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Does a Mac need anti-virus protection?
- Thread starter gtsgts
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There has yet to be an OSX virus. Until that time, your statement is false. "All Computers" is a silly statement anyway; if, for example, you have a computer (any computer) that you only use to do your bookkeeping and it is never connected to any network and the only input is from the keyboard, then there is no need for anti-virus.
If you want to be technical, a standalone GPS is a computer; it receives signals from sats and calculates positions for display. There is zero reason for anti-virus on such a computer.
The MacDefender is a TROJAN, not a virus. It cannot do anything unless the user is foolish enough to install it by giving the admin password.
The Intego anti-virus mentioned in the article would not have done any good for a trojan.
The consensus seems to be that Macs do not need an antivirus/trojan software, but I am new to Macs and would like to have one. So the question is:
Is there is a good antivirus/trojan software program specifically designed for Macs? Something similar to Microsoft Security Essentials.
Thanks.
Is there is a good antivirus/trojan software program specifically designed for Macs? Something similar to Microsoft Security Essentials.
Thanks.
The best AV/Trojan s/w program is that which is within the noggin of the person who is operating the computer. As others have wisely stated herein and elsewhere,,, all you have to do is be educated and aware, including what Admin powers are, for example.
Good think I'm not interested in watching hounds having sex while hanging ten.
At least one person with logic
All these posts and only one person with enough sense to climb off the pedestal.
Anti malware/virus/etc is a layer in an overall good security program. Macs may not "need" the same protection as PC's and it's true that you can have a decent history without any protection using "common sense" but to breeze aimlessly through todays vast online media and communications alternatives and think you're fine because you're on one OS over another is just naive. Granted, I don't worry about viruses so much, but that doesn't mean I'm going to use nothing "until" something happens. Prudence is wise with the advances in technology that abound today.
All these posts and only one person with enough sense to climb off the pedestal.
Anti malware/virus/etc is a layer in an overall good security program. Macs may not "need" the same protection as PC's and it's true that you can have a decent history without any protection using "common sense" but to breeze aimlessly through todays vast online media and communications alternatives and think you're fine because you're on one OS over another is just naive. Granted, I don't worry about viruses so much, but that doesn't mean I'm going to use nothing "until" something happens. Prudence is wise with the advances in technology that abound today.
look here!
The choice of 8Antivirus http://mac-antivirus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/?cmpid=348060
The choice of 8Antivirus http://mac-antivirus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/?cmpid=348060
First thing I did was put Anti-Virus on my mac, even though everyone did the old line "macs can't get viruses!", etc. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Hi jtara,
this Bott guy is a well known hater of "anything Mac".
You should realize that that WHEN YOU STARTED READING the article named:
"Ed Bott's Microsoft Report"...
this Bott guy is a well known hater of "anything Mac".
You should realize that that WHEN YOU STARTED READING the article named:
"Ed Bott's Microsoft Report"...
ClamXav, a free Mac AV solution, has definitions for MACDefender and variants.
The installer for this threat will be detected as soon as it reaches your system if you use the sentry feature to scan your "~/Downloads", "~/Library/Mail", and "~/Library/Mail Downloads" folders. Even if it reaches your system, the installer requires password authentication to complete installation. As always, be careful what you authenticate.
Previous searches that found this threat via Google no longer find the malware. It appears the SEO poisoning attack that caused redirection to the download site has been corrected.
Here is a link to the Mac malware detected by ClamXav. Most of these are detected by XProtect, which is included with OS X Snow Leopard.
The installer for this threat will be detected as soon as it reaches your system if you use the sentry feature to scan your "~/Downloads", "~/Library/Mail", and "~/Library/Mail Downloads" folders. Even if it reaches your system, the installer requires password authentication to complete installation. As always, be careful what you authenticate.
Previous searches that found this threat via Google no longer find the malware. It appears the SEO poisoning attack that caused redirection to the download site has been corrected.
Here is a link to the Mac malware detected by ClamXav. Most of these are detected by XProtect, which is included with OS X Snow Leopard.
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First thing I did was put Anti-Virus on my mac, even though everyone did the old line "macs can't get viruses!", etc. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Have you ever thought about installing IE9 on your mac?
