Mac's don't get viruses?

[dejo]

Viruses now day are intended to steal info from you. So with that in mind why would a virus maker make one for a Mac with say 10 million computer out there when they can write a virus for the Windows systems with 100 million computers out there. Where are there odds better to get the info they want? Not on the Mac.

And yet there were viruses for Mac OS 9. Explain that.

 

[vandozza]

Viruses now day are intended to steal info from you.

If it were possible to write an OSX virus, someone would have already done it, just to show Mac users how big their e-peen is.

I'm sure it will happen eventually, it's just to date, I've seen nothing that overly concerns me (it's mostly malware/trojans/social engineering stuff.)

 

[sushi]

Viruses now day are intended to steal info from you. So with that in mind why would a virus maker make one for a Mac with say 10 million computer out there when they can write a virus for the Windows systems with 100 million computers out there. Where are there odds better to get the info they want? Not on the Mac.

Okay, think about what you just said.

There are no virus for the Mac. So the average Mac user has no protection. Where as the average PC user has all kinds of protection.

Which is the more target rich environment that you could penetrate? Obviously the Mac OS because these users do not worry about a virus attack.

Also, please remember that installed base and sales figures are different. The Mac OS has a higher installed base than it's sales would indicate.

 

[surflordca]

Okay, think about what you just said.

There are no virus for the Mac. So the average Mac user has no protection. Where as the average PC user has all kinds of protection.

Which is the more target rich environment that you could penetrate? Obviously the Mac OS because these users do not worry about a virus attack.

Also, please remember that installed base and sales figures are different. The Mac OS has a higher installed base than it's sales would indicate.

I just got a phone call about an hour ago from a Windows user asking why he is having problems. He has been using the computer for about 15 years. His problem is this. He seen an ad for security software and he clicked on it. My point is, most computer users have no idea on security issues. So a virus writers payback is greater on a Windows machine...

 

[i.shaun]

Apparently there was a virus written for OS X, though not very harmful.

howstuffworks top 10 viruses

 

[EmperorDarius]

Okay, think about what you just said.

There are no virus for the Mac. So the average Mac user has no protection. Where as the average PC user has all kinds of protection.

Which is the more target rich environment that you could penetrate? Obviously the Mac OS because these users do not worry about a virus attack.

Also, please remember that installed base and sales figures are different. The Mac OS has a higher installed base than it's sales would indicate.

Yet the architecture of OS X makes it more difficult for malware to break in.
And Windows protection? A mediocre antispyware, a firewall and a UAC thingie which 90% of nowaday's malware can bypass? If you call that protection...

 

[soLoredd]

Virii may not be prevalent on OS X but it sure is susceptible to exploits. So, a virus may not "take" information from you but someone certainly could take control of your computer and get it that way.

Bottom line: anything connected to the internet is there for the taking.

 

[Pika]

Which is more secure?

- Mac OS X without anti-virus
- Windows with anti-virus

 

[old-wiz]

Which is more secure?

- Mac OS X without anti-virus
- Windows with anti-virus

duh... OSx without anti-virus.

I've had Macs with OSx for 5 years and never had a virus or malware or a trojan.

The only way windows users can stay virus free is to keep paying and updating their anti-virus programs and firewalls very frequently.

and from: soLoredd

"Virii may not be prevalent on OS X but it sure is susceptible to exploits. So, a virus may not "take" information from you but someone certainly could take control of your computer and get it that way."

show one example that's a real virus.

 

[sushi]

I just got a phone call about an hour ago from a Windows user asking why he is having problems. He has been using the computer for about 15 years. His problem is this. He seen an ad for security software and he clicked on it. My point is, most computer users have no idea on security issues. So a virus writers payback is greater on a Windows machine...

The worst form of Malware on any computer is the user.

No argument that there are more computers running Windows OS than the Mac OS.

Apparently there was a virus written for OS X, though not very harmful.

howstuffworks top 10 viruses

Worm not virus.

If your Mac is set up correctly, this worm would not be able to do anything.

And Windows protection? A mediocre antispyware, a firewall and a UAC thingie which 90% of nowaday's malware can bypass? If you call that protection...

From my experience, most Windows users install Norton, Ad Aware, etc. and think I am protected.

