p>"If you feel you need extra protection […]"</p><p><br></p><p>Then just upload the file to the "VirusTotal" website and see what result you get. You can do that on <em>any </em>OS, no software install required. About the only-other thing I’d recommend to regular "risky file downloader" types would be <em>Malwarebytes</em>, but for anyone-else the built-in solution should be fine.</p>

      • wright_is

        Premium Member
        08 February, 2022 - 2:21 am

        <p><em>Is it still a "difficult subject" even thesedays? "Just stick with the built-in&nbsp;Windows Security&nbsp;solution" is pretty-much the only advice I see or hear now. </em></p><p><br></p><p>Yes, but you and I know that and we know where to look. But how many PCs still come with 3 – 6 months of McAfee or Norton installed and try and con the user into buying a subscription?</p><p><br></p><p><em>"[…] third party cleaning tools […] have been redundant on Windows for most users for around a decade."</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Not to mention they can often cause more-harm-than-good. I’d suggest just these four things:</em></p><p><br></p><p>Exactly. But a lot of people grew up with Windows XP and running cleaners regularly and they still believe they have to continue – <strong><em>a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p><em>And if you’re sure your PC is running fine and you don’t need to uninstall any recent Windows Update, fire-up an admin Command Prompt and run:&nbsp;</em><strong><em>DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p>Again, for you and me, no problem. For the vast majority of Windows users, "<em>what is this voodoo you speak of?</em>"</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><em>"If you feel you need extra protection […]"</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Then just upload the file to the "VirusTotal" website and see what result you get. You can do that on&nbsp;any&nbsp;OS, no software install required. About the only-other thing I’d recommend to regular "risky file downloader" types would be&nbsp;Malwarebytes, but for anyone-else the built-in solution should be fine.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Again, for you and me, not a problem. But for a majority of people, "<em>you what now?"</em></p>

        • dftf

          09 February, 2022 - 6:31 am

          <p>"But how many PCs still come with 3-6 months of <em>McAfee</em> or <em>Norton</em> installed and try and con the user into buying a subscription?"</p><p><br></p><p>True, but that’s why you educate such people that there is a free, built-in solution. (It would be great if they would all uninstall clearly, though, as virtually every AV app has a "cleanup tool" available.)</p><p><br></p><p>"[…] fire-up an admin Command Prompt and run: <strong>DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase</strong>. Again, for you and me, no problem. For the vast majority of Windows users, "what is this voodoo you speak of?""</p><p><br></p><p>This is a site for tech enthusiasts, not the majority, so I’m knowing my audience. (Plus, <em>Windows </em>actually performs a similar cleanup via the "StartComponentCleanup" Scheduled Task about once every 30 days. But again, know your audience: most people here want to do things immediately and have the commands for them. It will also compress some unused app data, using one of the XPRESS methods, in <em>Windows 10 </em>or <em>11 </em>also.)</p><p><br></p><p>"Then just upload the file to the "VirusTotal" website […]. Again, for you and me, not a problem. But for a majority of people, "you what now?""</p><p><br></p><p>Again, education. And compared to some advice here, it’s the easiest thing to teach them: go to this website, click "Choose File" and then browse to the file you want to upload. (Or even easier, on a non-mobile device: just drag the file over and drop.)</p>

    • j5

      Premium Member
      08 February, 2022 - 1:40 pm

      <p>I think Mac being UNIX based and that it cleans it’s self up is an internet thing, because it doesn’t. I’ve found left over files an folders from deleted apps just digging around and looking how to find hidden folders. Yeah you can do all of this manually but it’s a pain and I’m not a Terminal user either. I’d rather open up some software and it do it for me.</p><p>Norton lol I stopped using them when I got a Dell Inspiron 5000e laptop with Windows 2000.</p>

      • wright_is

        Premium Member
        09 February, 2022 - 6:20 am

        <p>Configuration files in the users home directory is there problem, as it were. They are easy to clean out yourself and don’t cause any real performance or reliability problems, for example.</p><p><br></p><p>What is important to be cleaned out are the system and application folders and I believe that Apple’s standard way of installing applications, especially if they are downloaded through the store, keeps them clean, for the most part, there are a few developers out there that need a good kick up the backside, but, in general, it looks after itself.</p><p><br></p><p>Windows 10 is much the same these days, as well. Especially with Store apps.</p>

