False. You don't need antivirus software on a Mac. There has never been a virus in the wild that runs on Mac OS X. The handful of trojans that exist can be easily avoided with some education and common sense and care in what software you install:
You can't install a trojan on a Mac simply by clicking on a link or opening an email attachment. You have to actively install the trojan, entering your admin password. The handful of Mac trojans that exist are easily avoided by using common sense and some discretion about where you get the software you install. Read the link in post #6. No one is saying you shouldn't be careful. We're saying you don't need AV apps to keep your Mac malware-free.
The market share myth has been debunked more times than I can count. Read up on it. It's not true.
________________________________________________________________
@RISK: The Consensus Security Vulnerability Alert
Week 12 2011
________________________________________________________________
Summary of Updates and Vulnerabilities in this Consensus
Platform Number of Updates and Vulnerabilities
------------------------ -------------------------------------
Other Microsoft Products 1 (#2)
Third Party Windows Apps 1
Linux 3
Cross Platform 14 (#1,#3)
Web Application - Cross Site Scripting 5
Web Application 2
Network Device 1
Note the bold text. You still have to install it for it to do anything. Otherwise, it simply sits as a file on your hard drive.
I never said they're free from security holes or exploits. I said they're free from viruses and that the trojans that exist are easily avoided. No OS is completely secure. If you read all of that post, you'll see:
The Mac Malware Myth
No AV app that runs on Mac will detect a Windows virus better than a Windows AV app. If AV on a Mac detects it, then AV on Windows will do the same. Having AV running on a Mac is not adding any additional security for a Windows user than they can have running their own AV.
Yes, it is. If someone wants to run AV, that's their choice. It's just not necessary to protect Macs.
That's exactly what's meant by being careful where you get the software you install. Apps downloaded from porn sites or pirated apps from torrent sites have a higher risk of infection. AV software isn't needed to avoid downloading and installing apps from such sites. No AV app can protect a user from their own foolishness. As it says in the Virus/Malware Info post:
Each AV app has a virus definitions list that states what it's designed to detect. It's a tedious but simple process of comparing the lists. You can do the work of comparing them, as I don't need to. If you do, you'll only prove my statement is true. Here's some info to get you started:
Evidence? Plus, while anything is possible, the presence of malware in an app on a reputable site would be quickly reported, the app removed, and the public alerted. MacRumors would be buzzing with info about it, as would other forums and Mac-related sites. We can play "what if" games all day long, but the fact remains that in today's world (not a hypothetical world), a user can maintain a malware-free Mac in day-to-day use without the need for antivirus software of any kind.
I'll stop this here for now haha. We obviously have differing opinions but I'm sure spectators here are having fun!