Noob Question: Anti-Virus/spyware on a mac

[klooney]

I just came from the windows world and I was wondering if I need an anti-virus and spy-ware program for the mac like I did with windows? If so any good programs?

 

[davidwarren]

nope

 

[pit29]

There are no virusses for Mac OSX currently. The Anti Virus programs for Mac that you can buy or get on the internet are using the same virus definition files that antivirus programs for Windows are using - that means, they can only help you not to propagate a Windows virus.

Welcome to Mac - you're safe...

 

[Moof1904]

We REALLY need to make this a sticky topic. It seems someone posts this exact question nearly every few days...

 

[klooney]

so i'm assuming this includes spyware programs also. . .

 

[paulsdub]

so if i start runnning windows on my mac i will need an anti virus???

 

[pit29]

so if i start runnning windows on my mac i will need an anti virus???

If you run Windows, you should do whatever you would do on a windows system. But you'll need an anti virus program running in Windows then, and not on OS X.

 

[TheReef]

If you run Windows, you should do whatever you would do on a windows system. But you'll need an anti virus program running in Windows then, and not on OS X.

I believe a good Firewall in combination with cautious downloading habbits work best, whatever the operating system.
Make sure you turn your Mac Firewall on, it's disabled by default.