  • davehelps

    Premium Member
    06 February, 2022 - 7:59 am

    <p>DISCLAIMER: I haven’t regularly used a Mac for about 4 years.</p><p><br></p><p>But, when I did, I used and recommended Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac. It was free (as in beer) and unobtrusive.</p>

  • scj123

    Premium Member
    07 February, 2022 - 6:15 am

    <p>I can’t recommend Clean My Mac X enough an amazing bit of software</p>

    • j5

      Premium Member
      08 February, 2022 - 1:31 pm

      <p>I tried the trial and yeah it’s great software, looks great too. How long have you been using it. Any issues or quirky things with it?</p>

  • rfortune

    07 February, 2022 - 10:59 am

    <p>I was a longtime user of Clean My Mac X during Intel years and switched last year to Parallels toolbox when I went to an M1. It offers a ton of features I use regularly, and its $20 a year. It doesnt have malware or AV, but after a decade of running Malware bytes and Sophos, I stopped using as they only ever flagged Windows malware in email. </p>

    • j5

      Premium Member
      08 February, 2022 - 1:34 pm

      <p>Another for CleanMyMac X lol. Where do you see it for $20? It’s $35 on their site.</p>

  • dftf

    07 February, 2022 - 3:21 pm

    <p><strong>(1) </strong>I don’t use <em>macOS</em>, but <em>Malwarebytes </em>is a widely-used anti-malware app on <em>Windows</em> and I see they do a mac version.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>(2) </strong>Don’t forget about the <em>VirusTotal </em>online service: upload any file to it (up-to 650MB) and it’ll scan it against 60-odd AVs and give you the result.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>(3) </strong>There are some third-parties who do testing on AV products to see how many detections they can make, and impact on system performance. Try reading some of their latest reviews for macOS products:</p><p><br></p><p>AV-TEST: av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos</p><p><br></p><p>AV Comparatives: av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2021</p>

  • Jeffsters

    07 February, 2022 - 6:43 pm

    <p>Put all your sensitive information and documents into an encrypted (Sparse) disk image. Place an alias on the desktop and you can think of it, and use it, as an external drive. Use a different password than the OS and DO NOT store it in your keychain. Then only use the App Store, and don’t click on stupid things. </p>

  • alissa914

    08 February, 2022 - 10:27 am

    <p>I had a Mac M1 and when I did, I installed Malware Bytes to it. It ran less intensively than it does on a PC which was great, but I installed it solely because I had 3 licenses and 2 PCs licensed… it did fine and didn’t run into much. But I kept all my files in the cloud in case of a virus attack and I could rewind folders to get my files back if anything did happen. </p>

    • j5

      Premium Member
      08 February, 2022 - 1:32 pm

      <p>I totally forgot about Malware Bytes! I used the free version on my Windows machines and it was great. </p><p>I’ll have to check it out and read up on how it is on Macs.</p>

  • adam.mt

    10 February, 2022 - 6:36 am

    <p>The answer to this tbh is the same as Windows’ users – you don’t need separate anti-malware software but it does have it’s place. The built-in offering and safe internet practices (choosing secure passwords, preferably MFA, and not clicking on random emails or web adverts; being cautious and never handing over passwords or logging on to websites via links you’re given) are sufficient for most.</p><p><br></p><p>Mac’s definitely do get malware, I’ve seen far too many infested with them; often malicious or adware browser extensions. The culprit is the outdated belief that Mac users don’t have to worry about such things!</p><p><br></p><p>Majority of malware and data leaks these days are the result of social engineering; ‘drive by’ infections aren’t that common for most.</p><p><br></p><p>Choose one of the big names.</p><p><br></p><p>Just for the record, McAfee and Norton aren’t "bloated" and haven’t been for years now. It’s an old belief that some people won’t drop. That said, McAfee can sometimes be a pain to properly remove and Norton are in a recent gaff over the decision to implement opt-out Crypto mining on the users PC – definitely not a wise move and one they desire scorn for.</p><p><br></p>

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