Recommendations for antivirus, firewall, etc. on OS X
 

I'm clueless about OS X. I've used AVG Free and Spybot Search & Destroy on my Windows machines for years. I've come to believe that it is needed for OS X as well.

This is my girlfriend's personal desktop, so I don't have to use it. So far she hasn't installed any security software.

I would like some recommendations for antivirus, antisypware, firewall, and other security software. Relevant replies would be for software you've had experience with and thought was good.

If you think security software isn't needed for OS X, then I suppose that is relevant too. Just know that I'll need some persuasion to believe it.

Links to relevant information might be nice too, but only if the articles directly address the issue at hand.

So, what do you think?

First, be aware that OS X, Linux, Unix and other "real" computer operating systems are nowhere near as susceptible to the problems that appear to be the default in everything Microsoft has ever made; Windows is unsafe at any speed, always has been, probably always will be even though you spend bundles of bucks on third-party security products.

This is not to say that there are never any problems in non-Windows operating systems, but, as far as I know, there ain't no such thing as a virus simply because a non-root user can't do much damage.

You're pretty safe if you have good; e.g., non-dictionary, root (and all user) passwords and perhaps some basic entries in IPTABLES that deny wide-open access -- and, not being a Mac user, I'm not even sure that Macs support IPTABLES, SSH and other time-tested basic security utilities (if they don't, they dang well ought to). Assuming that the thing is wireless, make sure that the connection is secure -- password the connection to the ISP, don't have a wide-open "hot spot."

Just for the heck of it, I did a Google search for "os x virus" that turned up at least http://www.securemac.com/ (first on the list) which appears to be comprehensive (or perhaps even paranoid) about Mac Security -- or, maybe, just trying to sell you something? Might be worth a look.

Basic security practices -- good passwords, no root access to anybody but administrator(s), disable unneeded ports, spend time to set up a firewall (either in your router or IPTABLES or both), don't ever allow unfettered outside access, be careful what you click on, all that stuff goes a long way.

Hope this helps some.

I have good experience with Kaspersky, and while I don't know exactly about their Mac version I am pretty sure they have one. I am not familiar with any anti-spyware for macs.

Please don't reopen that topic in this thread. That kind of discussion has proven to be very unproductive. :(

I don't know either, thus this thread.

Suggesting to search Google isn't very helpful I'm afraid. I'd rather know about software which you have experience with.

Thanks very much for your reply.

Do any OS X users read this forum?

Telengard I don't know if any OSX users read this thread, however, I also belong to another community at Spiceworks and someone who runs a lot of Macs was asking for possible alternatives to Kaspersky, not that it hasn't been good, but just to see what's out there anyways as said he seemed pretty happy with the performance on the Macs. If I might suggest Spiceworks is a community of mostly IT professionals and they do have a specific Apple Forum in there it may behoove you to post your query there.

I just got a Mac and still don't use ANYTHING except common sense ( I just can't see why I should spend good money on something I don't need) for security!