Macs and Virus Problems

[simongoldring]

I bought a netbook about 6 months ago. It was my first Windows PC in years. Yes, I ignored the warnings to install a virus scanner, thinking "I'll just surf carefully and I'll be fine". Yes, I got infected within a few weeks.

Let me guess, you were running Windows XP?

Normal use with fully up to date patches (that's how Nimda, amongst others, spread) on Vista (or 7) will net you no malware, unless you stick USB keys into your PC. The problem with USB keys is that you can neatly make your virus executable look like the open folder option at the top (it's social engineering, not a technical flaw). I believe they've modified that in 7.

 

[chrono1081]

OP no worries. I actually use my mac to delete windows viruses.

Whats funny that I always see is people saying "I have windows and dont have antivirus and I've never been infected." yet when I nose around the computer I'll see things like lsass.exe running in a users profile (thats the popular one right now where I work) and other weird things that a normal user would never suspect is wrong.

Just because the computer isn't acting weird doesn't mean its not infected. At the place where I work we use symantec/norton antivirus which means anytime there is an outbreak IT has to remove these viruses manually because the above software is not capable of finding anything. To do this I will find a list of infected files, plug the computers infected harddrive into my mac and manually delete the files that windows magically cannot see. I do this at least once every other day.

So far, 0 infections which is normal for mac os since the virus is written for windows, but also no infections on other external devices that I have plugged into my mac that can share with windows.

 

[abnormalen]

Hi!

I was wondering, if there is any possibility for a windows virus do hurt a hardware of the Mac? I have Mac mini and i am going to use boot camp with windows xp x64 (exclusevely because of solidworks), so i am wondering, if i happen to browse the internet (i am experienced user, don't worry), and by some mistake i get a virus in a windows environment, will it hurt my Mac mini's hardware?


Thx,


Simon

 

[GGJstudios]

Hi!
I was wondering, if there is any possibility for a windows virus do hurt a hardware of the Mac? I have Mac mini and i am going to use boot camp with windows xp x64 (exclusevely because of solidworks), so i am wondering, if i happen to browse the internet (i am experienced user, don't worry), and by some mistake i get a virus in a windows environment, will it hurt my Mac mini's hardware?
Thx,
Simon

Viruses don't affect hardware, only software. If you get a virus while running Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp, it could only affect the Windows partition. No Windows program can operate in a Mac OS X system.

 

[iTootyFrooty]

To be honest. I would say that if you are smart with what you download, where you surf on the web and you use the right software to stop viruses infecting your computer you will be ok. There are exceptions. Some viruses have been constructed so well that they can get past all these things you do to prevent viruses. All these exceptions have happened to windows. People need to remember that Windows is used far more (Even if OS X is a great operating system). People that make viruses want to build a virus for the biggest OS so they can affect more people. I think that as soon as Windows falls behind Mac OS, Mac users are going to start running into trouble.

 

[Eraserhead]

Some viruses have been constructed so well that they can get past all these things you do to prevent viruses.

Not many people who download software only from download.com or similar sites and who keep their software up to date get affected by viruses. It'd be pretty difficult to get affected like that.

 

[GGJstudios]

... People need to remember that Windows is used far more (Even if OS X is a great operating system). People that make viruses want to build a virus for the biggest OS so they can affect more people. I think that as soon as Windows falls behind Mac OS, Mac users are going to start running into trouble.

That age-old argument doesn't hold water. There are more Mac systems in use today than ever and how many Mac viruses are there out there?: ZERO!

 

[OllyW]

I think that as soon as Windows falls behind Mac OS, Mac users are going to start running into trouble.

Very little chance of that ever happening.

 

[iTootyFrooty]

Tbh. You have to admit it. I understand that 'There are more Macs than ever being used out there at the moment'. I totally agree with that statement, but it doesnt beat the fact there are more windows machines.. Most Businesses, Schools and Hospitals run off Windows Networks. That's not to say that there isn't Mac ones, because there definetly are quite afew. The point I am trying to make is that when someone is really bothered about making a virus for macs, they will find a weak link.

