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OS X Antivirus
- Thread starter Kelly
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Personally, I've never bothered with virus checkers on OSX - don't see the point at the moment.
Anyway, here is a list from MacUpdate search:
http://www.macupdate.com/search.php?arch=all&keywords=virus&os=macosx
Anyway, here is a list from MacUpdate search:
http://www.macupdate.com/search.php?arch=all&keywords=virus&os=macosx
I have never used one so I can't really help. Is it really needed? I know we have some sort of antivirus software on the macs in our school board, but I don't know what it is. I will try to find out tomorrow for you.
Kelly™;4719022 said:
I'm not that paranoid. Just like I don't worry that I'm going to get run over by a bus or struck by lightning every time I step outside my door.
There has never been a serious virus for OSX in its lifetime that has affected millions of Macs ( like you get on windows ).
Personally, I don't consider for one minute that the risk of viruses for OSX warrants getting a virus checker, at this moment in time: Or in otherwords, I consider virus checker on my Mac as overkill.
Perfect.
On a side note you have to be pretty much completely numb in the skull to get a virus on a mac because they must be downloaded by YOUR approval. The are not self executable back door viri like on windows that just come as they please.
The alarmists that have screamed "virus on mac" are the one's that don't bother to tell you that to get this virus you have to:
- go to where the file is to be downloaded
- choose to download the file
- give permission for the file to download
- execute the file and install the virus
If you accomplish all of this, for the love of god sell your mac. It's not a virus it's a program.
If you use Norton on your Mac then you should not be allowed to use a Mac.
Norton for Mac sucks hard. I like Intego VirusBarrier X4, but it doesn't fall into the free category.
Just because there has been no serious threat to Mac OS X so far doesn't mean there won't be one tomorrow---but even if there isn't, most Mac antivirus software detects Windows viruses as well. Even though those Windows viruses won't harm OS X, they could be fatal to your Boot Camp/Parallels/Fusion installation (if you have one). If not, they can still wreak havoc on someone else's system if you happen to pass infected files along.
With free Mac A/V software available and a continuously increasing probability of a serious viral threat to the Mac, I can't understand why NOT to use something.
I second ClamXAv, as well as smart browsing and various other security measures (TCP wrappers if you need to enable ssh, securing VNC, etc).
OS X is not immune. In my humble opinion, our community of Mac users is too arrogant about this in general.
OS X is not immune. In my humble opinion, our community of Mac users is too arrogant about this in general.
Since when I don't need an antivirus:
1986 Mac Plus
90s MacIIsi, PowerMac
2002 eMac
2006 MacBook
2007 iPhone
2008 and counting
PS: for Bootcamp partition Windows XP Pro McAffe Security Suite included in the Comcast internet service
NEVER PAID AND NEVER WILL!!!
________
Stearns-Knight
1986 Mac Plus
90s MacIIsi, PowerMac
2002 eMac
2006 MacBook
2007 iPhone
2008 and counting
PS: for Bootcamp partition Windows XP Pro McAffe Security Suite included in the Comcast internet service
NEVER PAID AND NEVER WILL!!!
________
Stearns-Knight
Last edited:
Okay, so I have heard that Macs don't need anti-virus protection, but what about security that sweeps for tracing cookies, internet security? Does the same apply? And yes, I understand that you set up your router, etc., but is that enough?
Okay, so I have heard that Macs don't need anti-virus protection, but what about security that sweeps for tracing cookies, internet security? Does the same apply? And yes, I understand that you set up your router, etc., but is that enough?
One thing I do is pay attention to Linux security. Often times the vulnerabilities can apply to OS X.
Okay, so I have heard that Macs don't need anti-virus protection, but what about security that sweeps for tracing cookies, internet security? Does the same apply? And yes, I understand that you set up your router, etc., but is that enough?
To test your router security try a scanning service such as Shields Up:
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
nice, i seemed to pass all of them with flying colors. some of those seem to be windows only tests
I'll add another vote for ClamXAV. Yes there are few, if any, viruses on a Mac, but I don't really want to pass on viruses to PC users at work, so I scan my attachments before forwarding.
i dont think you would know if you had a virus if you never had an AV running, some viruses dont attack your computer, they just gather info, your bank account #s, pwds, game keys, OS keys, products keys, everything, and never show themselves, they dont even slow your computer down since they are so small. also these viruses can load just by loading a banner from a website. (as in not downloading but just displaying the banner on a web page)
its true that not to many viruses are for mac... YET, but if youve noticed MACs are increasing in sales at a pretty quick rate, the more popular it is, the more attacks will be made. windows pc's obviously have the most market share which is why everything just rags on MS. but once apple and MS are tied, your OSX system wont be safe anymore.