Switching from windows can someone explain to me viruses and malware with mac's?

See here:
http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Virus/Malware_FAQ

 

It is much safer on a Mac. Nevertheless many of us use - time to time - some tools to be on the safe side:
1. AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, uBlock or any other ad, pop-up blocker to avoid clicking unintentionally on malicious app downloads like MacKeeper etc.
2. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac to remove (if any) adware, malware.

 

The biggest places most Mac users get Adware on their Macs is from P0rn sites and cracked software downloads!

Also bad guys are targeting Flash flaws! So don't get the Flash Player unless you really need it! If you need Flash make sure you keep up to date on the Flash Player! If you want high def YouTube just use the HTML5 bult-in player.

Keep your nose clean when surfing and use common sense. Plus only download Mac software from the Mac App Store and MacUpdate.com and stay away from cracked software downloads!

 

or use legit develop sites, they are fine as well.


Know the developer you pulling down from either from experience or client feedback. Research the vendor basically. Mnay of my paid professional apps are direct from vendor downloads. I also use a few beta's at the moment. Not in store and not established yet. But....they have the credibility based on other user comments to rate the install and in most cases I have given them money to hopefully push them out from beta version 0.xxxxx to production release 1.xxx


Many legit sources I use have both app store and their own downloads. I always opt for the latter personally. Issue with the mac store is 2 fold. It does not get vendor given updates day 1. They clear a verification process. Vendors can and will have updates in site days before release on app store.

Apple store also will not supply apps that work at command line level in some way. Case of say BBedit, a text editor for mac os, I cannot get the CLI tools I use from the app store.

Case of CLI apps use good judgement. I use reputable developers. Strong github presence, found in published journal articles in some cases....all these and others ease some security concerns.


PLus there are always the old standby's. Like your basic MD5 hash checks. A 3rd party developer may (almost a should really) list the MD5 that they say the file should be. You double check this with what you have downloaded and move on from there.

 

As far as I know, there are no viruses in the wild that affect Macs. Some people install anti-virus software anyway. Why? I don't know.

There is malware that can affect Mac. Ad-ware type malware is probably most common. Be sure to be very careful when asked for your admin password when you click on stuff. This will help go a long way in keeping you free of malware.

Common sense is your best weapon against malware.

 

You should pay attention to developers sites and verify who they are! Many so called developers are in other countries and may use the cracked X-Code! So verify your downloads.

Plus when it comes to open source programs I only trust this that presents the source code too! This should go for all computer users as well!