 

[iTootyFrooty]

Tbh. You have to admit it. I understand that 'There are more Macs than ever being used out there at the moment'. I totally agree with that statement, but it doesnt beat the fact there are more windows machines.. Most Businesses, Schools and Hospitals run off Windows Networks. That's not to say that there isn't Mac ones, because there definetly are quite afew. The point I am trying to make is that when someone is really bothered about making a virus for macs, they will find a weak link.

Oh, and I just wanna be clear here, I am NOT a windows fanboy. If I didnt have to have it because of work and such, I would gladly throw down my laptop running off windows and go out and buy a Mac. GLADLY

 

[GGJstudios]

The point I am trying to make is that when someone is really bothered about making a virus for macs, they will find a weak link.

They've been saying that for years.... so far, we're still waiting. There used to be a few viruses on older versions, but not anymore.

 

[abnormalen]

Viruses don't affect hardware, only software. If you get a virus while running Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp, it could only affect the Windows partition. No Windows program can operate in a Mac OS X system.

so other than a bunch of difficulties (in a case i get a virus on windows partition), there should be no harm done to my Mac mini hardware? because on a PC a virus could get on a motherboard, and there is practically no solution for that cause in most cases you're too late to reinstall BIOS... there is no chance that any of that could happen on Mac's hardware?

thanks,

Simon

 

[GGJstudios]

so other than a bunch of difficulties (in a case i get a virus on windows partition), there should be no harm done to my Mac mini hardware? because on a PC a virus could get on a motherboard, and there is practically no solution for that cause in most cases you're too late to reinstall BIOS... there is no chance that any of that could happen on Mac's hardware?

thanks,

Simon

No chance.

 

[MaxxTraxx]

Bait for the trolls?

I don't have problems with viruses on any operating system, but that's probably because I'm only using legal software and a relatively secure web browser: Firefox.

Legal Software? Check

Secure web browser (FireFox)? Check

-------


Thanks for your help guys, I'm not sure if I can amend my topic to but I have another question.

Will new Macs come with Snow Leopard?

 

[smartalic34]

Legal Software? Check

Secure web browser (FireFox)? Check

-------


Thanks for your help guys, I'm not sure if I can amend my topic to but I have another question.

Will new Macs come with Snow Leopard?

Macs that are pruchased on or after the Snow Leopard release date (likely Aug. 28th) will come with Leopard installed, but also with a free upgrade Snow Leopard disc. a few weeks after the release, macs will begin to come with Snow Leopard pre-installed. if you dont want to pay extra for SL, wait til it is released

of course, I am basing things off of previous Mac OS X releases, but in the past, when you bought the day of release or soon after, a drop-in disc with the new OS was included free of charge and I see no reason why it'll change

 

[MacKiddyWiddy]

mac for 3 years... 0 infections.... windows for 14 years.... well over 500 infections and thats with a firewall and antivirus

 

[EmperorDarius]

Secure web browser: Firefox

I wonder why people consider Firefox a secure web browser. It is no more secure than any of the other popular browsers (Except Internet Explorer of course).

 

[munkees]

Viruses don't affect hardware, only software. If you get a virus while running Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp, it could only affect the Windows partition. No Windows program can operate in a Mac OS X system.

that is not true I remember read an article long time ago, when Tsutomu Shimomura (was working for Sun Microsystems). was helping the FBI track and capture Kevin Mitnick, Either Mitnick developed this virus or Tsutomu Shimomura developed the virus that Mitnick stole.

The two virus, wore designed to destroy the HD, and the other was to destroy register in the CPU.

this was achieved by writing to the same register or point on the HD until it reached failure, basically ware them out.

it was reading about Tsutomu Shimomura, that I got into UNIX, reading about his personal setup of sun computers, back in 1989/1990, he had more computing power than most nations in the world.

 

[GGJstudios]

that is not true I remember read an article long time ago...

We're talking about present-day computers, not relics of yesteryear. No virus can damage present-day hardware. I could tell stories of days with IBM mainframes, too, but that doesn't have any bearing on this discussion about current technology.