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OS X Antivirus
- Thread starter Kelly
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I heard about a Mac virus. It was called Symantec, or something like that. Oh no...I'm confusing that with the time I had Symantec Antivirus on my PC. It was even worse than that virus I had called Windows XP. Still have that one...can't seem to eradicate it.
All kidding aside, the chances of getting a virus on the Mac are next to nil. Worrying about getting anti-virus software is silly, and using it is a waste of disk space, memory, and processor utilization. I've also heard that Symantec Antivirus for Mac is so invasive you can't even uninstall it completely.
All kidding aside, the chances of getting a virus on the Mac are next to nil. Worrying about getting anti-virus software is silly, and using it is a waste of disk space, memory, and processor utilization. I've also heard that Symantec Antivirus for Mac is so invasive you can't even uninstall it completely.
Kelly™;4719011 said:
Dude...of course symantec has articles on them, they're SELLING antivirus programs.
Apple has had articles on them too, but a Mac OS X virus has never been in the wild.
I've never heard of, seen or had someone actually have a virus for Mac OS X. I worked for apple for two years (basically just before panther launched until a bit after Tiger) and I never heard of anyone having or seeing any sort of Mac virus.
$$$$
You give Macrumors some money and you get 12 months of demi god. They are not mods though.
Some thing alone those lines.
Please direct us to where we can read about articles and/or proof from Apple of viruses for Mac OS X.
There are no Mac viruses.
There was a proof of concept trojan that was never released into the wild. It was MADE by an antivirus company (Intego).
There was a second trojan. It was unable to spread itself and the user had to enter their username and password for it to install. You'd have to be an idiot to get it. The site hosting the virus went down and the virus can no longer be found.
There are no viruses for Mac capable of spreading themselves currently in the wild. You are completely, 100% safe at this moment. A virus may be made next week, who knows, but right now, there are no Mac viruses to worry about.
The Mac antiviruses are only used to prevent you from accidentally sending a Windows virus to a friend.
So far, the number of virus attacks against MacOS X is exactly zero. So far there has been nothing that didn't require the user to enter their administrator password, and Leopard will ask you for permission again the first time you run any code downloaded from the Internet.
Total number of attacks so far = zero. I expect that number to double every year, as the Mac gets more popular
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/macosxleap.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12537279/
http://antivirus.about.com/od/macintoshresource/Macintosh_Viruses_and_Mac_Virus_Resources.htm
ever heard of google?
Anyone who doesnt have antivirus for ANY O.S. is a fool.
Again, I'll ask. Please direct us to where we can read about articles and/or proof from Apple of viruses for Mac OS X.
Please stop. Your mac fan badge has been revoked, as well should your demigod status.
Since you don't run as admin in OS X, it would be a challange to get a virus to effect the system files. And would probbly require social engineering. I.e Some how get the user to enter admin password. As you probbly know if os x is anything like nix(I dont have os x yet) its file sercruity is probbly very strong. If anyones ever been adminstrator for a nix system you probbly know you have to chmod all over the shop to get things running, but the added advantage is that misclous files/users can't play around with the system.
The worst flaws of windows is the user, i.e at home everybody and there dog used a admin acount, until vista uac came along.
The worst flaws of windows is the user, i.e at home everybody and there dog used a admin acount, until vista uac came along.
That's a foolish and nonsense statement. No OS other than Windows needs antivirus software. I've never had a virus (nor known of one) in 20+ years using Mac, or 10+ years using Solaris, Linux, HP-UX, AIX, etc. Viruses for these OSes just don't exist in the wild.Kelly™;4730103 said:
The biggest problem I ever had with viruses on Windows was the problem caused by Symantec Antivirus. I run ClamWin (and AVG before that) on Windows XP but neither have ever detected a single virus.
Of course, the headline on this page reads "114,000 viruses? Not on a Mac."
So, even though Apple recommends extra security measures, which doesn't mean only anti-virus software, and includes things like only downloading from trusted sources, etc., they also state that there are no viruses for Mac OS X. So your claim that even Apple has articles that prove there are viruses for Mac OS X is incorrect.
i dont see the point of having a AV on OS X, unless the Mac running OS X handles windows PC files (you download off the net) and use the AV in OS X to scan the files to keep them from possibly infecting the windows machine you will be transferring the file or files to
the only real viruses for Mac was back in the classic eras, i know the 666 extension ( or known as SevenDust) is still floating around. i know cause my P 475 got it from a file i downloaded that i needed and could not be found anywhere else. there is a few different strains if it luckily for me it was strain A which is basically harmless and just causes stability issues in some App's but its easily repaired. these viruses cant affect OS X cause of its different file structure
other then the proof of concept viruses for OS X (none are in the wild) non exist to this day for OS X, so the only logical reason to have a AV App on OS X is if the Mac handles files from the net to transfer to a windows PC to keep from using a possibly infected file on the windows machine, not to use directly for OS X to keep it from being infected ( which is virtually impossible to do)
the only real viruses for Mac was back in the classic eras, i know the 666 extension ( or known as SevenDust) is still floating around. i know cause my P 475 got it from a file i downloaded that i needed and could not be found anywhere else. there is a few different strains if it luckily for me it was strain A which is basically harmless and just causes stability issues in some App's but its easily repaired. these viruses cant affect OS X cause of its different file structure
other then the proof of concept viruses for OS X (none are in the wild) non exist to this day for OS X, so the only logical reason to have a AV App on OS X is if the Mac handles files from the net to transfer to a windows PC to keep from using a possibly infected file on the windows machine, not to use directly for OS X to keep it from being infected ( which is virtually impossible to do)
What does it mean for something to be from Apple?