Kind of like someone who things wearing a condom protects them.

It isn't foolproof. Accidents happen.

Which is more secure?

- Mac OS X without anti-virus
- Windows with anti-virus

Definitely Mac OS X without anti-virus.

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

I'll add a few things:

"Security by obscurity" is laughable. Yes, OS X has less users, making it a less viable target, but there are ZERO viruses out there for it, which must tell you something.

If you want to create a virus on a non-windows platform, you should start with Linux because 75% of the world use them on server grade super computers and nobody as done that yet.

Exactly.

UNIX systems are VERY resistant to viruses.

Worm not virus.

It's actually a trojan, it requires the user to open it the executable and enter their password.

 

[Sipheren]

duh... OSx without anti-virus.

I've had Macs with OSx for 5 years and never had a virus or malware or a trojan.

The only way windows users can stay virus free is to keep paying and updating their anti-virus programs and firewalls very frequently.

I have used both Windows (from Win98 - Win7) and OSX (from 10.3 - 10.5) and never used any virus protection or firewalls and I have never had a virus. You have to be an idiot or surf pron sites to get virsus or any other form of malware.

 

[BingoThePyro]

As a somewhat noob to the Apple OS and having had some iMacs recently installed at my workplace, I have been trolling these forums a bit to glean some information about general usage and potential issues.

From what I have observed so far information has been handed out along the lines of 'since you have got a mac you should get some training on how to use it' with the direct opposite said of windows users.
Is not only fair that the same should be given - it does not matter what OS your PC uses, you should get/find training and do some general research on it?

Now users will be users and no matter how much 'protection' you put in place some will always click the Yes to that UAC prompt or enter that elevated privilege admin password.
Viruses are less of today's problems, it is phishing for credit card details (and websites that try to install malware) that ALL users should be worried about. It is the browser that is increasingly becoming the weakest link in the chain second only to the user.
Yes, windows can be more readily infected, but it can also be run with freeware av/as that does not kill system resources. I have 4 Windows PC's at home and in the past 10 years have only been infected a couple of times due to pirated software downloaded by people on LAN's. I run Windows because I enjoy playing my games, sometimes way too much and I'll be stuffed if I am going to lock myself into buying an OS that is not supported on all hardware. (well, for my home personal use)

I guess my point is that most virus/trojan/installed base etc OSX vs Windows arguments really come down to user ignorance. IF you are willing to spend the time and learn how to use a PERSONAL COMPUTER and learn safe web browsing and file transfer habits, it does not matter what the OS is, your computing experience will be much more stable.

I have seen there are only a few people around that tend to share my point of view, that the OS is personal preference and we need to do the best we can to help each other to make computing stable and enjoyable.

 

[63dot]

I look at it from the point of the virus writer. Why go after such a small amount of computers? I live close to Apple Inc. and I go days at a time when I never see a Mac in public. I could only imagine how much more obscure Macs are outside of California and the United States. COMPTia's numbers on Macs as far as overall home user, school, and business market share at the end of last year was around 2.8% percent. It's still millions and millions of machines worldwide, but not really a headline grabber.

Melissa or I Love You are the type of splash a virus is out to make.

 

[aethelbert]

but there are ZERO viruses out there for it, which must tell you something.

Zero viruses floating around on the internet, that is. We write viruses to test our servers against attack and they have great potential when they exploit certain parts of the system. It makes no sense to distribute them because that isn't the intention, but don't fool yourself by thinking that it isn't possible.

In reality, using smart tactics in using the internet will keep you safe regardless of the OS. If you want to get all technical with the terminology, then sure, there aren't too many viruses running around for Mac OS. Trojans, worms, et al, however, also cause similar problems and are generally referred to in layman's terms as virii. The potential is there, but there's not really a big enough audience to make any damage to.

 

[steve2112]

I have used both Windows (from Win98 - Win7) and OSX (from 10.3 - 10.5) and never used any virus protection or firewalls and I have never had a virus. You have to be an idiot or surf pron sites to get virsus or any other form of malware.

Thank you for this. I was beginning to think I was the only one. I have used MS products since the DOS days, and I have never gotten any type of malware. I have been using OSX since around 10.3, and I have also never gotten any malware. As I said before, in the immortal words of Eric Clapton: It's in the way that you use it.

