I've started using this.. but i only scan occasionally however, recently i'm trying to freeup space thus stated deleting disused applications. T1b boot is still tooooo small. lol
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Best AntiVirus for Mac?
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I've started using this.. but i only scan occasionally however, recently i'm trying to freeup space thus stated deleting disused applications. T1b boot is still tooooo small. lol
By the way I agree that there are not much viruses for MAC but in these days, there are lots of threats out there aside from viruses. Nowadays, the term used is MALWARE. The real threat is in the web where there are lots of Phishing sites trying to get your credit card info and stuff.
There is a new antivirus for MAC coming from Trend Micro. If you participate in the Beta Testing, you can get 1 year license for free. Checkout the Smart Surfing for Mac v1.5 Beta from https://www.trendbeta.com/pages/. The Beta Program hasn't started yet but you can already register when you click the link under Product Overview.
You may try it out since you have nothing to lose.
There is a new antivirus for MAC coming from Trend Micro. If you participate in the Beta Testing, you can get 1 year license for free. Checkout the Smart Surfing for Mac v1.5 Beta from https://www.trendbeta.com/pages/. The Beta Program hasn't started yet but you can already register when you click the link under Product Overview.
You may try it out since you have nothing to lose.
virus from software installation
A couple years ago, I installed a factory HP printer CD (from a brand new printer box - uncopied) on my new IBook. I had not even set up email yet. Immediately afterwards, the computer completely shut down. I was working for a school district and took it to the techs. They were shockingly convinced that it had been infected with a virus from the HP software installation. They reinstalled it - it was infected again - and ultimately installed it with an alternative CD. No more trouble.
Ever since then, I've been paranoid about using Macs without anti-virus protection for the desktop, if nothing else. I understand how to protect it from email viruses.
I ran across the following article - don't know if there's any validity to it - wasn't impressed by the fact that Norton was one of the recommended products.
Apple Recommends Antivirus Software for Mac OSX dated 12/2/08
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212201455&subSection=News
Does anyone have any thoughts on virus protection for one's desktop? In that way it wouldn't have to run unless something was downloaded, thereby slowing the computer down. I've read the recommendations re ClamXav. Would this be suitable for this purpose?
Thanks,
Donna
A couple years ago, I installed a factory HP printer CD (from a brand new printer box - uncopied) on my new IBook. I had not even set up email yet. Immediately afterwards, the computer completely shut down. I was working for a school district and took it to the techs. They were shockingly convinced that it had been infected with a virus from the HP software installation. They reinstalled it - it was infected again - and ultimately installed it with an alternative CD. No more trouble.
Ever since then, I've been paranoid about using Macs without anti-virus protection for the desktop, if nothing else. I understand how to protect it from email viruses.
I ran across the following article - don't know if there's any validity to it - wasn't impressed by the fact that Norton was one of the recommended products.
Apple Recommends Antivirus Software for Mac OSX dated 12/2/08
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212201455&subSection=News
Does anyone have any thoughts on virus protection for one's desktop? In that way it wouldn't have to run unless something was downloaded, thereby slowing the computer down. I've read the recommendations re ClamXav. Would this be suitable for this purpose?
Thanks,
Donna
Unless you download a lot of stuff from the internet, you currently don't really need one for OSX.
If you do download a lot or get a lot of emailed attachments, there is always the risk of a worm or trojan (not a virus), but there's some great on-demand scanning tools you can easily run. I recommend ClamAV for OSX ( http://www.clamxav.com/ ). You can configure its small resident portion to scan all files that go into a specific folder (i.e., your download folder). It'll keep you from accidentally clicking on a trojan that might go install or delete something.
While there are almost no non-concept OSX virus around, there are some Trojans out there. But you have to "click and run" the program to get the trojan to execute, it won't do it on its own like a virus.
If you do download a lot or get a lot of emailed attachments, there is always the risk of a worm or trojan (not a virus), but there's some great on-demand scanning tools you can easily run. I recommend ClamAV for OSX ( http://www.clamxav.com/ ). You can configure its small resident portion to scan all files that go into a specific folder (i.e., your download folder). It'll keep you from accidentally clicking on a trojan that might go install or delete something.
While there are almost no non-concept OSX virus around, there are some Trojans out there. But you have to "click and run" the program to get the trojan to execute, it won't do it on its own like a virus.
I highly doubt it was a "virus" on the HP CD. It was more likely a corrupted disc or something of that sort.
If I'm wrong though, what virus was it? OS X only has trojans available in the wild, and even then they're about as rare as one can get. The only time you'd even begin to need any type of virus/trojan solution at this point is if you actively download and install pirated software for the mac or legit software from a dubious source.
