I have a 24" iMac from the 2010 era roughly. Running OS 10.6.8 with 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB memory 1067 MHz DDR3. This is a basic machine that I'm using for email and to surf the net, if that phrase is still in use. I want to install Malwarebytes but it requires OS 10.8. Can I install a newer OS and if so which would you recommend for this machine? The friendly kids at my Apple store insist I buy a new machine because upselling is everywhere these days. You can't even get a plain vanilla ice cream cone at the local Dairy Queen without them wanting you to add a teaspoon of crushed peanuts for an extra half buck. So what should I do about the OS and malwarebytes? Thanks.
Can you update to a newer version of the OS through the app store? I'm not sure if your hardware supports the latest OS versions, but I don't see why it shouldn't. The latest version is El Capitan. If your machine can support it, I'd upgrade.
It's worth noting that anti-malware programs generally are not needed on Mac machines, since viruses are much less frequent on Macs and the OS is fundamentally more secure. You can probably get by without making any changes at all. Or you can look at other anti-virus solutions. I use ESET on my laptop, personally, but only because I'm a bit paranoid.
