Virus protection?

[NAG]

Ah, the personal attacks. I was waiting for this to happen. You were already doing a veiled personal attack on people that didn't have the same opinion as you in general. I suppose it was just a matter of time.

To which you'll likely respond with something like "tough luck, that's what you get for using Windows. Get a Mac!"

Oooh, I can play this game too.

Okay, lets pretend you accidentally sent an infected file for one reason or another. The windows user replies that you sent them an infected file. You reply with something like "Oh, you were infected because it was God's will. REPENT!!!"

Quotes are fun! Don't you agree?

Yes, I agree, quotes are very fun and let you shove words into other people's mouths when your point is so weak you have to fabricate the opponent's position. I must confess, I find it a most valuable method to defend my personal opinions as gospel.

I'm so glad we agree.

Moving on, about the "head in the sand" comment with respect to no viruses for mac os x in existence at this point.

Okay, lets deconstruct that statement. No viruses for Mac OS X at this point.

At this point.

Hm, what does that mean. I don't know. What do you think it means. At this point. Very curious. Interesting. Such a confusing phrase.

At this point. Well, I certainly hope someone will take their head out of the sand and figure out what that phrase means.

Geek religions, sigh.

 

[jellomizer]

I'm just curious...has anyone actually ever had a virus on a mac? I've been a mac guy for 15 years and none here. How about on boot camp. Also, can a virus ever damage hardware? I run bootcamp/fusion and while I don't have any problem whatsoever reformatting my vmware partition if windows gets messed up, I don't want to damage the hardware.

I never had one run on a Mac but running ClamX I have found a couple seeing in my Spam box in my Inbox for mail. They didn't run but they were there and if I needed to transfer my mail to a PC it could have spread.

 

[NAG]

Oh, and there were some viruses for the classic mac os. Autoboot worms and other stuff. They weren't very common but they did exist (a MacAddict CD that came with the magazine was actually infected once).

 

[HLdan]

It is interesting that all discussions emphasize that there are no viruses for Mac OS X. And therefore we don't need an AntiVirus Software. But why aren't there any viruses for Mac? Sure, the security architecture of Mac OS X is supposed to be better than Windows. But Mac OS X was/is still programmed by humans. And humans make mistakes. Therefore even Mac OS X has security risks. (Otherwise we wouldn't get those security updates from Apple.) Right now, we are fortunate enough that there are so few Macs out there compared to Windows Machines. But the number of Macs is growing. So it's just a matter of time, till we become a lucrative target group. And when Macs reach this critical mass, someone will start to write viruses etc. for Mac OS X.

I am so tired of this line of crap, "It's only a matter of time before Macs get targeted"
This has been said for the last 5 years since OS X became the standard for Macs and even more so after Apple announced the switch to Intel. Still no viruses have surfaced for Mac OS X and I wish people would stop trying to create something that hasn't happened. Sometimes I get the feeling that many Windows users are jealous of the Mac being secure and are too afraid to admit the truth that the Mac is a better and safer computer. Mac's market share has increased dramatically and mostly from Windows users rather than existing Mac users. So where are the viruses? We should have had at least one by now right?

 

[patrickmacrumor]

"tough luck, that's what you get for using Windows. Get a Mac!"

That was not very nice of you. If you are lucky enough to live in an affluent country and to be able to buy a Mac, don't assume that everyone is in the same boat as you. Some people cannot afford a Mac, and the next best solution for them and/or their kids is a cheap Windows PC.

--
Patrick

 

[i-John]

I am so tired of this line of crap, "It's only a matter of time before Macs get targeted"
This has been said for the last 5 years since OS X became the standard for Macs and even more so after Apple announced the switch to Intel. Still no viruses have surfaced for Mac OS X and I wish people would stop trying to create something that hasn't happened. Sometimes I get the feeling that many Windows users are jealous of the Mac being secure and are too afraid to admit the truth that the Mac is a better and safer computer. Mac's market share has increased dramatically and mostly from Windows users rather than existing Mac users. So where are the viruses? We should have had at least one by now right?

You can believe what you want. Proof of concept viruses have hit the Mac world.

As popular as you think the Mac is, and it's growing at a fast rate, they still have less than 8% of the market. Windows still have over 90%. As much as you will want to deny it, people who write spyware, malware and viruses want information... do they want the info from 8% of people, or 90%? You see a lot less of new viruses or spyware coming out as it's now harder to get ones that will get your information if you're properly protected.

Also, there are a lot of known vulnerabilities that have been disclosed by Apple but have yet to be patched. That alone shows that basically no spyware writer worth his salt gives a crap.

There have been 2 known in the last few months, including a trojan horse that came out last month. The reason it doesn't make news... I go back to users.

Say a million users. 910,000 will use Windows, and 78,000 use Macs. If 25% of users get infected, that's 227,500 Windows users and only 19,000 Mac users. Which do you think is going to make the news? Hitting 10% of Windows users gets more than 100% of Apple users. It's all about the numbers. Hit more people, profit from it more.

