Managing Your Digital Stuff - Antivirus
http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Manage/Antivirus.html




The traditional idea of antivirus is being replaced with a 
more effective approach to keeping your devices safe.  The
basic idea is to keep your devices patched (up2date) and use
the security built into the operating systems.

Apple and Microsoft continue to secure our computers with
read-only containers, full disk encryption, sandboxing,
limiting software access to sensitive data, etc.





For Microsoft Windows Users 1. Do all the updates ASAP 2. Turn on Microsoft Defender 3. Download, Install, and run Malwarebytes daily to mitigate malware we get tricked into downloading. https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/ Multiple layers of malware-crushing tech, including virus protection. Thorough malware, spyware, and virus removal. Specialized ransomware protection (premium only). Microsoft Technical Security Notifications https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/msrc/technical-security-notifications Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Comprehensive Security) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/comprehensive-security Phone: 800-642-7676

For Apple (Mac) Users 1. Do all the updates ASAP https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100 2. Download, Install, and run Malwarebytes daily to mitigate malware we get tricked into downloading. https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac-download/ Proven Malwarebytes technology crushes the growing threat of Mac malware, including thorough malware, spyware, and virus removal. Finally, cybersecurity smart enough for the Mac. Apple Security - Built right in. https://www.apple.com/macos/security/ https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100 Apple Platform Security https://help.apple.com/pdf/security/en_US/apple-platform-security-guide.pdf MacOS now scans for malware whenever it gets a chance https://eclecticlight.co/2022/08/30/macos-now-scans-for-malware-whenever-it-gets-a-chance/ Protect your Mac from malware https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/protect-your-mac-from-malware-mh40596/mac Phone: 800-MY-APPLE (800-692-7753) CleanMyMac (not free, but excellent) https://macpaw.com/cleanmymac Patrick Wardle -- Objective-see Security Tools (free) https://objective-see.com Objective-See was created to provide simple, yet effective macOS security tools. Always free of charge - no strings attached! Mobile Devices 1. Antivirus serves no purpose on Apple mobile devices as it is CURRENTLY impossible to download and install Apps outside of the Apple's App Store. 2. Android phones and tablets are "open" and susceptible to users installing Malware. Android users should install only from the Google's Play Store.

References: Isolation, The New Paradigm https://www.trustedknight.com/isolation-new-paradigm/ A new school of thought has emerged to address this situation, that of isolating the user and creating a safe environment when they are in situations where sensitive information is in play. The theory behind this is simple, don't rely on blocking malware, instead isolate it once it's installed by cutting off its ability to extract or even collect data. This is the approach Apple, Microsoft, and others are taking. You Don't Need to Buy Antivirus Software https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/best-antivirus/ Ultimately, relying on any one app to protect your system, data, and privacy is a bad bet, especially when almost every antivirus app has proven vulnerable on occasion. No antivirus tool, paid or free, can catch every malicious bit of software that arrives on your computer. You also need secure passwords, two-factor logins, data encryption, systemwide backups, automatic software updates, and smart privacy tools added to your browser. You need to be mindful of what you download and to download software only from official sources, such as the Microsoft App Store and Apple Mac App Store, whenever possible. You should avoid downloading and opening email attachments unless you know what they are. For guidance, check out our full guide to setting up all these security layers. The Best Internet Security: Layers of Protection, and Good Habits https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/internet-security-layers/ sam.wormley@icloud.com