Let me reapply your logic to another company and ask it again.
iW00t said:
Viruses or not, there is more malware out there targeting mac users
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c79b814e-a364-11dc-b229-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1
Sure it still takes some stupidity on the part of the user, but how do you think most pcs get infected with viruses?
Nonetheless, in order not to infect Windows friends, I use ClamXav -it's free, it has never once interfered with my Mac or other programs because it is no way a resource hog. Also, better AV not only stop viruses but also block malware and add another firewall layer that helps stops hackers etc.
Claim all you want that because there are no "viruses" that you're one hundred percent safe from hackers, malware, etc... but I'll stick to the addage - Better safe than sorry.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c79b814e-a364-11dc-b229-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1
Sure it still takes some stupidity on the part of the user, but how do you think most pcs get infected with viruses?
Nonetheless, in order not to infect Windows friends, I use ClamXav -it's free, it has never once interfered with my Mac or other programs because it is no way a resource hog. Also, better AV not only stop viruses but also block malware and add another firewall layer that helps stops hackers etc.
Claim all you want that because there are no "viruses" that you're one hundred percent safe from hackers, malware, etc... but I'll stick to the addage - Better safe than sorry.
cant you browse to a site on a windows PC and get infected with a virus with the user not being aware of a file transfer taking place.
on a Mac you have to actively download the software and actively run it and provide your user/pass for it to do anything. common since should tell you that you should not need a user/pass to open/view a picture (which most of these viruses are disguised as)
on a Mac you have to actively download the software and actively run it and provide your user/pass for it to do anything. common since should tell you that you should not need a user/pass to open/view a picture (which most of these viruses are disguised as)
Under windows XP, you can get viruses just by being connected to the internet for 20 minutes or so without any applications running.
Excellent point. Virus protection is about protecting others as well as your own machine.
if the first dangerous mac virus is an installer masked with say for example a quicktime icon asking for my password, i would know straight away its a virus and submit the URL straight away to macrumors so everyone here will know how to steer clear. HAHA
seriously im my own virus checker. a virus can only infect the Mac OS or any Unix based operating system if it installs trojan or backdoor files in the root of the hard drive. this can only be done if an admin password is provided. and if some funky file from a random website asks me for my password... i aint givin it baby. its as simple as that.
ill never need AV for my macs... well for now [insert shift eyes]... as i have no way of projecting the future of Mac OS X market share and vulnerabilities. but for now i aint installing some AV app that updates with windows virus definitions.
Apple will never say that Mac OS X is totally, 100% non-vulnerable to viruses. if one comes along one day and infects millions of macs they would get sued for supplying false information. so they say its "...it’s never a bad idea to run extra virus... software.
by security software Apple means making sure your mac is up to date using the Software Update feature. this will install all new security updates when available to patch any vulnerabilities that Apple thinks is a threat to their operating system. this is IMHO way better than any AV app.
seriously im my own virus checker. a virus can only infect the Mac OS or any Unix based operating system if it installs trojan or backdoor files in the root of the hard drive. this can only be done if an admin password is provided. and if some funky file from a random website asks me for my password... i aint givin it baby. its as simple as that.
ill never need AV for my macs... well for now [insert shift eyes]... as i have no way of projecting the future of Mac OS X market share and vulnerabilities. but for now i aint installing some AV app that updates with windows virus definitions.
Kelly™;4730176 said:
Apple will never say that Mac OS X is totally, 100% non-vulnerable to viruses. if one comes along one day and infects millions of macs they would get sued for supplying false information. so they say its "...it’s never a bad idea to run extra virus... software.
by security software Apple means making sure your mac is up to date using the Software Update feature. this will install all new security updates when available to patch any vulnerabilities that Apple thinks is a threat to their operating system. this is IMHO way better than any AV app.
I think it's quite careless of you to say this because about 6 months ago, Apple did a massive 'I'm a MAC, I'm a PC' advertising campaign here in the UK, and one of the adverts they made was expressing how PC's get virus' and MACS don't!
The only reason you would need any form of anti virus for a Mac is if you constantly use PC documents on your Mac and visa versa, then although the virus' wouldn't be affecting your Mac, you could still pass on windows virus' to other pc's through the net.
Unless you go on some crazy website, then download some sort of app, and actually enter your password, you give that app the right to mess with your system and should be your fault in the end.
At this point in time, and for a long time for sure, I won't get any sort of anti-virus application...It's pointless.
Go on safe websites, before you enter your password to install the app make sure the app isn't shady and won't take a **** on your machine..
At this point in time, and for a long time for sure, I won't get any sort of anti-virus application...It's pointless.
Go on safe websites, before you enter your password to install the app make sure the app isn't shady and won't take a **** on your machine..
I'm thinking the same thing. When I fist started using Mac's years ago I was a bit skeptical, but I have been Mac head for well over 10 years and have never once had a virus. Now if you are running Windows on your Mac different story. I would defiantly put some type of anti-virus on then. I got Trend Micro for the Windows side of things when I do use the god-for-saken OS.