McAfee releases new security suite for Macs
Updated 1:45am PST Tuesday with pricing information.
McAfee has released a new security suite designed to help businesses better handle security for their growing segment of Macintosh computers.
Targeting small to large companies, McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac provides antivirus and antispyware features, and both an inbound and outbound firewall, McAfee said Tuesday.
The company is positioning the tool as a plus for IT administrators and for users. Administrators can use the same console to manage McAfee security on both Mac and Windows machines, said the company. The software lets administrators deny or control which applications can run on supported Macs. The suite's ePolicy Orchestrator tool can also generate reports of malicious activity for review.
Some have debated whether the Mac needs security software since it has traditionally been a less visible target than Windows for attack. But with Internet threats continually on the rise, few computer environments are completely immune. Even Apple has advised Mac users to protect themselves with security software.
Antivirus software for the Mac has been sold for a long time by companies such as Symantec and McAfee. But most products have been geared to the individual user.
McAfee sees its Endpoint Protection suite as filling a growing need at schools, companies, and government agencies that have adopted more Macs in recent years.
"The demand for Macintosh in the enterprise is steadily growing, yet organizations are either not using any security technology for these endpoints, or they are using a standalone, non-manageable anti-virus protection solution," Peter Lincoln, IT director at Aquent, said in a statement provided by McAfee. "The use of McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac enables us to have complete protection on all our endpoints. Using the same integrated management console also allows us to lower our operational cost and ensure security and compliance."
A survey conducted last year by ITIC showed that a greater number of companies were planning to allow Macs into their workforce.
McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac is compatible with the latest release of Apple's Snow Leopard as well as existing Leopard and Tiger environments. A McAfee spokesperson said the product's retail price would be $55.08 per computer for a network of 500 - 1000 computers. The pricing includes one year of Gold technical support.
Lance Whitney wears a few different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer. He's a contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other computer publications and Web sites. You can follow Lance on Twitter at @lancewhit. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and he is not an employee of CNET. 
While there may be some occasional OS X exploits out there, Mac users in a corporate environment are much more dangerous as "immune virus carriers" that may infect others who aren't immune.
Also, much of the protection is for the benefit of Windows users, stuff like cleaning e-mails.
It's *good* that security companies are providing more attention to Macs.
Mac users have never said "we don't get attacked", we simply are not as big a target as MS.
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That sounds like back peddling to me. In fact the fanboys do say that macs don't get viruses or gets attacked and still do so. Over the years, its been tempered a weee bit but ads still tries to make you think that it can't get viruses. So its wimpy way of back peddling if you ask me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkrdy1p9BYI
If I'm not mistaken, that is one of Apple's latest Mac commercials. I don't think it's too farfetched to say that this commercial pretty much flat out tells you that you will not be getting a virus if you get a Mac. And this is the same message repeated by nearly every fanboy.
If you ask me security and anti virus software is a good idea no matter what OS you use. I wouldn't suggest McAfee to anyone. I usually suggest Symantec products AVG is good to not sure what all runs mac though.
and just to reference myself as saying "your mac is as vulnerable to attack if not more so than a PC"
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10154662-83.html
The Apple ads don't actually state that Macs are immune to viruses. They do assert that Windows PCs get more malware infections than Macs.
Knowledgeable Mac users are aware that there is malware for the Mac, just like there is malware for Linux, just like there is malware for cellphones.
No sense in dramatizing this topic.
K but no crying cause I can
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9072959/Mac_easiest_to_hack_says_10_000_winner
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/security-snow-leopard
I'm not dissing Mac it's a nice simple visually engaging operating platform that is still the industry standard for most artistic endeavors but it's under 10% of the market hence not targeted as much. because of that less of the security holes are found and less effort is made to detect security lapses.
also to reference the above C-net article they got their info from here
http://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/iss/xforce/trendreports/
and the less than 10% is backed by W3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkrdy1p9BYI
Doesn't get PC viruses.
Designed with security in mind, Mac OS X isn?t plagued by constant attacks from PC viruses and malware. Likewise, it won?t slow you down with constant security alerts and sweeps. Every Mac is secure right out of the box, so you can safely go about your work ? or play ? without interruption.
The lawyers had fun crafting that statement.
Eitherway, how do you know you're free from such attacks if you don't have any prompts to tell you that you're safe? Until you really start searching for anomalies in your programs, emails, OS performance, you won't know.
Did I mention I am writing this on a Mac running OS X? :-) And for those who are willing to take the time there are free/low cost security solutions out there for the Mac. Little Snitch is a very nice firewall program and Clam AV, which is free although they do ask for donations, is an adequate AV for now. Intego has a very nice line of security products for the Mac, but the yearly subscription fees will mount up quickly.
I second Lil'Snitch & Clam FTW.
Anyway, I also stopped recommending McAfee as well. I have no fondness for either companies products.
Perhaps you should read up on it. It is only annoying if you want to keep track of what is happening. I don't do it, but all you have to do is tell it the first time it pops up to approve that program forever. You can also set it to default to approval of a new rule if you take no action within a certain amount of time. You would also not be a good candidate for a program called File Defense. :-)
if you want security apps for mac ;-) compatible Snow leopard
from http://www.macpromo.com/...it's a GREAT DEAL!
12 great Mac security apps for $49.99!
What needs to happen is for Apple to release a free security application like Microsoft did and be rid of the bloatware security vendors from the landscape once and for all.
PS. I own a total of 8 Macs, and my business coop has 28 of them, from G3 to MacPro desktops. While I have never experienced any malware, I run protection software to eliminate the possibility of forwarding e-mails that may contain them to Windows users. I'd call that smart, and accommodating... and downright chivalrous to those who don't share my enthusiasm for the products I use
I'll consider A/V ware when I start seeing articles that viruses are loose in the wild for Macs.
Until then, my common sense measures will have to suffice, as they have for the past 7 years.
To use one definition: a virus is "executable code that attaches itself to a program or file so that it can spread from one Mac to another." By this definition, there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of Windows viruses and not one for Mac OS X. Note: I am not saying that OS X is invulnerable. I am just questioning the rational of using a product that protects against "known viruses" when there aren't any.
Phishing, spyware etc require poor judgement/user action (e.g downloading software from warez) and will exist no matter what OS you use. You can't protect against mistakes.
http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=191968025
As for protecting Windows users. Huh? That's their chore and not mine. If I ran a business, I suppose it would be prudent to not be the vector for an attack on a customer.
- by DanRobinson October 13, 2009 12:45 PM PDT
- [quote]Even Apple has advised Mac users to protect themselves with security software.[/quote]
- Like this Reply to this comment
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- by deniceels October 14, 2009 9:49 PM PDT
- For being direct or honest/frank?
- Like this
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(57 Comments)Untrue. That was a an employee who said it. He immediately became an ex-employee as I recall.