Hello: Being a MS-Windows user since my first computer and now a new
APPLE iMac owner soon; I understand that Apple computers are not bothered by computer viruses
as MUCH as PC ownerers are.....but IF I do buy and install an anti-virus
program for my new iMac,would that be money well spent if I do try and use
Windows files occasionally?
RonRyan377
Well, if you work with Windows files frequently, there are potential benefits to a good Anti-Virus program.
For example, if you work with files that have Macros (such as documents), then those can contain limited viruses that could affect a specific program. One example is Microsoft Word. Macros from Word documents are supposed to work on both the PC and the Mac. And, there have been a few (very few) reports of Macro Viruses affecting the Mac version of Word. So, that would be one potential (although unlikely) situation.
The biggest benefit I would see, is that you would not unknowingly pass viruses onto your coworkers or friends. For example, say someone sends you a PC file that contains a virus. It doesn't affect you, so you don't notice it (and with no Anti-Virus you are not made aware of the virus). So, you pass it on to the next person in line when you are done with it. That person (being cheap, lazy, or whatever) has an outdated antivirus program on their Windows PC (or no Anti-Virus at all). Well, now their machine is trashed and they call you to complain because you sent the virus to them.
If you only work with your own files, then make whatever decision is right for you. But, if you receive a lot of files from different people, and then pass those files onto other people, do your friends a favor and scan them for viruses before passing them on.
I use the ClamXav program mentioned previously. I have it set only to scan things that get saved to my desktop (which is where everything I download goes initially). So, it only scans when I have a file go to my desktop. It's a fair compromise.