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ProtectMac AntiVirus User Reviews (14 posts)Write A Review
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Oct 10 2009

PIRX  The keyword is compliance. If you work in the corporate world with a computer, no matter what make it is and what operating system it runs, your business partners may request you to run AV, no matter if you yourself are affected or not. Noncompliance = no business. Plain, straight, as simple as that.  
(Version 1.1.1)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Oct 7 2009

MRGLSMRC  unix based snow leopard machines are very secure. there is no justification for running antivirus software on them or spending fifty bucks to do so.

even clanAV which is free and available for the mac is unnecessary because most if not all clamAV virus definitions are for windows machines.

for the commenter who said he 'found something' with this application, i am not surprised you got a false positive because antivirus software which doesn't convince you of a non-existent threat won't sell.

there is however a definite need for windows based AV software for macusers running bootcamp. that's because your windows disk partition is NOT safe viruses like the mac partition is.

there are many useful ways to protect a mac that doesn't involve virus software. you should regularly eliminate tracking cookies. you should perform backups of your system startup disk. you should use passwords for merchants with strong encryption and these should be stored in a password protected database. you should not accept malware plugins to your browser from unknown sources.

all of these actions are more important than AV software that costs fifty bucks. unfortunately all of these actions require using your brain and while most people have fifty bucks to throw at imaginary problems, few of us really have the time to think and solve our own problems. that's a pity.  
(Version 1.1.1)

praisebury
+1
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Oct 7 2009

MRGLSMRC  to those who have added a sad face to my remark without a comment:

i have visited the developers website to research his application.

on his site there are zero examples of viruses which can attack a snow leopard mac.

i repeat :zero examples!

in fairness the developer offers numerous example of trojan malware that was installed from bit torrents in the guise of running serial number key crackers.

i will not use this as an opportunity to moralize. but i will speculate that attempting to monetize your software by selling only to software thieves is a poor long term strategy.  
(Version 1.1.1)

praisebury
+1
Oct 8 2009

SPARROWHAWK  I think you miss the point of AV on a Mac (or Linux, BSD etc for that matter). The fact that there are no viruses for Macs is immaterial. What matters is that Macs are perfectly able to receive Windows viruses (via email attachment say, or USV stick), and that they therefore are able to *pass these on* to Windows users in exactly the same way.

It is therefore very good practice to scan for viruses on non-Windows platforms. If you were to pass on a Windows virus to a Windows user, at best it would be embarassing, at worst you could seriously compromise a business relationship.

Personally I run iAntivirus (always on) and MacScan (monthly scans) to scan for any Mac malware, and ClamXAV to scan for Windows viruses whenever I receive third party files.  
(Version 1.1.1)

praisebury
0
Oct 8 2009

SPARROWHAWK  I made a typo in the above comment: "USV" should of course read "USB".  
(Version 1.1.1)

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0
Oct 9 2009

MRGLSMRC  @sparrowhawk

thank you for explaining your point of view. i did not 'miss the point.' I simply disagree with you.

and in as much as the developer uses the word 'antivirus' in the title of his program it begs the question whether he does too.

my mail server screens for spam and incoming viruses as part of my service fees. it is the responsibility of windows users to protect their own machines whether or not they are my friends. i take reasonable precautions and so do they. if you are so worried about the security of your friends machines then perhaps you should send them a check directly for fifty dollars to protect themselves instead of wasting it on a antivirus program for the mac.

best regards  
(Version 1.1.1)

praisebury
+1

Jul 6 2009
****.

SONELTA  I know lots of people have posted comments about this being a rip off, and lets all use CLAMAV etc etc. Perhaps those who think that can provide a more detailed "Review" of this product and compare it fully with opposing applications so that people like me can make more informed choices from reviews and comments that are helpful.

My personal opinion is that this was easy to use and during the trial it detected a virus that Virusbarrier had not. So it may have been a Windows but since I value my friendships and communication I was that I avoided passing this on to PC users. I dealt with the problem effeciently. I like the user layout and it is easy to configure to how I want it to work with scheduled scanning and option to choose with folder/files to scan should I wish to limit it. Compared to Integos virusbarrier I would rather have this one. CLAMAV may be free but I find it out dated and not very configurable. I am however, reluctant to pay the price that is being asked for but since there are not as many options for MAC I guess we can expect higher prices.   
(Version 1.0.6)

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0
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May 13 2009

CREEPSTER  For those worried about Mac malware, read this.

