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Downloading questionable files?

A

Atypical

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 3, 2009
27
0
Ok.. so hear mac cannot get viruses but they are susceptible to trojans and worms. Now i like to download files that could contain trojans or worms. I also might currently have a trojan or worm on my computer because it has been acting strange sometimes. Now is there a program I can download or buy that will allow me to scan my computer as well as files that I download for mac?
Appreciate any help you may be able to offer.
 
Atypical said:
Ok.. so hear mac cannot get viruses but they are susceptible to trojans and worms. Now i like to download files that could contain trojans or worms. I also might currently have a trojan or worm on my computer because it has been acting strange sometimes. Now is there a program I can download or buy that will allow me to scan my computer as well as files that I download for mac?
Appreciate any help you may be able to offer.
Click to expand...

Clam AV is pretty good and it's free. Updated often too. However, it does not offer live protection (it won't alert you if someone is trying to compromise your computer) and it does not remove the malicious software from your computer. It will find it, show you what it is, then it's your job to remove it. Unless you buy some anti virus software of course
 
ahm said:
Clam AV is pretty good and it's free. Updated often too. However, it does not offer live protection (it won't alert you if someone is trying to compromise your computer) and it does not remove the malicious software from your computer. It will find it, show you what it is, then it's your job to remove it. Unless you buy some anti virus software of course
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Now what would you recommend in terms of antivirus software?
 
That is anti virus software (AV stands for "Anti Virus"). The website gives you instructions on adding it as a contextual menu item as well so you can right click (control-click) a folder and scan it before opening it. It's a simple drag and drop. I don't know about any other software. I tend to avoid purchasing anti virus software. I'll use a free tool but besides that I just try to be smart about what I'm doing.
 
Atypical said:
i like to download files that could contain trojans or worms.
Appreciate any help you may be able to offer.
Click to expand...

Don't do that.

I like to buy cars whose accelerators could get stuck and cause the car to crash at 100mph and kill me. I have survived three crashes so far. Still trying. What do you advise?
 
Blinkwing said:
Nothing. UNIX based systems like OS X are secure by default.
Click to expand...

KoreaRobot.jpg


*beep* OS X is completely invulnerable against malicious software *beep*
*beep* OS X never crashes *beep*
*beep* Apple computers are indestructible *beep*
*beep* Apple is the greatest multi-national corporation to ever exist *beep*
 
Blinkwing said:
Nothing. UNIX based systems like OS X are secure by default.
Click to expand...

That's not true. While no viruses exist that run on current Mac OS X, Macs ARE susceptible to trojans, which the user must first actively install.
 
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