Mac may no longer be more secure than Windows

Discussion in 'macOS' started by Katzenfreund, Feb 13, 2017.

  1. Katzenfreund

    Katzenfreund MDL Expert

    Jul 15, 2016
    1,373
    831
    60
  2. prashantsays

    prashantsays MDL Member

    Jun 13, 2016
    143
    46
    10
    various sites have suggested that windows defender's protection doesn't match the standards. Though i agree that win10 is more secure.
    what are your thoughts on windows defender?
     
  3. Katzenfreund

    Katzenfreund MDL Expert

    Jul 15, 2016
    1,373
    831
    60
    Windows Defender indeed gets low ratings in comparative AV tests. You’d be (even) more secure with a free third party product, such as AVIRA, AVAST or AVG.
     
  4. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
    16,104
    24,378
    340
    Recommend to be cautious here :hmm:.

    The main entry point for malicious stuff is the browser. Either a site attacks (even via hijacked commercials) or the user downloads a codec.exe since it was recommended for install, to view an uploaded HD video :cool2:.

    Since most 3rd party AVs tend to install very invasive link checker and cut other holes in secured https, i would never ever recommend to install the ones you mentioned.

    Fortify the browser and check carefully what you allow to install. Then Defender is quite sufficient.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  5. prashantsays

    prashantsays MDL Member

    Jun 13, 2016
    143
    46
    10
    I was quite okay with defender as my default av but surprisingly antimalware service was a major resource hog, i won a eset multi device security giveaway with 1 year license at mdl and it consumes far less memory than defender, i look forward to going back to defender after my eset's license expire hoping that it wouldn't consume that much memory then or else i would have to install avast o_O
     
  6. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
    16,104
    24,378
    340
    Can't complain here. Is mostly about 100 MB and only increases in case of scans. First thing i always do is to batch-exclude all my drives but c:. I scan my files manually with virustotal and don't need Realtime Protection to watch every move on those drives. Additionally all Cloud related is deactivated.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  7. prashantsays

    prashantsays MDL Member

    Jun 13, 2016
    143
    46
    10
    SORRY FOR BEING OFF TOPIC
    1.Your signature shows you are on 14393.726
    mine shows 14393.693 but still it doesn't shows me any updates, y so?
    2. How do i get notifications of new replies on threads i have replied on mdl??
     
  8. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
    16,104
    24,378
    340
    #1. Should be kb3216755 which was pre-release then got added to the cataloge, but not officially promoted by WU so far. Could change tomorrow.

    #2. Subscribe to the thread and set to notice via control panel.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  9. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

    Jul 26, 2012
    4,071
    4,651
    150
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  10. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

    Jul 26, 2012
    4,071
    4,651
    150
    Russia has a different philosophy on hacking / reverse engineering. They actually teach it in their schools.
    I respect that. You should give your children -every- advantage possible.

    And no. MAC users will probably not be deterred at all.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  11. sebus

    sebus MDL Guru

    Jul 23, 2008
    6,356
    2,026
    210
    Because most of Mac users I came across are totally ignorant & expect world to bow to them because they have money to buy Apple hardware (which therefore must be "safe & sound")
    Yet in reality they know nothing

    sebus
     
  12. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

    Jul 26, 2012
    4,071
    4,651
    150

    @sebus: LOL Yup! :thumbsup:
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  13. olmo47

    olmo47 MDL Novice

    Aug 13, 2008
    14
    3
    0
    was matter of time, I think still a little better than Windows (my opinion and user)
     
  14. olmo47

    olmo47 MDL Novice

    Aug 13, 2008
    14
    3
    0
    Wow....I think "ignorant or not" (all) should respect, people preferences? I use to be windows user for years, I move to mac do to 'graphics' and I use both systems in my laptop. I won't put you down for being pompous.! however you have the right to chose your OS.

    Kind Regards
     
  15. hearywarlot

    hearywarlot MDL Member

    Jul 31, 2015
    112
    153
    10
    #18 hearywarlot, Aug 23, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2017
    Doesn't matter what you run, as long as you blindly run random programs under a account that holds access to important things, it could still destroy all your files and ruin your day.
    Though Linux and Mac users have the plus that they are accustomed to get their software through the repository and have to manually set downloads to executable, users can still fall for phishing.

    Always make back-ups, install security updates, don't screw up your firewall and think twice (or thrice) before downloading certain programs.
    Also running Mandatory Access Control software help restrict programs what can be accessed.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  16. atgpud2003

    atgpud2003 MDL Addicted

    Apr 30, 2015
    524
    85
    30
    WELL, My idea was ALWAYS BACKUP your stuff. Never know!
     
  17. hearywarlot

    hearywarlot MDL Member

    Jul 31, 2015
    112
    153
    10
    Remember that when you backup, you do not leave the backup attached to the same system it came from or make sure your user account has no access to it.
    If your system becomes infected with ransomware, it will most likely destroy anything valuable on the backup device if it has access.

    Also if the backup is on the same drive (different partition, etc), if one day the HDD begins to slowly die, it will take the backup with it.
    So always backup to a different HDD, maybe even from USB HDD or NAS.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...