OMG did someone finally release good Unicorn detection software? I have needed this forever, literally. I am really hoping if I can get rid of the pesky Unicorns that the Virgins will go away.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Does a Mac need anti-virus protection?
- Thread starter gtsgts
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you do decide to go for an anti virus, I've heard good things about MacDefender.
(I should probably add a smiley or something to indicate I'm joking but oh well)
(I should probably add a smiley or something to indicate I'm joking but oh well)
I encourage you to explain why Apple requires all of their internal machines to have antivirus software installed.
I encourage you to prove that claim. Even if you could, which I seriously doubt, that still doesn't lend credence to your statement. All computers do NOT need virus protection.
Are you capable of reading the news sites?
I'm not your special-ed teacher, go learn for yourself.
I'm not your special-ed teacher, go learn for yourself.
The biggest virus still seem to be ignorance and stupidity I suppose. And it is increasing. Day by post by breath. And I am looking at you mirror.
Anyway, the safest method to not contract malware would be to not use the computer, but I found a way around it. I just installed Sophos, iAntiVirus, ClamXav, MacKeeper and CleanMyMac and spend an hour a day to clean the occasional file of stupidity I download from the world wild wet.
Anyway, GGJstudios, you should revise some of your statements to include such users as TechnoDestructo (fitting name) and their ignorance.
Anyway, the safest method to not contract malware would be to not use the computer, but I found a way around it. I just installed Sophos, iAntiVirus, ClamXav, MacKeeper and CleanMyMac and spend an hour a day to clean the occasional file of stupidity I download from the world wild wet.
Anyway, GGJstudios, you should revise some of your statements to include such users as TechnoDestructo (fitting name) and their ignorance.
Your childish responses and misquotes aren't hiding the fact that you can't prove your claim about Apple or the fact that your statement about all computers needing virus protection is false.
I'll help you;
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Appl...nder-Has-Changed-Everything-quot-201572.shtml
http://www.osnews.com/story/24766/Apple_Enacts_Don_t_Ask_Don_t_Tell_-Policy_for_Mac_Malware
And there are many more reporting the same.
An Apple Store Genius, especially an anonymous one, is far from a reliable source. This forum is filled with examples of Apple "Geniuses" not having a clue what they're talking about. This is your "proof"? LOL!
This assumption is hysterical. The fact that the store sells antivirus products only implies that Apple wants to generate revenue and profit.
If you're grasping for some evidence of Apple discussing anti-virus, look no further than their own site:
From: http://www.apple.com/macosx/security/
That's a far cry from endorsing any particular antivirus product or suggesting that every computer needs virus protection.
Last edited:
Why don't we just stop this and admit it is user preference. If a user feels safer to buy an AV for the Mac, then they have every right to do that, since it is their machine. Does the Mac need AV protection, as of now, probably not, because there really isn't any MacOS malware, etc out there. MacOS's could pick up Windows virus from different internet sites or emails which would just sit on the Mac computer, not able to do anything that would interfere with the Mac, but possibly could be passed on to a windows computer. I know all Windows users should have an AV program, so a Mac user shouldn't have to worry, but some people still feel safer, even if it doesn't matter
Those that want to pay for AV, it is their preference. So quit the baby stuff.
Those that want to pay for AV, it is their preference. So quit the baby stuff.
That still doesn't mean misinformation should be spread. Take a look at any of the virus threads via MRoogle, it will show you, that almost every time there is someone spreading such bogus feces.
But it gets old the more one sees such ****.
Just looking at the title of the Softpedia article made me laugh. But I read it And I clicked on the Ars link that the article references.
Read the Ars article.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/05/malware-on-the-mac.ars/
This is one of the reasons why users who post links from Softpedia and ZDnet should be instantly banned.
This is also one of the downfalls of the Internet. People that can't get real journalism jobs (because they are not real journalist) can sit in their mom's basement and write whatever they want. And there will be a few people that will fall for it.
Read the Ars article.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/05/malware-on-the-mac.ars/
This is one of the reasons why users who post links from Softpedia and ZDnet should be instantly banned.
This is also one of the downfalls of the Internet. People that can't get real journalism jobs (because they are not real journalist) can sit in their mom's basement and write whatever they want. And there will be a few people that will fall for it.
Last edited:
I don't get the whole "better safe then sorry" mindset. Why waste system resources on something you don't need? It's pointless.
As for the mindset of "all systems need anti-virus software". That is 100% wrong. Mac's don't need it and neither do PCs. I've used PC's since for the last 15 years and until the last 3 years PCs were the only computers I used. For the bulk of that time I've been running without anti-virus software. I've never, ever had a virus. Once a year or so I'd download AVG, install it, run it and delete it since it never detected a virus.
How did I manage to avoid, viruses, trojans, malware, spyware, etc... and yet my parents couldn't? Easy, I paid attention to what I was downloading and from whom I was downloading it from along with paying attention to what I was actually installing and not just clicking through the screen. I also didn't follow stupid email links.
If you have an ounce of common sense you can easily avoid all these things. Then you won't have to slow down your PC or Mac with pointless software.
