Tag: Mac OS X
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Mac anti-virus testing 2013
There are almost as many anti-virus programs for the Mac as there are families of malware, and a constant question among Mac users is whether to use one and, if so, which one to use. Last November I began a project to test Mac anti-virus programs to see what malware they are capable of detecting.…
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How to uninstall software
Okay, I’ll admit that Windows has a leg up on Mac OS X in one area: uninstalling software. On Windows this is easy (in theory) for anyone to do through the control panel. Mac OS X, however, does not provide any systemwide features for software removal. As a result, there are many myths and uncertainties…
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Time to re-evaluate safety of Mac OS X
My Mac Malware Guide has, for some time, made the claim that a properly up-to-date Mac OS X system cannot be infected by any known malware. This was true at one point, with some provisos, when that text was originally written. However, recent cases of malware that has failed to be blocked by the XProtect anti-malware system…
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Do I need a firewall?
Firewalls have always been poorly understood, even by knowledgeable people. With the recent upsurge in Mac malware, there has been a lot of questionable advice circulating, some of which related to firewalls. People are recommending firewalls for avoiding malware, blocking hackers, preventing spam and any number of other things. Some of these recommendations have some…