Don't get me wrong, it's harder to code it to attack a Mac, but it's not impossible or that difficult.

 

[Tallest Skil]

If 25% of users get infected, that's 227,500 Windows users and only 19,000 Mac users. Which do you think is going to make the news? Hitting 10% of Windows users gets more than 100% of Apple users. It's all about the numbers. Hit more people, profit from it more.

Your analogy is slightly flawed in that it would have to be a completely different infection.

 

[geordiejohn]

i am using iAntiVirus

 

[shaunymac]

That was not very nice of you. If you are lucky enough to live in an affluent country and to be able to buy a Mac, don't assume that everyone is in the same boat as you. Some people cannot afford a Mac, and the next best solution for them and/or their kids is a cheap Windows PC.

--
Patrick

Sure people can afford macs. It might not be the latest MacPro but anyone who truly wants to have the mac expierience can have it. Go to craigslist, eBay, or your favorite buying place and pick up a powemac or an iBook. You will be virus free!! I got my first mac for $50 bucks, so that statement doesn't do much for me.

 

[QuantumLo0p]

Fairly new to Macs here. With Windows, you have to have virus protection. I heard that Macs don't get virus, and you don't need an anti-virus. Is that true?

Nope.

 

[ra noodle]

having been a former WindowsMe user the virsuses and crap was one reason i got a mac...but not knowing about its OSX i automatically got in mt case Intego, which seems to be pretty good.
while some of you seem to be sure that there wont be any hits on Macs I continue to be confused about trojans and spyware which i have read some comments there are a lot of spyware going around...are these able to screw up macs like trojans and virsuses???

 

[Tallest Skil]

Nope.

I think that he's saying "Nope, Macs don't need it." Because if he isn't, I'll direct him to a little friend of mine called Every Other Thread on the topic of virus protection for Macs.

 

[richardhunt]

I am no yet using anti-virus protection on my Mac, but do use it on all my windows boxes. All my e-mail is received by a linux based e-mail scanner security box and viruses and malware are removed from them before they get to my inbox. (for those interested, it's an open source system called mailscanner)


The sentiment that the Mac OS is secure is not entirely correct, as has been mentioned before there are vulnerabilities that are documented and apple has not yet bothered fixing, that being said, there's a severe lack of interest in the way of malware and virus authoring for the Mac OS simple because it's not worthwhile to do it. Harvesting information is BIG business to some companies and resources are better employed trying to get 90% of users worldwide than getting at 8%+. If and when Mac OS breaks the 20% range, you can be sure these things will beging to infect our until-now virgin grounds. In the end econimic reasons drive the market for these things, and until it becomes "profitable" we will continue to be safe from them.

If you run bootcamp and a windows OS on it, you NEED to virus protect it, some viruses can and will destroy your partition information, and thus wiping out your Mac OS along with your windows OS.

 

[Neil321]

If you run bootcamp and a windows OS on it, you NEED to virus protect it, some viruses can and will destroy your partition information, and thus wiping out your Mac OS along with your windows OS.

Can you explain please as there two completely separate OS's and if a windows virus somehow did managed to migrate across to OS X it wouldn't understand it so therefore wouldn't harm it

 

[trainguy77]

Can you explain please as there two completely separate OS's and if a windows virus somehow did managed to migrate across to OS X it wouldn't understand it so therefore wouldn't harm it

It only way this is possible is if while running windows it formats the partition. But this just means you need Anti virus under windows. But we all already knew that.

 

[Tallest Skil]

... some viruses can and will destroy your partition information, and thus wiping out your Mac OS along with your windows OS.

Windows can't even read HFS+ without extra software. OS X is safe from Boot Camp.

 

[RainForRent]

I support cautious computing– know what you're downloading, and download it from reliable sources (even if it's warez/pr0n, there are still reliable sources). Don't just supply your administrator password to programs if you aren't sure what they are. Reliably practice these things and you've stopped 95% of all viruses, both Mac and PC.

 

[grapes911]

If you run bootcamp and a windows OS on it, you NEED to virus protect it, some viruses can and will destroy your partition information, and thus wiping out your Mac OS along with your windows OS.

Too bad most of them target the MBR, which Macs do not have.

 

[grapes911]

I support cautious computing– know what you're downloading, and download it from reliable sources (even if it's warez/pr0n, there are still reliable sources). Don't just supply your administrator password to programs if you aren't sure what they are. Reliably practice these things and you've stopped 95% of all viruses, both Mac and PC.

Not true (at least of a Windows PC). A virus can spread without any interaction with the user. Meaning, just being on a network with an infected computer can cause your computer to get a virus.

 

[cfs]

Sure people can afford macs. It might not be the latest MacPro but anyone who truly wants to have the mac expierience can have it. Go to craigslist, eBay, or your favorite buying place and pick up a powemac or an iBook. You will be virus free!! I got my first mac for $50 bucks, so that statement doesn't do much for me.

