New to Mac, wondering about downloading programs for Macs

[koila]

Hi,

I've recently purchase a Mac and so far love it.

I do have a question, I want to download some programs from the internet to install on the Mac, but how do you know if those programs are safe?

On a MS pc you would scan them to death and rescan them once you open them one at at time.

I am told that Mac's don't get viruses, so what happens if you download a Mac program that has one?

For instance on this site, you'll see a lot and it is some of them that I want to download:

http://www.opensourcemac.org/




I am also wondering is there a virus, spy or trogan scanner for Macs?




Thanks in advance

K

 

[Highcroft]

I'm pretty sure all of those are safe. I've downloaded some from there. And yes, Macs almost never get viruses.

 

[ivi7]

I have been downloading applications everyday and have never run inot any problem. Mac's are virus free so you don't need to worry.

 

[0007776]

As of right now there are no viruses for Macs in the wild so any of those downloads are safe.

 

[ChrisA]

Hi,

For instance on this site, you'll see a lot and it is some of them that I want to download:

http://www.opensourcemac.org/K

Even on a Windows PC you would not expect a virus or trojan in Open Source software. The whole point of Open Source is that you can read the code and know exactly what the program does. OK, maybe most PC users lack the skills to read the source code but enough can and do read it. You can be confident if you get the software directly from the developers. Even with a Windows PC

A Trojan is only possible if it's true function remains hidden. Open Source by it's nature is transparent.

In general, Closed source executable could contain anything, you have no why to know what's inside so you have to trust the people you got it from.

As for the Mac, it would be trivial to write a Trojan. Here is one: Put these two line in a file called "FreeGoatPorn":
#!/bin/sh
rm -rf /
So of course they can exist on Macs. See above. But it is not self propagating and serves the author no purpose. They dont happen and Open Source trojans are just plain pointless (see above)

 

[Veritas&Equitas]

And yes, Macs almost never get viruses.

There's actually never been a true Mac virus, so "almost" should be deleted.