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/01/29/the-mac-malware-myth/  
(Version 1.0.6)

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0
[ Reply ]
Mar 30 2009
*****

O5220803  This version of ProtectMac AntiVirus 1.0.5 is excellent, complete and thorough! It works superbly on my MacIntel Mini! Fast, stable and secure. I Appreciate the fact that they continue to support OSX 10.4.x! I purchased a license and it's well worth the price. Remember, since Apple is using Intel-based processors in their products, Windows-type viruses will become more prevalent on Apple systems in the future; since Apple and PC instruction sets are now very similar! Give ProtectMac AntiVirus a shot during their free trial period; most of you will not be disappointed.   
(Version 1.0.5)

praisebury
-1
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Mar 31 2009

SHOTGUNWEDDINGS  Glad to see you know about Apple, Mac's and windows.

There's no chance in hell a windows virus can infect a Mac even if it is an Intel CPU.

Mac's run on a UNIX backbone not on windows

LOL  
(Version 1.0.5)

praisebury
+1
Mar 31 2009

FRED ANDERSSEN  Haha. Nice "review." What, pray tell, does sharing an Intel CPU have to do with sharing viruses? Mayhap someone who works for the developer?  
(Version 1.0.5)

praisebury
+3
Apr 5 2009

O5220803  Well, I'm glad you have confidence that Windows, or other types, of viruses, won't affect the UNIX core of OSX. I hope you are right. However, I think you may be missing the point that i86 processors share a common instruction set, which makes it's easier for a virus hacker to develop viruses for any Intel system. This means hackers can modify and migrate existing viruses, and potential variants, to a UNIX-based Mac/Intel-processor system (clones included), which have the potential and disrupt it. Remember, AV apps, like ProtectMac, provide two key functions: 1. Protecting the Intel Mac against potential threats; 2. Preventing Mac users from passing key viruses and Trojans, and worms to other PC users as attachments! Who knows what the future holds for Mac users!   
(Version 1.0.5)

praisebury
-2
Apr 11 2009

JIFFY  hi there, what would your 28 number license be, i think that protectmaac is a greaat product too.  
(Version 1.0.5)

praisebury
+1

Jan 12 2009

SHOTGUNWEDDINGS  $45 for something that basically serves no purpose for Mac users. Cheaper or free alternatives would be a wiser investment for people seeking a lesson in futility.

Sure it might be useful for removing windoze infections before you pass on some files to them. But honestly, who cares about windows users anyways LOL

Overpriced and bloated , even if the developer paid me $45 , I still wouldn't install it  
(Version 1.0.3)

praisebury
-2
[ Reply ]
Dec 17 2008

LEOOFBORG  Unless the vendor has gone out of their way to strip documentation out of the Clamav code in violation of the GPL then you can't call this a 'rip off'.

Maybe one of the 'critics' should verify this before using the 'R' word.

As for me, well. there's LCC [good all around util that invokes ClamXav] and the front end available elsewhere.  
(Version 1.0.2)

praisebury
+3
[ Reply ]
Aug 13 2008

BIGDAVE56  I agree $45 seems overpriced, esp for what may just be a gussied-up version of ClamXAV. That's why I stopped using Intego's VirusBarrier: It never found a single thing, which means either there was no threat, or it didn't work, period.

ClamXAV *WILL* quarantine infected files, but won't "sanitize" them. But on my machine, it has never detected a threat either.

iAntivirus looks interesting but its small footprint is apparently achieved at the cost of omitting windoze viruses from the db- fine for protecting your mac, but doesn't do anything to protect windows users you may share files with.

Just my 2 cents.  
(Version 0.9.1)

praisebury
+5
[ 3 Replies - Reply ]
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Aug 13 2008

BIGDAVE56  Oh, and a followup about iAntivirus: It is Intel-only. I discovered this after managing not to see this fact anywhere on their website, and after their installer failed to detect that it was being installed on an unsupported architecture, which hardly gives me confidence in the product.  
(Version 0.9.1)

praisebury
+2
Aug 13 2008

FYREFLYE  iAntivirus also works only on OS X 10.5.  
(Version 0.9.1)

praisebury
+2
Dec 17 2008

MACMUSER  iAntivirus is, arguably, a better program than ClamX and as it's free is considerably better than Protect Mac.

