To ensure that MRT will run when that database is updated, open the App Store pane in System Preferences and check the box marked Install system data files and security updates if its not already checked.
Norton Antivirus 2012 Mac OS XNorton Antivirus 2012 Mac OS X FilesAmong other things, it installs kernel extensions which are known to cause kernel panics and system freezes; it contains known and documented bugs which can silently corrupt Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign files, destroy a users ability to authenticate as an administrator, and (on PPC systems) can cause Classic to stop functioning; and Symantec has on at least two occasions now released flawed.dat file updates which erroneously report certain critical Mac OS X files as viruses.Deleting these viruses causes damage to the system that in some cases renders it unbootable.) Norton has also been reported as damaging iPhone backups.A major security flaw in Norton has also been noted: nes.created.zero.day.exploit.128538 Norton Removal Tool (Symantec Uninstaller): enUS.
The short answer is no, but it may give the wrong impression that there is no threat from what are loosely called viruses. There is a threat. This is a comment on what you shouldand should notdo to protect yourself from malicious software (malware) that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the users actions. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the computer, or who has been able to take control of it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and theres no easy way to defend against it. AV software is not intended to, and does not, defend against such attacks. OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as file quarantine, execute disable, sandboxing, system integrity protection, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldnt rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders. The following caveats apply to XProtect: It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets. As new versions of OS X are released, its not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Norton Antivirus 2012 Code Of ObsoleteSecurity updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated Gatekeeper by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if theyre digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasnt been checked for security by Apple unless it comes from the App Store, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasnt been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.) Gatekeeper doesnt depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following: It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user. A malware attacker could find a way around it, or could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware. An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apples oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error. For the reasons given, App Store products, andto a lesser extentother applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they cant be considered absolutely safe. Sandboxed applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a Malware Removal Tool (MRT). It checks for, and removes, malware that matches a recognition database maintained by Apple.
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