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is there such a thing as spyware/adware on a MAC
- Thread starter gauol
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There's virtually no spyware/adware/virus on Macs.
I've been using my PowerBook for 5 years with no issues and no anti-spyware/adware/virus software installed.
I've been using my PowerBook for 5 years with no issues and no anti-spyware/adware/virus software installed.
There probably is some out there, but if you got it, you would probably never know. Since there is so little malware out there for macs, there are no scanners. Without scanners, you would never know, unless obviously you're getting random popups and things like that.
That's not necessarily true. MacScan scans for spyware/malware, and there are a number of virus scanners for Macs. And there are a few viruses and spyware / malware targeted for Macs. They're just pretty rare. I think MacScan is pretty much in business waiting for the day when more of these things are targeted towards macs, and also for PC switchers who just can't believe that they don't have to worry about these things as much.
The Mac community is also more dedicated to their machines. If something comes out, it'll be all over forums like this fairly quickly.
The Mac community is also more dedicated to their machines. If something comes out, it'll be all over forums like this fairly quickly.
But it costs... Are there any free scanners, like windows has spybot S&D and adaware?
Today something weird happened while I was on Myspace.com. I was on my own page and suddenly a small box appeared asking me to install a browser tool to take out spyware, the box is made so u can click either CANCEL or OK to install. I clicked on Cancel untill the last box popped up and wouldnt give me a choice to cancel, so I force Quit on Safari...It hasn't done it again yet but this is the 2nd time I think it has happened on my MBP. I've had it since Febuary. I don't DL porn on this comp. nor visit any of the sites ever. I use this notebook to surf reg sites, check mail, chat, edit my music on. Where could have this spyware come from.
BTW on Leopard 10.5.5
BTW on Leopard 10.5.5
I don't use Myspace, but I've seen similar on other sites. It's probably a Flash ad for an anti-spyware app or just a way to get you to click on the link to whatever website.
No, macscan is it, as far as I know. There's a free 30-day trial, and it is fairly reasonable at... $30, I think? ClamXAV is free, but is only good for trojans/viruses.
This has happened to me too. On different machines, and even on major sites like npr.org. It can be an ad, or hijacked third party apps on the site.
I keep meaning to run macscan just in case, but it doesn't happen all the time, just rarely on random sites. I've run complete virus scans, and those come up fine.
Free is reasonable to me... And ClamXAV only scans for windows viruses to prevent infection to them, I think.
Only when you're using it. It doesn't run a background process that constantly checks files as you open them. It's slow and clunky.
Unfortunately, I have Symantec Anti-virus on my home machine, which is the one I use for work, as I work at home. An anti-virus is required for my job, no matter the machine, so they supply SAV for free. It does cover some mac trojans / viruses. I don't know why Clam wouldn't. Sure the majority are probably PC viruses, but still.
Honestly, I haven't had any problems on this machine (yet) with SAV, nor on my machine running Tiger. But I scan the drive, disable auto-protect and only have it scan my download folder thereafter. On previous machines I have had many problems, but it seems to be behaving for now.
Spyware on everything
There's spyware on every type of computer, but macs are a lot less likely to get them. This is because apple has made a smart way to defend the computer, unlike windows which a single executable file that looks innocent can crash the entire system
There's spyware on every type of computer, but macs are a lot less likely to get them. This is because apple has made a smart way to defend the computer, unlike windows which a single executable file that looks innocent can crash the entire system
I got one of those yesterday on my MBP and it froze up the whole machine. All I could do was turn it off completely which I wasn't happy about because I'd got some documents I was working on stored in the dock.
Um-m-m-m, no. If there were, then you can rest assured that this forum would never hear the end of it from the Nervous Nellies and the Windows fanboyz.
What does this mean? The purpose of spyware is to secretly collect information from the victim computer, not to crash it. You can't very well collect information from a doorstop, can you?This is because apple has made a smart way to defend the computer, unlike windows which a single executable file that looks innocent can crash the entire system
The problem is with viruses these days you don't notice that they are installed anymore, they usually don't try to destroy your data anymore but rather use your computer or internet connection and collect your personal data.
I'm not saying that macs have virusses, I'm just saying that a computer that works perfectly fine could be loaded wits viruses and spyware.
I would suggest little snitch
I'm not aware of any malware/adware that works on macs, however, if you feel inclined to check (the more you stay away from windows, the more this paranoia fades), you could always use Little Snitch, an excelent piece of software.
I've used old versions (it used to be shareware, now you have to buy it) and it works pretty well to give new switchers (and old paranoids) peace of mind when it comes to malware/adware activity monitoring.
I'm not aware of any malware/adware that works on macs, however, if you feel inclined to check (the more you stay away from windows, the more this paranoia fades), you could always use Little Snitch, an excelent piece of software.
I've used old versions (it used to be shareware, now you have to buy it) and it works pretty well to give new switchers (and old paranoids) peace of mind when it comes to malware/adware activity monitoring.
Yes there are viruses for mac, and some viruses do crash, or destroy your system. But most of them just collect data.
to think there are no virus or spyware made for macs is ignorant if a platform is used by enough people there will be virus and spyware made for it, its just best to protect yourself from the start
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/04/09/apple.trojan/index.html?iref=newssearch
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/ptech/10/20/apple.virus/index.html?iref=newssearch
don't get me wrong its a much tighter system than windows, but to think your computer is invincible, well thats just ignorance, the only way to make sure you get no viruses or spyware or anything is to not have your computer hooked up to the internet, a totally closed system would be invincible... but whats the fun in that??