If you then forward that document to a less wise person who has not turned off the macro support, then you have most likely just sent him a shiny new Pandora's Box with a sign saying 'Open this end'!įlippancy aside, I'm sure you get the idea: check the file before opening and/or sending it on to someone else. However, this doesn't mean we should get complacent about checking incoming email attachments or web downloads, for two reasons.įirstly, there's no guarantee that we Mac users will continue to enjoy the status quo, but more importantly, the majority of the computing world use machines running MS Windows, for which an enormous quantity of viruses exist, so we must be vigilant in checking the files we pass on to our friends and colleagues etc.įor example, if you're a wise person and you've turned MS Office's macro support off then you're not going to notice that virus which is hiding inside this month's edition of Extreme Ironing.doc which your friend sent you. When it comes to protecting a Mac against the latest virus threats, you can do everything with minimum effort, thanks to ClamXav's straightforward and easy to understand functionality.ClamXav uses as a back-end a slightly modified version of the tried, tested, and very popular ClamAv open source antivirus engine.īack in the days before OS X, the number of viruses which attacked Macintosh users totalled somewhere between about 60 and 80. Fortunately, it doesn't present any greater risks than other antivirus programs. The application doesn't come with any warranty, so backing up important data is advised. The application is offered free of charge and it doesn't take long to get it up and running. It can be set to scan specific folders, to monitor them and to scan new files automatically. Furthermore, the application can be set to scan inserted memory devices and to delete or quarantine infected files automatically.ĬlamXav provides an intuitive user interface, as well as a clean and simple functionality. If you target one or more folders, with the Sentry function, the application will monitor them at all times and it will automatically scan any new file you add to these folders. The Sentry feature is another advantage of ClamXav. For example, you can enable automatic updates, set up a quarantine folder, exclude files with specific characteristics or schedule automatic scans. It includes everything you would expect from an antivirus application. If you want more details, you can open a scan log, on a separate window, on which you will find an overall status for individual files.Īdditional features can be found in the application's Preferences menu. If detected, infected files will be listed on the right side of the interface, where you can also find a summary of the scanning process, once it is complete. Selecting one or more folders and clicking a Start button is sufficient to begin a scanning process. It displays a few common locations, like the Users or Documents folders, on its left side, where you can add any other local folder yourself. The user interface resembles a standard Finder window. When everything is ready, you can start enjoying the application's clean and simple functionality without any distractions. Fortunately, the procedure does not involve anything more complex than just following a wizard's instructions. What's more, ClamXav is distributed completely free of charge and it takes only one or two minutes to have it up and running.ĬlamXav can be installed like any other Mac OS X application, but you must also install the ClamAV engine separately, before using the application. It is capable of identifying both Windows and Mac threats, it can automatically scan new data and it can be configured as an active or passive security measure. Based on the popular ClamAV antivirus engine, this lightweight utility has many advantages to offer. There are hundreds of antivirus solutions for the Windows operating system, but if you wish to protect your Mac, ClamXav will satisfy your needs. Viruses and other malicious programs are a constant threat, regardless of what platform you decide to use.
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