Free Alternative to the Apple Mac OS X Security Recommendations: ClamXav
With the recently discovered malware threats that target the Mac OS X, Apple has come out and officially announced that Mackies all over the world should download and install one of the three security solutions they are backing. Since we are in the middle of an economic crisis and money is tight, wouldn’t you rather use something that doesn’t cost you a thing, but offers similar malware protection?
The three security software products that Apple recommends are: Intego VirusBarrier X5, Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11, and McAfee VirusScan. The thing is that each of them will cost you money; Intego VirusBarrier X5 goes for about $70 (one machine license), Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11 costs about $50, while McAfee VirusScan will set you back about $40. Even though the prices are not phenomenally high, some of you may not be willing to fork out this cash and would rather go for something that is free.
By using the open source ClamAV engine, the developers behind ClamXav are able to provide you with an efficient security solution for you Mac OS X, and all at absolutely no charge whatsoever. For the security oriented Mac users out there that have to stick to a tight budget, this is a viable alternative to Apple’s recommendations.
Even though Apple went to great lengths to market their operating system as invulnerable to malware, the simple truth of the matter is that there are gullible Mac OS X users out there that will fall for the simplest of scams. For the past month of so we reported on three different Mac threats: the trendy Mac malware, the Lamezev.A Trojan, and the recent SX/Jahlav-A Trojan. In all these cases the users were either looking to download and install a Mac security solution, or they were invited to download and install a “missing codec” – both actions indicate the users were not security oriented enough to see through the malware infection threat.
If you would like to get ClamXav, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get Intego VirusBarrier X5, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get McAfee VirusScan for Mac, a download location is available here.
The three security software products that Apple recommends are: Intego VirusBarrier X5, Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11, and McAfee VirusScan. The thing is that each of them will cost you money; Intego VirusBarrier X5 goes for about $70 (one machine license), Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11 costs about $50, while McAfee VirusScan will set you back about $40. Even though the prices are not phenomenally high, some of you may not be willing to fork out this cash and would rather go for something that is free.
By using the open source ClamAV engine, the developers behind ClamXav are able to provide you with an efficient security solution for you Mac OS X, and all at absolutely no charge whatsoever. For the security oriented Mac users out there that have to stick to a tight budget, this is a viable alternative to Apple’s recommendations.
Even though Apple went to great lengths to market their operating system as invulnerable to malware, the simple truth of the matter is that there are gullible Mac OS X users out there that will fall for the simplest of scams. For the past month of so we reported on three different Mac threats: the trendy Mac malware, the Lamezev.A Trojan, and the recent SX/Jahlav-A Trojan. In all these cases the users were either looking to download and install a Mac security solution, or they were invited to download and install a “missing codec” – both actions indicate the users were not security oriented enough to see through the malware infection threat.
If you would like to get ClamXav, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get Intego VirusBarrier X5, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get McAfee VirusScan for Mac, a download location is available here.
