We invite you to try out our Mac Protection Technology for free

[F-Secure UK Team]

We're working on Mac Protection technology that includes:

- Real-time antivirus protection with automatic updates

- NEW! Firewall protection by integrating with OS X internal firewall

- NEW! 'Panic button' to instantly block all traffic except update servers

- NEW! Localized into major languages

- Fast performance. Designed with performance in mind

In exchange for your participation we offer;

- A free six-month subscription during which you will automatically receive latest updates to the product

- An opportunity to influence the final product

- Rewards for best suggestions and for active feedback

Sign up here: http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA/downloads/beta-programs/home-office/fsmac/index.html

Thanks and let me know if you have any questions.

[Vice]

How about you pay us to run it? That'd be much better.

I don't want to run software for a problem that doesn't exist.

[Quillz]

You really don't need anti-virus protection. Common sense is usually more than sufficient, especially on a Unix platform.

[F-Secure UK Team]

Totally understand the confidence in Unix platforms and wanting to get paid.

Just putting it out there for anyone who's interested.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

Unlike the others, I'm actually gonna try it so I can evaluate it properly. Note: I am not a product reviewer, most of this is simply my opinion and it may not even make much sense. XD!

Okay. First the filesize and installation.

• 42.1MB for the main app. Installation requires 58.8MB. Download is 21.7MB.
• Installation was fast, no problems here. It didn't install any extra icons anywhere which was good. The App exists as a folder with the F-Secure App, a support tool app (Which doesn't have an icon), and the uninstall app.

I'll review the cosmetics first:

• The design of the software is typical of Anti-Virus packages, but I would much rather see a native OS X interface, or at least a slightly tweaked version, but the graphics are good.
• Navigation is a bit unusual (I would prefer a much simpler toolbar with graphical buttons on instead of the Next/Back/Close buttons).
• Also, the app window could be a lot smaller. The main window and the tasks window make good use of the space, but every other screen doesn't.
• Finally, I noticed the Apple Menu icon is fully coloured. I'd prefer a dark silhouette version so it matches the design of OS X.

Next, the security features:

• Scan speed is quite slow, but it's very light on CPU. I can barely tell it's running, the performance impact is minimal, even non-existent. Maybe a more rapid scan would be better? This feels more like a low priority background scan than an on-demand one. I guess this is a positive and a negative however. It took around 30 minutes to scan my Home folder.
• No viruses or malicious software were found. :p
• After the scan finishes, the dock icon should bounce and the summary window should jump in front of the main app window. At this moment in time it doesn't.
• I'd be a good move if the Apple Menu icon animated whilst a scan was in progress, or the dock icon showed some details such as percentage complete. Also, if any malicious objects were found, a badge with a number on it might be good too.
• The 'Block all incoming and outgoing traffic' feature is nifty. One-click and it's done - perhaps some kind of 'Are you sure?' dialog should appear after clicking though.
• The whole app quits when you click the close button. Does this stop the real-time protection, or does that still run in some form in the background? I wouldn't like to keep the app window open all the time!

Overall. It's a very simple app. It locks down traffic and scans your computer for viruses. That's pretty much it.

Uninstallation was very easy too. Click and it's gone.

All in all, I gave it a shot. But I'm gonna have to agree with the other posters in this thread. aDoesn't really have a use at this point. Good effort though.

[Examinus]

I'll give it a go. I don't think I'd want real time protection, maybe just the option to do a one off scan every so often. Is that possible?

[Examinus]

OK, I'd like to try it but all I get is this when I try to open it:

The same when I try to uninstall it too, so now I have to use App Zapp. Thanks!

[Examinus]

Well App Zap won't get rid of it. How do I uninstall it?

[Examinus]

What a piece of crap.

[Vice]

^ Glad I didn't try it :p

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

What a piece of crap.

What's your architecture and OS? 64-bit 10.6.2?

That's what I'm using, and it was flawless. Perhaps it was a duff installation? Try installing it again and then uninstall from there?

[Examinus]

What's your architecture and OS? 64-bit 10.6.2?

That's what I'm using, and it was flawless. Perhaps it was a duff installation? Try installing it again and then uninstall from there?

