Is Anti-Virus software necessary?

You've just had a typical Norton expereince. If you are going to use antivirus or utilities (not that I think it's necessary) stay away from Norton.

Is antivirus necessary on a Mac? Let me ask another question: Have you ever heard of a virus for OS X? Not a proof of concept, but an actual virus being spread to Macs? Probably not, since there aren't any. Why pay good money to defend against something that doesn't exist? It doesn't even make sense as a proactive measure. The day that the Mac virus hits, current antivirus software will be unable to deal with it. You'll have to update your software before it can help you--so until that time you might as well not have any and save your money.

People will tell you that although you can't get infected you can pass along viruses from and to Windows users. This may be true, but you'd have to forward them infected attachments--and why would you do that? To do any virus damage to or with a Mac you'd have to do it deliberately. You'd have to download the 4k MS Office Installer from Limewire and run it--then you get what you deserve anyway. 🙂 You'd have to intentionally run a program or send one to somebody else. Nothing is automated at this point. The day nasty Windowslike viruses appear, buy antivirus. Until then, let your Mac be a Mac and enjoy not worrying.

You should still use Anti-virus software on your Mac. I recently found a virus in a Word document that would eventually be forwarded to someone at work running Windows. I was glad I was able to remove the virus using my Mac. It would look bad on myself if I gave someone a virus at work with email.

I used the Anti-virus program that is included with .Mac and it was good enough to find and remove the virus I had in Word.

BornAgainMac said:

I recently found a virus in a Word document that would eventually be forwarded to someone at work running Windows.

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That would be the one instance where I might suggest antivirus. If you're using Word and know you'll be sending attachments to coworkers, customers, whoever using Windows then you don't want to send them something that can mess up their computers. It would't be nice or professional.

But if you're not in that kind of environment I don't see the point. If you are in that environment, is it possible to use something other than Microsoft Word? That would solve the problem just as well and at less cost.

I with horrortaxi on that advice. I would also use anti-virus if you are file sharing over a network with windows users as well. you get any of the viruses, but is better not to spread them either.