Keeping your Mac secure from viruses, hackers, thieves, crashes, and drops.

I just upgraded my wife’s and my security/anti-virus software to Intego’s suite of programs, "SecurityBarrier X6". One license will cover 2 Macs. The SecurityBarrier suite includes several programs, only 2 of which interest me. The first is ContentBarrier, which nicely filters porn. The second is VirusBarrier X6, which does a lot more than the previous edition (X5). The previous edition had to be paired with NetBarrier in order to block people from hacking your computer, but X6 combines the two (VirusBarrier + NetBarrier), so the new program blocks every kind of threat the experts at Intego know about (it also has tons of cool control panel gadgets built in that are fun to tinker with). It comes with 12 months of service, and then will stop working after that. Below is a link to the website at which to buy it, and two different types of reviews of VirusBarrier.

Buy SecurityBarrier

Does auto-expiring security software make sense?
Intego VirusBarrier X6 Review

To be honest, these programs are not necessary. You can get free accountability software, and Mac viruses and hacking/ID theft risks are rarely exploited. If money is tight, don’t feel obligated to get any of this stuff.

That said, I work in coffee shops with open networks very often, and I do all my work, banking, etc. on my computer (though one should never access banking websites from open networks). For me, even the smallest likelihood of getting screwed with represents a huge risk, because of what’s on the line. So in addition to backing up my HD every day using Time Machine with my Time Capsule, having recovery software installed (Orbicule’s “Undercover” for Mac), AppleCare, a laptop rider on my homeowner’s insurance, security cable, and a decently well-informed set of habits (never send sensitive information by chat or email, no matter how tempting it is - it's just so easy to read other people's chats and emails that you should assume all of yours will be read), the SecurityBarrier software still seems like a good idea for me. My computer needs to run, and it needs to run correctly and securely.

[PS - for those of you who got VirusBarrier X5 for free from MacHeist last year - you can use that license to upgrade to the SecurityBarrier X6 suite, which covers 2 macs, for $49.95 (saves you $30 off retail).]

[PPS - by default SecurityBarrier blocks all secure traffic, so if you ‘ever’ check your banking, etc. information online, you will have to be sure to uncheck this box in ContentBarrier’s control panel when you first set it up.]