 

[63dot]

Zero viruses floating around on the internet, that is. We write viruses to test our servers against attack and they have great potential. It makes no sense to distribute them because that isn't the intention, but don't fool yourself by thinking that it isn't possible.

Very good point.

Many people who know very little outside of the field of computer engineering or computer science just don't understand. Some people put it in their heads that Mac OS or Linux are safe because they are THE good guys, or that somehow Microsoft Windows gets viruses because the company is evil, or that the company doesn't care about their product, or that Bill Gates is greedy. A lot of people transfer a dislike for Microsoft to the point of thinking everything they make is bad or that it is about bad karma.

I admit to having spent some time in the past hating Microsoft, but I knew with all their money, they actually can and do hire talent. OS X is better than Windows, imho, but I don't go out thinking that it's such a night and day difference. I only prefer OS X and don't have anything against those who like Windows.

 

[angelwatt]

I have used both Windows (from Win98 - Win7) and OSX (from 10.3 - 10.5) and never used any virus protection or firewalls and I have never had a virus. You have to be an idiot or surf pron sites to get virsus or any other form of malware.

If you've never used any virus protection how would you know if you had one or not? Do you think it would pop up and say "hey, I just infected you!"

Your reasoning is a bit off too. It doesn't always matter how good the user is, if there's a hole in an OS and there's no current patched, then you're going to get infected. Anyone remember the Blaster virus on Windows?

 

[slooksterPSV]

iBotnet is a virus, granted a trojan, but people thought they were installing iWork 09 from P2P seeds. But hey, malware is moving to Mac, sorry but Mac users won't be safe for long - its the truth you guys and you know it.

 

[old-wiz]

iBotnet is a virus, granted a trojan, but people thought they were installing iWork 09 from P2P seeds. But hey, malware is moving to Mac, sorry but Mac users won't be safe for long - its the truth you guys and you know it.

It only means you shouldn't install pirated software. You are still safe on a Mac if you are not an idiot.

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

Zero viruses floating around on the internet, that is. We write viruses to test our servers against attack and they have great potential when they exploit certain parts of the system. It makes no sense to distribute them because that isn't the intention, but don't fool yourself by thinking that it isn't possible.

Do they require user intervention?

I have used both Windows (from Win98 - Win7) and never used any virus protection or firewalls and I have never had a virus. You have to be an idiot or surf pron sites to get virsus or any other form of malware.

So, how do you know you don't have a virus?

Remember, with Windows, you can pick up malware through drive by downloads and such.

 

[Sipheren]

Do they require user intervention?



So, how do you know you don't have a virus?

Remember, with Windows, you can pick up malware through drive by downloads and such.

I work in IT, I know when a computer is infected, and I know I have never had any issues, crashes or performance problems with any of my systems.

I also run an offline Virus detections program from TrendMicro every month or so on my Windows systems.

The only time any computer I have had has crashed was due to OC'ing to far or something I screwed up.

 

[liaammm]

Well macs are getting bigger,better and cheaper(for what you get and they're getting cheaper all together) and that means more and more people are using them, I can just bet you in the future macs will have as much viruses as pc's, I've been using pcs since I was 5(at school) I used our home pc when I was around 8 and we've never had viruses on it and last year I got my own toshiba laptop never had any viruses or anything but now I've had my MacBook since November and there was something wrong with it when I got it but that was only the battery, anyway what I'm saying is as macs get more popular more viruses will start to come. I can garuntee it, I do like macs better and that's only of 7th months of using them but I just know macs will be as bad as pcs one day mabye not soon, but within years.

 

[smurfjammer]

I just know macs will be as bad as pcs one day mabye not soon, but within years.

They have been say that since the release of Mac OS 10 and yet still no viruses...and that was 8 years ago.

 

[EmperorDarius]

I work in IT, I know when a computer is infected, and I know I have never had any issues, crashes or performance problems with any of my systems.

I also run an offline Virus detections program from TrendMicro every month or so on my Windows systems.

The only time any computer I have had has crashed was due to OC'ing to far or something I screwed up.

Some rootkits are so stealthy that are nearly undetectable. No effect on performance, attach themselves to system files, looks normal to firewalls.

BTW, Trend Micro has an under average detection.