Kaspersky Anti virus on iMac?

[Alan Edward Klein]

I have Kaspersky Internet Security on my Windows desktop. It allows loading into two more machines. My wife has an iMac. Should I put it on her machine too or leave her iMac "protected" by Apple? Does Apple automatically upload anti-virus programs? (I know nothing about Apple products.)

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'd stop using Kaspersky on either machine- Kaspersky products are banned from Federal Government networks because of their association with the Russian government.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I'd stop using Kaspersky on either machine- Kaspersky products are banned from Federal Government networks because of their association with the Russian government.

Link? I've been using it for years. Are you saying there will be no way to update the new viruses?

 

[Sal Santamaura]

I'd stop using Kaspersky on either machine- Kaspersky products are banned from Federal Government networks because of their association with the Russian government.

Link?...

https://www.engadget.com/2017-12-13-trump-kaspersky-federal-ban.html​

Also of note:

https://www.engadget.com/fcc-labels-russia-kaspersky-lab-national-security-threat-203609448.html​

 

[bdial]

I quit using Kaspersky on my mac a few years ago because it was causing performance problems. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole now.

 

[Auer]

I'd stop using Kaspersky on either machine- Kaspersky products are banned from Federal Government networks because of their association with the Russian government.

Yep

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

https://www.engadget.com/2017-12-13-trump-kaspersky-federal-ban.html​

Also of note:

https://www.engadget.com/fcc-labels-russia-kaspersky-lab-national-security-threat-203609448.html​

The Federal government is banning it for itself. It's not banned for private use. I've had good experience with it for around 7 years never having a virus that screwed up my machine. I previously used McAffee and Norton and always had virus problems. I don't want to give Russia business, but I'm hesitant to switch back to programs I had problems with.

Can someone answer my other question about Imac computers? Does it pay to load up a different anti-virus program or does the iMac use Apple virus programs automatically and are those sufficient?

 

[Sal Santamaura]

The Federal government is banning it for itself...

That's what Scott posted and you asked for a link to.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Link? I've been using it for years. Are you saying there will be no way to update the new viruses?

I quit using Kaspersky on my mac a few years ago because it was causing performance problems. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole now.

Kaspersky has many serious security flaws and I too abandoned them when the US Government ditched them. Kaspersky provides too many opportunities for others to compromise your personal computers. I will not trust them for protection.

 

[McDiesel]

@Alan Edward Klein Antivirus software in general doesn't make sense anymore. Modern operating systems no longer need it, unless you're downloading and launching random software from the Internet all the time. TBH I have never used an anti-virus in my life (I am old) and never had "virus problems".

 

[Sirius Glass]

Apple is more than good enough.

 

[lecarp]

The Federal government is banning it for itself. It's not banned for private use. I've had good experience with it for around 7 years never having a virus that screwed up my machine. I previously used McAffee and Norton and always had virus problems. I don't want to give Russia business, but I'm hesitant to switch back to programs I had problems with.

Can someone answer my other question about Imac computers? Does it pay to load up a different anti-virus program or does the iMac use Apple virus programs automatically and are those sufficient?

Leave the iMac alone! As far as Kaspersky, there is a constant threat cyber wise for governments and infrastructure. Often these attacks are made enlisting many computers working together to assult a security system. You may never have had a virus but do you know for certain what your computer is doing in the background?

I've never had a problem with any apple devices and have been running Norton on windows for twenty years or more without a problem.

 

[cramej]

Mac OS built in security is quite good. I'm mostly a Windows guy, but if Apple's solution is anything like Windows defender then it's all you'll ever need. Every other AV suite I've had experience with over the years working in IT and information security is a resource hog, has too many false positives and in today's world, doesn't provide a benefit over the OS utility. Conscientious browsing, diligence with your email and credentials and staying current on updates are your best defenses.

Above all, I would absolutely stop using Kaspersky.

 

[MattKing]

Our internet service provider provides a third party tool that works with all of our devices.
In addition to their maintaining the subscription, they have technical resources available to help their individual customers, all of whom are paying monthly for their services - i.e. they have a continuing reason to supply service.
They in turn have a decent amount of clout with the third party provider.
I just spent 90 seconds doing a manual scan on one machine - no problems.
The upside of using this is that there is meaningful technical acumen and support available to deal with problems. The downside is that if someone wants to target all the ISP users, they only have to deal with one type of security software.
The price to us recently went from $5.00 per month to no extra charge.

