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Macintosh Internet Security Guide
This page provides links to background information, security vendors, comparative and individual reviews of personal firewall, anti-virus, anti-spam, privacy and suites of software as well as hardware firewalls and anti-theft services to help you protect your Macintosh desktop or laptop computer.
- How to secure your home network, Glenn Fleishman, MacWorld, May 8, 2009
- 15 easy fixes for Mac security risks, Ryan Faas, Computerworld, April 28, 2009
- Security Tips and Tricks for Everyone, Matthew Sarrel, PC Magazine, November 18, 2008 [scroll down for Mac]
- Ten steps to secure your Mac laptop, Steve Ragan, The Tech Herald, July 18, 2008
Comparative Reviews of Macintosh Security Software
- Mac Security Focus: Privacy, Joe Kissell, MacWorld, PC World, October 8, 2008
- Mac Security Focus: Antivirus, Scott McNulty, MacWorld, PC World, October 7, 2008
- Mac Security Focus: Firewalls, Chris Pepper & Rich Mogull, MacWorld, PC World, October 6, 2008
- Walling In The Mac, Jack Germain, Macnewsworld, August 27, 2007
Firewall Software for Macintosh
- BrickHouse Brian Hill
- DoorStop X, Open Door Networks, also see "Who's There? Firewall Advisor" and their book "Internet Security for Your Macintosh"
- DoorStop X Security Suite 2.0, Jeffery Battersby, MacWorld, March 19, 2007
- Doorstop X a sweet suite for security, Don Foy, Macsimumnews, January 11, 2006
- Flying Buttress
- Flying Buttress 1.4, Jeffery Battersby, MacWorld, May 22, 2006
- IPNetSentry, Sustainable Softworks
- IPNetSentryX 1.6.5 [firewall], Joe Kissell, MacWorld, PC World, July 22, 2008
- IPNetSentry X, Jeffery Battersby, MacWorld, May 22, 2006
- Mac OS X Firewall
- Mac OS X Firewall, Jeffery Battersby, MacWorld, May 24, 2006
- SunShield
Anti-Virus Software for Macintosh
- Best Free Antivirus Software, Mary Landesman, antivirus.about.com, April 21, 2009 -- Avira AntiVir Personal for Windows, PC Tools iAntivirus for Mac, AVG Free Edition for Windows, Avast Home Edition for Windows, and ClamXav for Mac.
- ClamXav
- Secure Your Mac with Free ClamXav Virus Checker, Jesse Kirdahy-Scalia, OpenMediaBoston, September 26, 2008
- Intego VirusBarrier X6 includes firewall
- VirusBarrier Adds iPhone, iPod Touch Scanning, Peter Cohen, Macworld, July 17. 2008
- Intego VirusBarrier X4, Rob Griffins, MacWorld, May 11, 2006
- McAfee Virex for the Macintosh
- Norton AntiVirus 11 for Mac
- Review: Norton AntiVirus 11, Scott McNulty, MacWorld, July 7, 2008
- Norton AntiVirus 10.1, Rob Griffins, MacWorld, May 10, 2006
- Norton AntiVirus Dual Protection (Mac & PC antivirus)
- PC Tools, free for personal use
- PC Tools iAntivirus for Mac, Mary Landesman, antivirus.about.com, September 23, 2008
- Also see our page on secure online email hosting services with virus and spam filters.
Anti-Spam Software for Macintosh
- Hendrickson Software Components -- Purify, Em @ ilCRX, SidewinderX, SpamX, SpamControl...
- Spamfire 2, MatterForm Media
- SpamSieve "Adds Bayesian spam filtering to popular e-mail clients."
- SpamSieve 2.7 [Macintosh], Rob Griffiths, Macworld, July 6, 2009
- SpamSweep, Bains Software
- SpamSweep 1.5, Christopher Breen, MacWorld, April 10, 2007
- Also see our page on secure online email hosting services with virus and spam filters.
Internet Security Suites and Families for Macintosh
- Intego Security Barrier X6 includes two-way firewall, anti-phishing, anti-spyware, virusbarrier, content barrier, personal backup, personal anti-spam, and fileguard.
- Personal Antispam X5 [Macintosh], Rob Griffiths, MacWorld, July 7, 2009
- ContentBarrier X4, Roman Loyola, MacWorld, PC World, August 18, 2008
- Norton Internet Security 4 for Mac
suite includes Antivirus, Anti-phishing, Identity protection, Internet worm protection, Two-way firewall, Vulnerability protection, Intrusion protection, Norton DeepSight™, Browser protection and File protection.
- Trend Micro Smart Surfing for Mac -- two-way firewall, antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-rootkit, web threat protection, and more.
Privacy Software for Macintosh
- Allume Systems -- Internet Cleanup...
- OS X Security Utilities, Kirk McElhearn, MacWorld, January 25, 2005
- Little Snitch, Objective Development [outward bound firewall]
- Little Snitch, Consumer Search, May 2009
- Little Snitch 2.0.3, Mark Anbinder, MacWorld, May 8, 2008
- Jiiva -- AutoScrubber
- NetShred X, Internet track eraser for Mac OS X $20, Mireth Technology Corp.
- Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) email security
- Web Confidential password manager, $20
Hardware Routers (Firewall, Internet Connection Sharing & Networking)
- AirPort Extreme, Apple Computer
- Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station 802.11n, Mario Morejon, PC Magazine, April 20, 2009
- Review: Apple's new Airport Extreme gets dual-band Wi-Fi, Michael DeAgonia, Computer World, March 29, 2009
- Review: Apple AirPort Extreme, Gerry Blackwell, Wi-Fi Planet, June 2, 2008
- First Look: AirPort Express 802.11n Wi-Fi base station, Christopher Breen and Dan Frakes, Macworld, March 17, 2008
- Go to our Router, Wireless and Broadband Gateway pages for more choices and product reviews.
Anti-Theft Services for Laptops
- Adeona is a free Open Source system for tracking the location of a lost or stolen laptop while preserving your privacy.
- Computrace Lo/Jack
- MacPhoneHome, Brigadoon Security Group
- Orbicule Undercover