10.6.2. I tried reinstalling then uninstalling, same thing, then restarted, tried again, same thing. I've got rid of everything but there's one root process still running called fseventsd. Any idea how I can find it and kill it?

EDIT: I've just found out fseventsd is an OSX process. Well done F-Secure for distinguishing your own processes from OSX's. They all started fs too.

[thealexweb]

How about you pay us to run it? That'd be much better.

I don't want to run software for a problem that doesn't exist.

I'm sorry but are you trying to claim that there is no form of virus and malware for the Mac? I've got news for you, there is.

[Vice]

I'm sorry but are you trying to claim that there is no form of virus and malware for the Mac? I've got news for you, there is.

No I wasn't at all. What I was saying is there is no problem. Which is exactly what I said. Please don't just make up a post for me when you don't understand the one I wrote originally thanks.

[njn007]

You really don't need anti-virus protection. Common sense is usually more than sufficient, especially on a Unix platform.

I'm glad someone stated this already. Mac OS X has such a solid Unix platform that any AV software isn't needed. Sorry, but I'm not going to try something I really don't need.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

10.6.2. I tried reinstalling then uninstalling, same thing, then restarted, tried again, same thing. I've got rid of everything but there's one root process still running called fseventsd. Any idea how I can find it and kill it?

EDIT: I've just found out fseventsd is an OSX process. Well done F-Secure for distinguishing your own processes from OSX's. They all started fs too.

I'm not sure, but I think the process is called fsmac, and it should be a 32-bit process. I don't know much about the inner workings of this software, but I can offer suggestions in the meantime. :3

I suppose you could just delete the data from the Applications folder, and then go into root/Library and delete the 'F-Secure' folder.

There may be other files though.

[Examinus]

I'm not sure, but I think the process is called fsmac, and it should be a 32-bit process. I don't know much about the inner workings of this software, but I can offer suggestions in the meantime. :3

I suppose you could just delete the data from the Applications folder, and then go into root/Library and delete the 'F-Secure' folder.

There may be other files though.

I *think* I've ridded myself of it. I deleted the folder in Applications, then had to delete all the plist items in Startup thingies, then delete the group it creates. There doesn't seem to be any processes left, but Time Machine is now backing up 500mb of stuff, which makes me worry how many changes it's actually made.

Scary!

[The_Observer]

THanks to +Examinus ill pass! i have firewall, and antivirus! all free and no problems, also i think " - A free six-month subscription during which you will automatically receive latest updates to the product" is abit of joke, for testing your software to find out problems and issues! and as a Neowin Partner I would expect more...

[.Neo]

I bet many Mac users will appreciate a non-standard interface. Oh wait...

[threesixtyflip]

Come on everyone, give the guys a chance, what version of OS X does it work on?

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

Come on everyone, give the guys a chance, what version of OS X does it work on?

Leopard or Snow Leopard.

[The_Observer]

Come on everyone, give the guys a chance, what version of OS X does it work on?

so you are trying this out on your mac system now?

[Kudos Veteran]

We're working on Mac Protection technology that includes:

- Real-time antivirus protection with automatic updates

- NEW! Firewall protection by integrating with OS X internal firewall

- NEW! 'Panic button' to instantly block all traffic except update servers

- NEW! Localized into major languages

- Fast performance. Designed with performance in mind

In exchange for your participation we offer;

- A free six-month subscription during which you will automatically receive latest updates to the product

- An opportunity to influence the final product

- Rewards for best suggestions and for active feedback

Sign up here: http://www.f-secure....smac/index.html

Thanks and let me know if you have any questions.

Mac users are used to slick looking cocoa apps. One of the things I hated about windows was that every developer thought that coming up with their own interface elements was a good thing, I'm sure I'm not alone.

Get to know your target demographic.

[threesixtyflip]

so you are trying this out on your mac system now?

Ill try it tommorrow in the morning, bed time for me now lol :)

[Rudy]

Mac users are used to slick looking cocoa apps. One of the things I hated about windows was that every developer thought that coming up with their own interface elements was a good thing, I'm sure I'm not alone.

Get to know your target demographic.

+1 couldn't have said it better