As for the mindset of "all systems need anti-virus software". That is 100% wrong. Mac's don't need it and neither do PCs. I've used PC's since for the last 15 years and until the last 3 years PCs were the only computers I used. For the bulk of that time I've been running without anti-virus software. I've never, ever had a virus. Once a year or so I'd download AVG, install it, run it and delete it since it never detected a virus.
How did I manage to avoid, viruses, trojans, malware, spyware, etc... and yet my parents couldn't? Easy, I paid attention to what I was downloading and from whom I was downloading it from along with paying attention to what I was actually installing and not just clicking through the screen. I also didn't follow stupid email links.
If you have an ounce of common sense you can easily avoid all these things. Then you won't have to slow down your PC or Mac with pointless software.
No computer needs anti-virus. AV only works for KNOWN viruses. As in if there's a virus that's not been reported on and you get it you're SOL even with anti-virus.
And by the time AV rolls out an update, even Microsoft has that vuln. patched. So in reality AV really is just something on your computer sucking your wallet dry.
Malware is even less predictable. The people behind MacProtector can change the name to MacSecurity and all those antivirus programs would be worthless against it.
And by the time AV rolls out an update, even Microsoft has that vuln. patched. So in reality AV really is just something on your computer sucking your wallet dry.
Malware is even less predictable. The people behind MacProtector can change the name to MacSecurity and all those antivirus programs would be worthless against it.
YES YOU NEED Anti-virus protection in MACS
I've owned different Mac's for nearly 10 years. Several years ago Mac's were nearly immune to viruses and malware simply because so few people owned Mac's. Windows was the primary target for trojans and malware etc. But time's have changed and Mac's are increasingly becoming targets for Malware, viruses etc. How do I know this? Well, twice within the past 6 months my Macbook Pro has been infected with Malware. I'm not one who downloads just anything. I'm very careful before downloading. In fact both times that my Macbook was infected I was in Google doing a search. The most recent time my Macbook was infected was 2 days ago. I clicked on an image in Google search, and the next thing I knew my SOPHOS anti-virus kicked into action and a warning flashed on my screen informing me that my Macbook was infected with Malware. I immediately performed an anti-virus scan and discovered it was a virus disguised as an anti-virus. The exact title of the virus was anti-malware.dvp - SOPHOS transferred me to a page where I learned more about the Malware and how to remove it from my Mac. I HIGHLY recommend SOPHOS anti-virus for Macs. It's helped save my Macbook Pro twice. Here is the actual page that SOPHOS transferred me to when my Macbook was infected. http://www.sophos.com/en-us//threat-center/threat-analyses/viruses-and-spyware/OSX~FakeAV-DPU.aspx
I've owned different Mac's for nearly 10 years. Several years ago Mac's were nearly immune to viruses and malware simply because so few people owned Mac's. Windows was the primary target for trojans and malware etc. But time's have changed and Mac's are increasingly becoming targets for Malware, viruses etc. How do I know this? Well, twice within the past 6 months my Macbook Pro has been infected with Malware. I'm not one who downloads just anything. I'm very careful before downloading. In fact both times that my Macbook was infected I was in Google doing a search. The most recent time my Macbook was infected was 2 days ago. I clicked on an image in Google search, and the next thing I knew my SOPHOS anti-virus kicked into action and a warning flashed on my screen informing me that my Macbook was infected with Malware. I immediately performed an anti-virus scan and discovered it was a virus disguised as an anti-virus. The exact title of the virus was anti-malware.dvp - SOPHOS transferred me to a page where I learned more about the Malware and how to remove it from my Mac. I HIGHLY recommend SOPHOS anti-virus for Macs. It's helped save my Macbook Pro twice. Here is the actual page that SOPHOS transferred me to when my Macbook was infected. http://www.sophos.com/en-us//threat-center/threat-analyses/viruses-and-spyware/OSX~FakeAV-DPU.aspx
Is this an advertisement?
Assuming that it isn't, the virus that Sophos 'saved' you from was MacDefender, or a variant of, which is a trojan that you have to install yourself.
You can find details of it here: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/9400648/
The post also contains information concerning the differences between viruses, worms and trojans as well as links to other security concerns including Sophos.
This post is a virus to my eyes.
Why do people sign up to troll. Way too much time on their hands.
Macs can in some forms 'get viruses' but the chances are very low, and I myself have had a mac for over 5 years and never had any virus problems.
How?
Or are you talking about Macs running Windows or classic Mac OS versions like System 6 or 7?
In any case you mean Mac OS X, please ignore the following FAQ to keep on being ignorant:
Mac Virus/Malware Info by GGJstudios
There are currently no viruses for Mac OS X in public circulation, only a handful of trojans and other malware, which have to be installed manually via entering the administrator password.
The only anti-virus you need to protect your Mac is education and common sense.
There are currently no viruses for Mac OS X in public circulation, only a handful of trojans and other malware, which have to be installed manually via entering the administrator password.
The only anti-virus you need to protect your Mac is education and common sense.