 

[shutterfinger]

Antivirus software in general doesn't make sense anymore.

Only if you're only checking email and the like and not shopping. True, OS systems such as Microsoft Defender do a good basic job but for many a more robust antivirus and firewall are necessary.
I have had virus problems in the past with Comodo and Norton. I'm currently using https://www.bitdefender.com/ Its smooth, stays in the background unless a threat is detected and does not load down the system as best I can tell.
I dropped Kespersky when Czar Putin took control of Russia.

 

[McDiesel]

Only if you're only checking email and the like and not shopping. True, OS systems such as Microsoft Defender do a good basic job but for many a more robust antivirus and firewall are necessary.

Shutterfinger, with all due respect, this is not true, and hasn't been true for a very long time. But the FUD has been maintained by anti-virus marketing departments. It's pretty much a computer equivalent of wearing a condom around the house 24/7 just because you don't want to have more kids. Computer security is my field, I own a company in this space, we employ our own cybersec researchers and hire white hats / red teams regularly. Happy to answer any deep technical questions, and willing to go as deep as you wish, just to help my fellow community members stop walking around with "condoms" on. It's embarrassing.

 

[shutterfinger]

I stay above the waist line on line, get a Burka.

and concast internet has firewall/virus protection but some things get through from time to time.
And computer software and security experts are like doctors, they have different opinions on the same condition. I've done my share of electron and bit chasing.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I quit using Kaspersky on my mac a few years ago because it was causing performance problems. Wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole now.

I had problems with several antivirus programs on my Macs but, I'm using Avast security with satisfying success now for about 6 months.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Modern operating systems no longer need it, unless you're downloading and launching random software from the Internet all the time...

I'm not a babe in the woods. A retired electrical engineer. I can usually recognize the signs of a Web site that presents a security threat. Nonetheless, probably several times each month, when clicking on a search engine result for something I'm seeking information about, my Norton foils an attack on my PC. Well worth the relatively small annual fee, which pales in comparison to what one pays for the device and monthly ISP cost.

 

[Chan Tran]

The IT dept has Kapersky on my laptop. I reformat the hard drive and made the laptop my own. It run about 10 times faster.

 

[VinceInMT]

I am definitely a tech guy and and have 4 computers on my desk: XP machine I built from parts 17-years ago, a Lenovo laptop running WIndows 10, a MacBook Pro, and a Raspberry Pi running Linux. I have never run anti-virus software and I have never had a problem. Practicing safe computing practices is like practicing safe sex. Don’t do stupid stuff.

 

[BrianShaw]

Practicing safe sex is a lot easier than practicing safe computing it seems.

Unfortunately even relatively benign internet surfing and use of e-commerce can occasionally result in a bad situation. I use Norton in both PC and Mac. I see 1 denied attack every 3 or 6 months. Not many but seeing them isolated is much better than the 1virus I recall many years ago that was so bad that I trashed the computer to eradicate it.

 

[McDiesel]

Iwhen clicking on a search engine result for something I'm seeking information about, my Norton foils an attack on my PC. Well worth the relatively small annual fee

In this example, your browser and your operating system are already doing enough for you to not be worried. Norton just unnecessarily slows down your computer, and annoys you with the useless reminders of its existence, not to mention the cost.

Anti-viruses used to make sense in the past when operating system and browser vendors did not take security seriously. These days the security teams at Apple, Microsoft, Google and Mozilla are all world-class, they push security patches faster than anyone, and the combination of browser+OS level protection is far deeper, and more comprehensive than any anti-virus can possibly do. In other words, any modern computer already has two built-in "anti-viruses": one inside the operating system and one inside the browser. Adding a 3rd one from a 2nd tier vendor makes zero sense, akin to mounting a cheap external averaging meter on top of a Canon DSLR which already has built-in spot, evaluative, and center-weighted metering

 

[BrianShaw]

So I’ll give you that… Norton sure does put up a lot of annoying messages. But so does every online service, it seems.

 

[MattKing]

If you receive a lot of email from people unknown to you - say you are an HR department at an employer that accepts job applications by email - then you can expect to receive emails and attachments that contain problems. That is one of the favourite methods of those who send ransomware.
Having a tool that can screen emails and other files sent to you is definitely advantageous.