Trying to decide on firewall and virus software

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ginopiazza49

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With the recent talk of a Trojan horse - whether it be real or not - I figure that it is better to be a little precautious now and make the move to a firewall software and an antivirus software. I have read many of the posts on the forums. Just thought I would ask, should I go with Intego's Internet Security Barrier or Norton Internet Security 3.0? Or maybe a combination of Intego's Netbarrier X with Norton Antivirus 9.0? I would like to hear opinions. By the way, I already know that Mac OS X has a built-in firewall.
 
Stay far, far away from Norton products for the Mac OS (X that is).

Virex is an excellent choice, and if you're a .Mac subscriber I believe you can get a copy for free.

Use the built-in firewall for OS X, then setup a hardware based firewall between your connection and the computer (LAN/Broadband use). Alot of the newer routers have these features built-in.

Dial-up users probably don't need the hardware method, the stock OS X firewall will suffice. There's also a program called 'Little Snitch' which might be something to grab. It'll help with Trojans and privacy. Here's the website: http://www.obdev.at
 
Little Snitch only prevents out going transmissions, good thing to use, but won't help with attacks.
 
I agree with BobW. The ipfw firewall that is built into OS X is an industrial strength firewall product. The Norton or Intego products may be have fancier interfaces and reports, but they are no more secure. If you want to really fine tune ipfw you can do that in the Terminal or use Brickhouse and still save a chunk of change.

If you have a .Mac account Virex works well and is not as intrusive as other antivirus products. It runs only on demand (which I personally like -- a lot) and it is free with the .Mac account. If you don't have the .Mac account then I would go with Intego VirusBarrier because I have seen the fewest number of complaints about it interfering with other applications.
 
If OS X built in firewall is not enough for you, try BrickHouse. I have Virex but rarely use it .. and stay as far as I can from Nortons on a mac.
 
I would suggest avoiding Intego on principle, as it is the company responsible for the unfound hysteria concerning trojan viruses on a Mac. Coincidence? Possibly. But I was surprised at the number of full-page Intego adverts in several Mac magazines this month (never remember any beforehand).
Other than that, I'll chime in on Virex.
If you don't have .Mac, get it. You'll get the Virex and plenty more and you'll get far more value for your $$$ than worrying needlessly about viruses and all that stuff.
 
I agree with Randman. If macs started being affected by the virus, then the claim might have some sort of footing to stand on. However, since there hasn't been a virus for the Mac in a long time, whomever might write one would be either a trailblazer or a complete idiot in the eyes of his community/peers. "Ooh; you wrote a MAC virus. You are SO cool." :)
 
bobw said:
Little Snitch only prevents out going transmissions, good thing to use, but won't help with attacks.
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It's nice software to have to keep an eye on what's being sent from your computer by programs, and controlling program access to the net. Alot of programs find ways to bypass firewalls, little snitch catches them.

Software based firewalls are good, but they're not fool proof. Hardware based firewalls still offer the best level of protection.
 
Oh, you definitely need outbound connection filtering as well as inbound. There are a number of trojan horse programs and similar (not for OS X as far as anyone knows, but...) that will make an outward connection once they infect a computer - you might be behind a firewall, but your computer can still 'call out' to be controlled.

So, if you use a product like little snitch, your computer may be hit with the trojan, but it won't manage to do any harm.
 
Well, they aren't as evil/wrong/bad as they are unnecessary. OS X handles disk fragmentation and disk repair with Disk Utility much better than it ever used to, and only the newest versions of Norton work with OS X at all. You are better off with a really directed, intense program like Tech Tool or Disk Warrior. Norton is a "jack of all trades, master of none" type of a program. That's okay, but when you want something done right in the professional world, you usually call a specialist rather than a generalist.

Just my ramblings… :)
 
OrganLeroy said:
What's so evil/wrong/bad about Norton Mac OSX products?
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Norton Utilities for Macintosh have had a less than stellar record on OS X. One Mac consultant I know says his income would be cut almost in half if people would quit using Norton Utilities for Mac. He spends that much time repairing NUM damage. Besides that Norton is dropping NUM from their product lineup which to my mind says volumes.

Micromat's TechTool Pro 4 does everything that NUM does and more. There have been very few reported problems with TTP and Micromat's tech support has been very responsive. Alsoft's DiskWarrior does not have the comprehensive range of tests and repairs of either NUM or TTP, but what it does it does very well indeed and many think it a panacea for any drive related problem.

Norton anti-virus has a far better reputation than NUM, but there have been reported cases of application conflicts with NAV. In some cases users have had to uninstall NAV to install some other applications. This does not happen often, but enough to be annoying and frequently tough to troubleshoot. But that is not new to OS X, it used to happen in the classic Mac OS as well.

Norton firewall seems to have been relatively problem free, but why pay for it when there is a firewall product that is at least as good built into OS X and costs you nothing?
 
OrganLeroy said:
Why?

What's so evil/wrong/bad about Norton Mac OSX products?
Click to expand...

Norton products for OS X are nasty, vile programs. There's a constant stream of people who have major problems caused by running them and it's just not worth it, especially when you already have better or equal programs included with the OS.
 
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