MacKeeper has just popped up on my iMac with an invitation to 'clean' my Mac. Is this worth doing I wonder? Am not sure if there is a fee involved because I haven't clicked on it yet.
If you google "MacKeeper" you will have your answer. Don't.
Sophos anti-virus is well worth installing, it's free for domestic use although you don't get the advice that comes with the commercial version. It's compatible with Mountain Lion and earlier.
Hi Euan and thanks for this heads up .....could you condense for the lay person 3 reasons why you would install the Sophos anti-virus as you say that it's well worth installing ....if someone with your experience say's that then I would definitely consider it but would like to know very simply why you think that.
Hi Roy:
Sophos AV is basically a search engine for malware signatures (tell-tale coding) which isolates the file and warns users. It's not a MacKeeper alternative.
Hi Thomas:
I'm a lay person too -- laid back, some say, but here are a few summary observations for people to take issue with if they wish, plus:
three reasons (as a bonus) as to why people might not bother
and three reasons to install (as requested) -- jump to the end of this post.
Anti-virus pros and cons
Sophos won't necessarily catch the malware/scamware as such -- but it should detect the payload signatures. (ClamXav is open source AV software, also free).
Note the differences between virus, trojan, keystroke spy, fake websites, scams etc:
Malware/Scamware that suggests a non-existent threat and where the payload is earning cash from the "proposed solution". The latter can include cold-calling on the 'phone asserting a problem on your computer and offering to fix it -- during the 'fix' your computer is compromised.
Fake websites to which your legitimate url is re-directed offering bogus financial services or malware posing as legitimate software.
Try to download your software from the manufacturer or very highly visible sources such as the AppStore, CNET, MacWorld etc. which take care of this issue.
Don't just go to the first Googled download site, it could be a scam:
e.g.
google "Onyx", but download from > www.titanium.free.fr < the author's own website which offers proper help over the choice of appropriate OSX versions.
Beware of unfeasible or irrelevant promises and "wow! sexy! photos of the stars".
Keep your passwords safe and change them if you feel the need -- but REMEMBER them!
"No reason to install"
1. Apple's effective auto-countermeasures (e.g. against Flashback malware in April 2012), but Apple may take time to respond
2. Sandboxing technology in Lion and Mountain Lion
3. Apple's AppStore screening. (The golden prison as some call it.)
"Ought to install"
1. Internet offers early warning and threat discussions from authoritative sources for avoidance, but many people don't keep an eye on these
2. Mac users can inadvertently pass on Windows viruses to other users by email or file sharing
3. anti-virus software detects payload signatures where present within or resulting from scamware and malware. Sophos is highly reputable, updates automatically, works in the background, and will quarantine suspect files so that you can deal with them.
Due Diligence: look it up, do the math, take your pick -- 'enuff sed' (Molesworth).
If anyone out there is interested, Sophos has just detected this "Royal Mail Shipping Advisory" within my eMail a/cs and has cleared it up from within the Sophos Quarantine setup:
Roy Rainford 