In addition, iAntivirus is quicker than ClamX, it's checker for incoming files and attachments does not quit as ClamX's Folder Sentry does and as a bog-standard application iAntivirus is easy to quit the whole thing if necessary. ClamX shoves bits of itself deep into the Library.  
(Version 1.0.2)

praisebury
0

Aug 12 2008

CALL ME YO DADDY  Everybody has a right to make a living but if you must have an AV, iAntivirus by PCTools is free for home users. It's in beta but it is backed and developed by a multi-million dollar company that so far has produced a pretty impressive AV for the Mac that is light on system resources and runs quietly in the background.

There is just no way one can justify spending $44.95 for this, especially since it uses the FREE ClamX engine!  
(Version 0.9)

praisebury
+2
[ Reply ]
Aug 12 2008

IGREG  The interface looks nothing like ClamXAv. ClamXAV has been standing still a long time and lacks certain basic requirements. One essential is the ability to clean or remove threats, it only identifies them. Even in identification it is sorely lacking, particularly in isolating threats in Mail. Any competition in free or shareware antivirus is sorely needed. The commercial apps are WAY over-priced, they need some healthy and SERIOUS competition. Hopefully, this new app will provide such competition. I do not know if this one does as well or better than ClamXAV.  
(Version 0.9)

praisebury
-1
[ Reply ]
Aug 12 2008

J.A.DUKE  While this product uses the ClamAV engine, it seems to add features that ClamXav doesn't have like file access scanning.

And while I see "rip-off" written in the comments, nobody seems to deny and decry Apple's use of open-source code in the OS.  
(Version 0.9)

praisebury
+1
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Aug 28 2008

SHERLOCKBONES  Leopard Cache Cleaner aka Tiger Cache Cleaner allows you to install and maintain the latest iteration of clamav and update the definitions as well as set it to automagically scan specific folders for viruses.

All in all it does that very nicely, lets you set a schedule and does a host of other maintenance actions as well. If you have to buy something I'd buy that.. wait I already did!

(signed a happy LCC user)  
(Version 0.9.2)

praisebury
0
Dec 17 2008

NEONBLUE2  Apple don't use software that's under the GPL, only the LGPL and other similar licenses. Therefore they're well within their rights to charge for their products.

ProtectMac AntiVirus however runs off of the ClamAV engine which is under the GPL. A condition of the GPL is that derivitive software must also be under the GPL and the source code must be available.  
(Version 1.0.2)

praisebury
+1
Mar 31 2009

ANONYMOUS  So professional review that I cannot understand. -.-!

DVD Ripper Mac|Video Converter Mac  
(Version 1.0.5)

praisebury
0

Aug 12 2008

A J BENAMU  If anybody wants to buy, the store is off-line.. That is something to consider.  
(Version 0.9)

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0
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Aug 12 2008
*....

SHOTGUNWEDDINGS  Rip-off

clamd

clamd.conf

libclamav.dylib

libclamunrar_iface.dylib

libclamunrar.dylib

ClamAV is free and this is a blatant rip-off of a FREE product.

Sad!  
(Version 0.9)

praisebury
+4
[ 4 Replies - Reply ]
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Aug 12 2008

MACUPDATE ADMIN  I'm curious, what proof is there that this is a direct ripoff of ClamXav?  
(Version 0.9)

praisebury
0
Oct 7 2008

CALL ME YO DADDY  @MacUpdate Admin

That is an extremely stupid question to ask. You've got to be joking right? The answer to that question is so obvious it's silly even to attempt to answer it. MacUpdate is a cool site but it definitely needs a new Admin.   
(Version 0.9.3)

praisebury
0
Dec 17 2008

NEONBLUE2  There's no proof they're ripped off ClamXav, just proof they're ripping off ClamAV as SHOTGUNWEDDINGS points out.  
(Version 1.0.2)

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0
Apr 7 2009

ILGAZ  Are the files/strings existent on the installation of this commercial antivirus? If so, it is a serious breach of GPL license and it needs serious review.  
(Version 1.0.5)

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0

Aug 12 2008

NINJABOY  ...And this is different from ClamXav how?  
(Version 0.9)

praisebury
+2
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Aug 12 2008

TIM.DEHRING  ClamXav doesn't have the iTunes interface. ;)

Honestly, I don't see much of a difference either.  
(Version 0.9)

praisebury
0

 

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