Firewall and antivirus programs may block Sync from working properly. Here is how you can find out what firewall or antivirus software you may have running on your computer. Click on Start and type control panel on the search bar then click on the search result showing Control Panel Desktop app. On the Control Panel window, click on View by: and select Small Icons (if it has not yet been set that way) then go to Security and Maintenance.
Not trying to reinvent the wheel here, but there have been other tips on the forum as well about anti-virus protection, such as this one:
From my perspective, I would like to add the following info, which is likely covered by the other tips as well.
In essence, Mac OS X is less virus prone for a couple reasons:
1. No root account enabled by default.
2. No direct support for Windows .exe files. See
Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears:. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Commandand Rkeys until the Apple logo appears. Download mac software weird letters show up. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
if you need this.
3. Software sharing system preferences when the firewall is turned on, keeps all ports closed by default.
Running Windows on a Mac, the Windows environment is still as succeptable as it would be on a non-Apple PC.
Sophos and ClamX AV offer inexpensive anti-virus solutions, but honestly, most anti-virus for the Mac offers unnecessary overhead and network traffic.
You are better off practicing safe computing, avoiding trojans, including:
1. Not using peer2peer software, or opening torrents of any kind.
2. Do not download Mackeeper. If you have, read this: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3036
3. Do not use any cache cleaning software other than the built-in browser cache cleaning.
4. Backup your data frequently, and before any update: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1992
5. Do not run software update from a browser window, instead go direct to the distributer's website of the necessary patch. Popup windows have masqueraded themselves as Flash and Java updates.
As an example, the only place you should get those are http://www.adobe.com/ and http://www.java.com/
http://support.apple.com/ lets you find software updates for Apple's products.
Note: Java on Mac OS X 10.7.2 and earlier was supported by Apple, and now most vendors only support Oracle's Java due to security concerns. To get the most secure Java for Mac OS X 10.4 or later, see this tip:
Some automatic software updates via the System Preferences may interrupt your work.
Be careful only to run them after your data is backed up. Make note of the said update, and check an internet search engine
for that update later if you find it becomes essential for your work, and make sure the update does not present other compatibility
issues for your software or hardware.
6. Check for viruses on Microsoft office documents before opening them as attachments to the Office application, or use an Office program that doesn't support Microsoft's macros, unless you absolutely need someone's macros. Neooffice, Openoffice, Google Docs, Zoho Docs, and Libreoffice don't support the macros, but support most everything else.
7. Be wary of any .app suffixed attachments or .scpt suffix attachments. .app is most commonly used for
Apple applications, and .scpt are most commonly used for Applescript.
8. Do not open attachments from the Finder, unless you verify the application that can read them can open them directly. A .JPEG could in theory masquerade as an Applescript, but it won't behave as one if you tried to use Preview to open it, as Preview can open the real JPEGs as JPEGs.
Normally opening attachments wouldn't be a problem, since Macs are still seen as the small minority of computers, and Windows is a far greater target.
The question of whether or not Apple provides its own free anti-virus software has come up. That I have yet to see.
9. Bluetooth phones can act like a remote control for Macs. If you use your phone, and try to access some Bluetooth function with it, it may inadvertantly access your computer trying to act like a control of some sort. Disable or unpair Bluetooth from phones except when you need to make a synchronization.
Pair to keyboards and mice only when you are in the same room with the keyboard and mouse.
We design Mac hardware and software with advanced technologies that work together to run apps more securely, protect your data, and help keep you safe on the web. And with macOS Catalina available as a free upgrade, it’s easy to get the most secure version of macOS for your Mac.*
Apple T2 chip.
The next generation of security.
The Apple T2 Security Chip — included with many newer Mac models — keeps your Mac safer than ever. The Secure Enclave coprocessor in the Apple T2 chip provides the foundation for Touch ID, secure boot, and encrypted storage capabilities. Touch ID gives you a seamless way to use your fingerprint to unlock your Mac, fill passwords in Safari, and make purchases with Apple Pay. Secure boot helps ensure that you are running trusted operating system software from Apple, while the Apple T2 chip automatically encrypts the data on your Mac. So you can be confident knowing that security has been designed right into the architecture of your Mac, from the ground up.
Apple helps you keep your Mac secure with software updates.
The best way to keep your Mac secure is to run the latest software. When new updates are available, macOS sends you a notification — or you can opt in to have updates installed automatically when your Mac is not in use. macOS checks for new updates every day, so it’s easy to always have the latest and safest version.
Protection starts at the core.
The technically sophisticated runtime protections in macOS work at the very core of your Mac to keep your system safe from malware. This starts with state-of-the-art antivirus software built in to block and remove malware. Technologies like XD (execute disable), ASLR (address space layout randomization), and SIP (system integrity protection) make it difficult for malware to do harm, and they ensure that processes with root permission cannot change critical system files.
Download apps safely from the Mac App Store. And the internet.
Instructions On Locating Antivirus And Firewall Software For Mac Free
Now apps from both the App Store and the internet can be installed worry-free. App Review makes sure each app in the App Store is reviewed before it’s accepted. Gatekeeper on your Mac ensures that all apps from the internet have already been checked by Apple for known malicious code — before you run them the first time. If there’s ever a problem with an app, Apple can quickly stop new installations and even block the app from launching again.
Stay in control of what data apps can access.
Apps need your permission to access files in your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders as well as in iCloud Drive and external volumes. And you’ll be prompted before any app can access the camera or mic, capture keyboard activity, or take a photo or video of your screen.
FileVault 2 encrypts your data.
With FileVault 2, your data is safe and secure — even if your Mac falls into the wrong hands. FileVault 2 encrypts the entire drive on your Mac, protecting your data with XTS-AES 128 encryption. And on Mac systems with an Apple T2 Security Chip, FileVault 2 keys are created and protected by the Secure Enclave for even more security.
Designed to protect your privacy.
The most secure browser for your Mac is the one that comes with your Mac. Built-in privacy features in Safari, like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, help keep your browsing your business. Automatic strong passwords make it easy to create and use unique passwords for all the sites you visit. And iCloud Keychain syncs those passwords securely across all your devices, so you don’t have to remember them. You can also easily find and upgrade any weak passwords you’ve previously used (and reused and reused and reused).
Automatic protections from harmful sites.
Safari also helps safeguard you against fraudulent websites and those that harbor malware — before you visit them. If a website seems suspicious, Safari prevents it from loading and notifies you. And when connecting to unencrypted sites, Safari will warn you. So everything you need to browse without worry is right at your fingertips.
Find your missing Mac with Find My.
The Find My app combines Find My iPhone and Find My Friends into a single, easy-to-use app on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Find My can help you locate a missing Mac — even if it’s offline or sleeping — by sending out Bluetooth signals that can be detected by nearby Apple devices. These devices then relay the detected location of your Mac to iCloud so you can locate it in the Find My app. It’s all anonymous and encrypted end-to-end so no one — including Apple — knows the identity of any reporting device or the location of your Mac. And it all happens silently using tiny bits of data that piggyback on existing network traffic. So there’s no need to worry about your battery life, your data usage, or your privacy being compromised.
Keep your Mac safe.
Even if it’s in the wrong hands.
All Mac models with the Apple T2 Security Chip support Activation Lock — just like your iPhone or iPad. So if your Mac is ever misplaced or lost, the only person who can erase and reactivate it is you.