Just trying to think of other pointless programmes you could stick on
I love the way the articles sums up at the end along these lines....
"Don't be knob"
Again, I would reiterate that having an AV on the Mac is good when you interact with Windows machines, so you don't infect your friends, family or yourself(if you have bootcamp, and also sharing a drive with bootcamp and MacOS). It is true there are not many Mac virus' out there, but there are a lot of Windows Virus' that you could infect other people by you sending it through emails, etc.
I tend to put AV on all my machines just in case. In the past Mac computers didn't need it really. Most virus creators want their filth to be distributed to the majority, which is Windows based machines. But with Apple picking up market share it's only a matter of time before the jackholes decide to start a movement to more Mac virus.
Indeed, there were, over 10 years ago, with Mac OS 9 and earlier. So far, no virus has been released in the wild that affects Mac OS X.
Actually, they are related. If you actually install MacDefender, you'll get the porn popups, supposedly as a motivator to enter your credit card number to "upgrade" to the advanced version of MacDefender (where you'll probably get more advanced porn popups!)
False.
Actually, your statement is the ignorant one. Read and learn: Mac Virus/Malware Info
You don't need antivirus software to defend against something the user can choose not to install.
You're actually going to take advice from someone who's only purpose is to sell you software?
From that same article:
The only "infection" that needs to be dealt with is user ignorance or foolishness. If a user is foolish enough to install some random app that pops up, without first checking it out, there's no antivirus in the world that will protect that user from their own ignorance.
Read the "What about sending files to Windows users?" section of the Mac Virus/Malware Info link.
Market share isn't the deciding factor. Also, no antivirus you install today can protect you from a virus that might be released in the future.
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No argument there. It's more for peace of mind. Plus my wife's school provides it free with license till 2025, so why not.
Tie a purple string around your finger while you're using your Mac. That will provide just as much protection against a future Mac virus as having antivirus installed. Peace of mind without the drain on system resources! Not to mention the fact that some antivirus apps can actually increase a Mac's vulnerability to malware. Read the link I posted.No argument there. It's more for peace of mind. Plus my wife's school provides it free with license till 2025, so why not.
First thing I did was put Anti-Virus on my mac, even though everyone did the old line "macs can't get viruses!", etc. It's better to be safe than sorry.
That, is a functioning brain.
Your immature attempt to distort posts doesn't work. You seem to forget that everyone can see what was posted, exactly as it was posted. Try distorting this:
You say that Mac users shouldn't protect Windows users by putting on an AV on the Mac side. For me personally I will be running Bootcamp, where both Operating systems will be on the SSD and the second HDD will be formatted in HFS+ and use MacDrive to read and write to the drive. The only problem, and I wrote to both MacDrive and Kaspersky(I use KIS 2011 on Windows) and both are unsure if the windows AntiVirus will work properly to pick up a virus on that drive. The people from MacDrive suggested having an AV on the Mac side, Kaspersky wasn't sure. I am looking at my options to see what I need to make sure I am protected on the windows side. So when you say that it is up to the Windows side to protect with an AV, you are correct, but there might be some problems that you might just need one on the Mac side just to protect your own computer with both on it. Until I check it out for myself, I won't buy a Mac AV unless it is really needed because of complications on the Windows side.
No, I don't say that. If you read the link I post quite frequently:
So a more accurate reflection of my post is to say that a Windows user shouldn't depend on a Mac user running AV to protect the Windows machine.
If you have Windows antivirus running on Boot Camp, your Windows installation is protected. While you certainly can run AV on the Mac side if you choose, it's redundant and not necessary.
You are as uniformed as Techno.
That is NOT A VIRUS. There are no viruses for OSX. None. Nada.
Heck, its not even malware.
Its "scareware" -- and even if you *do* download it -- all you do is give them your credit card number and they take your money. Period. You could mosst likely call your CC company and dispute the charges.
Its not my responsibility to protect PC users from themselves. PC get viruses. So if you own one, you need to protect yourself. My Mac doesnt. So I dont. Why would I own a motorcycle helmet if I dont have a motorcycle?
Im going to install Unicorn detection on my mac, it will work better than virus protection.
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