Seriously, the day I get an OS X Virus on my MB is the day I'll search out every thread I can on here that I've said this, and bump them admitting I was wrong...lol
Don't pirate iWork '09 then.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/158240/mac_bittorrent_users_warned_of_trojan.html
Or Photoshop CS4
http://techblips.dailyradar.com/story/new_mac_trojan_appears_in_pirated_versions_of/
Trojans for OSX DO exist, it is virus that are rare. There a bounch out there, regardless if you refuse to believe it. ClamXAV is a small footprint and will scan a marked folder, doesn't hurt to do it.
Don't pirate iWork '09 then.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/158240/mac_bittorrent_users_warned_of_trojan.html
Or Photoshop CS4
http://techblips.dailyradar.com/story/new_mac_trojan_appears_in_pirated_versions_of/
Trojans for OSX DO exist, it is virus that are rare. There a bounch out there, regardless if you refuse to believe it. ClamXAV is a small footprint and will scan a marked folder, doesn't hurt to do it.
I've never pirated apps, just media. Plus those trojans that were in those programs were made public the day they came out.
since macs only account for 8% of computers, there are hardly any viruses on them. on the contrary, antivirus softwares such as norton and macafee are afterthoughts on the mac. they greatly slow down your computer. if you must use antivirus, use intego virus barrier. its the best but its also expensive. for a good free av, use clam xav. but seriously u dont need 1.
Right, and I never said they were?
Everyone is all about shouting out "there's no risk, there are no virus! don't worry about anything!" which is misleading if you are less experienced yet are starting to download stuff from the net. Like I said, Trojan/Malware exist and less technical folk will not understand the differences between torjans/virus/etc and that they are not "safe just because I have a Mac" when they click and install stuff from other sources.
If you actually read the author's post he stated:
Which is what I did. ClamXAV will scan a folder for trojans that you may have downloaded and alert you. There are about 12 variants now of basic OSX trojans. Tracking cookies are easy in a basic sense - Safari allows you to delete them all on exit. Personally, I use some cookies, so I run Firefox with a cookie domain manager.
Personally, this is my favorite Mac "virus", hehe:
http://troika.uk.com/newtonvirus
thepawn,I think he, like I, misread your post. =\
I thought you were saying "Trojans do exists it is a virus that is rare" as opposed to "Trojans to exists, it is viruses that are rare."
I thought you were saying "Trojans do exists it is a virus that is rare" as opposed to "Trojans to exists, it is viruses that are rare."
Macs can also act as virus carriers. I have worked in a mixed enviroment and notice that Macs pass out windows viruses to pc's. So if you have a windows and a mac machine at home or the office, be careful. I know Sophos and Virusbarrier both scan for windows viruses.
Back in the day before proper internet use and networks in every building like we have today, virusus were spread by writing themselves to floppies which spread when put in each subsequent machine.
Why does this not happen with things like USB sticks now.
Also, why is there no Mac viruses - is it just no one can be bothered for such a small 'market', or is it that OSX is somehow particularly resistant?
Why does this not happen with things like USB sticks now.
Also, why is there no Mac viruses - is it just no one can be bothered for such a small 'market', or is it that OSX is somehow particularly resistant?
a) There are virus' that attack USB sticks, they can set themselves up to autorun when plugged in as well.
b) Just note, prior to OSX the Mac marketplace was MUCH smaller, OS-8, 7, 6 all had TONS of viruses for them. So a smaller market share doesn't hold water; if that was true, there would never have been any viruses for those older operating systems. OSX is much more secure, not bullet proof, and there may be viruses but nothing like the Windows side of things.
Define "safe". When you're running parallels, you don't have to worry about the host machine getting infected but Windows itself is still prone to viruses. Of course, getting rid of them is simple- just delete the virtual hard drive.
As far as boot camp goes, "Boot Camp" is just a program to get Apple computers to dual-boot windows. Macs (computers running a Mac OS) do not get viruses and get very few trojans. An Apple-branded computer running Windows (which is all boot camp is) is not a Mac. It is a normal Windows machine and can get infected by viruses. Your Mac partition will still be safe since Windows normally can't write to the it- hard to trash something you can't modify. The Windows partition however is another story- it can be trashed just as easily as any other Windows computer
Unwanted code comes in many forms, and a virus is pretty much an outdated attack method on computers. Spyware and Trojans cause far more trouble, at least in the ten years I was a PC tech.
Before that time, the virus was the weapon of choice, but thanks to anti-virus programs, it has caused trojans and other malware to be utilized.