I understand what your saying and agree to an extent. However, I am currently overseas and there is no Craigslist here and macs on ebay are rare. Getting a Mac here is just not affordable to some.

As for Patrick's statement, "If you are lucky enough to live in an affluent country..." I am not sure how anyone could argue that.

-cfs

 

[QuantumLo0p]

I think that he's saying "Nope, Macs don't need it." Because if he isn't, I'll direct him to a little friend of mine called Every Other Thread on the topic of virus protection for Macs.

You obviously forgot the original text: "Virus protection? Fairly new to Macs here. With Windows, you have to have virus protection. I heard that Macs don't get virus, and you don't need an anti-virus. Is that true?"

"Nope" was the answer to his question "Is that true?" meaning nope, you need virus protection on everything.

I could care less about your little friend but I should apologize for assuming home users should be set up as at work.

A better position for me to have is anyone should be able to do whatever they please, in their own home. Personally, the thought of others not using AV repulses me but my opinion as well as other's choice to not us AV is a personal right.

I'll meet your friend if you meet the world's little friend...
However I can say, coming from an IT background, I personally don't know any IT managers who do not extensively use hardware and software solutions at their sites to aid in prevention of attacks/intrusions from the outside and inside as well as being as proactive as they can regarding protection from viruses, trojans, worms, adware and ANY sort of malware in general. Corporate users simply don't have a choice and their opinions on "not using AV because I use a Mac so Ha!" are totally pointless and quite useless.

While this is the norm for business it is certainly not the norm for home users and most certainly not the norm for home Mac users, unless you are doing work from home and have to communicate with the workplace, associates and customers.

If you are a user not associated with business then by all means, go for computing bliss and don't use AV.

The recurring AV threads here at MR are such dead horses but there seems to be no shortage of members who continually beat it because they lack the foresight to see beyond their personal computing environments.

In the end the choice is always the users.

HOWEVER, there has been some talk on companies REQUIRING all computers accessing their networks to be protected or face civil penalties if it was determined an unprotected computer affected/damaged their network. Sounds logical I totally support that position. Business is business. Perhaps there will come a day when there will be not only severe civil penalties but also criminal charges.

Jail time for damaging other people's property? You bet!

I would laugh my bum off if (when?!) I ever hear of a Mac using photographer, designer or programmer giving a virus/trojan/worm/malware to a customer of theirs.

 

[trainguy77]

I'll meet your friend if you meet the world's little friend...
However I can say, coming from an IT background, I personally don't know any IT managers who do not extensively use hardware and software solutions at their sites to aid in prevention of attacks/intrusions from the outside and inside as well as being as proactive as they can regarding protection from viruses, trojans, worms, adware and ANY sort of malware in general. Corporate users simply don't have a choice and their opinions on "not using AV because I use a Mac so Ha!" are totally pointless and quite useless.

Hi, i am an IT manager, I don't require antivirus on the macs i run. Yes we use firewalls thats expected. But since there is no self propagating viruses out yet. I am not concerned.
But yes its personal opinion.

 

[imacdave1]

Back in the day the average end user user was In a machine that had Windows installed which is why there was very little interest in hackers writing a program that could be used on a Macintosh and software developers so no reason to write an antivirus program for anything other than Windows. Now that Apple has gained in popularity its caught the interest of people with less than honest intentions when trying to access your Apple computer. Software programmers who write the antivirus programs live under the old adage that Apple computers don't get viruses and don't create an antivirus program that actually works on an Apple computer.

Apple relies on its reputation of building a computer that iis virtually virus free and uses that when selling their computers but times have changed Apple is prone to a virus just as a Windows machine

 

[satcomer]

To be safe on a Mac I have used OpenDNS in any router that I have owned! With it's integration of Phishtank.com I block known Trojan sites and report suspected ones for review!

Plus being older I no longer warz software or go to p0rn sites anymore! All the scares of the recent past have not touched me. I try to keep up on Mac stories of Trojan scares and come to realize that most of the scares never really came around to me (knocks on wood)!

 

[Gregg2]

Back in the day the average end user user was In a machine that had Windows installed which is why there was very little interest in hackers writing a program that could be used on a Macintosh and software developers so no reason to write an antivirus program for anything other than Windows. Now that Apple has gained in popularity its caught the interest of people with less than honest intentions when trying to access your Apple computer. Software programmers who write the antivirus programs live under the old adage that Apple computers don't get viruses and don't create an antivirus program that actually works on an Apple computer.

Apple relies on its reputation of building a computer that iis virtually virus free and uses that when selling their computers but times have changed Apple is prone to a virus just as a Windows machine

Nah! That "market share' theory has been thoroughly debunked. The standard challenge to this argument is to ask for the name of a Mac virus. If one is out there, it gets named, just like storms that threaten to become hurricanes.