Viruses on Mac.

[mpt-matthew]

This is a much discussed topic.
Get a virus scanner or not...

Some points/questions:

- More and more people are using macs, will it become viable for them to produce more viruses for them. Its not macs cant get viruses, its just there arn't very many.

- I know people like a virus scanner to protect others. Im not in a cooperation or share files much, so i dont need one for that.

- Does apples updates protect against the few mac viruses there are?

- Malware, spyware, etc. To protect against that does it just require common sense ("No, i dont want to enter my credit card number!")

- Is the Mac OS built so it is impossible to penetrate with a virus (not sure?).

Thanks
Any advice should be good.

 

[GGJstudios]

This is a much discussed topic.
Get a virus scanner or not...

First, read this: Mac Virus/Malware Info

- More and more people are using macs, will it become viable for them to produce more viruses for them.

It's always possible, but so far, there has never been a virus created that runs on current Mac OS X.

Its not macs cant get viruses,

It's true, Macs are not immune.

its just there arn't very many.

None, to be exact.

Does apples updates protect against the few mac viruses there are?

There are no Mac viruses out there that can run on your Mac.

- Malware, spyware, etc. To protect against that does it just require common sense ("No, i dont want to enter my credit card number!")

Trojans are the only current threat out there, and there are less than a dozen of those. You can avoid those by being careful what you install.

- Is the Mac OS built so it is impossible to penetrate with a virus

No.

 

[alust2013]

No need to bother. It's possible to make viruses, but people don't as Windows PCs are still ~90% of the computer market, so if they want to get a virus out, it just doesn't make sense to make it for Mac. There is some security built into the OS as well, such as it will ask for your password anytime you open an app file that's downloaded from the internet for the first time.

 

[iPhoneCollector]

There is really no need to buy a anti virus software, must be carefull what you download and wich programs you run and you'll be fine. Macs dont get viruses as easy as windows machines. If your friends have windows machines and you send them a file that contains a virus it may harm their pc but the same file didn't har your mac. So thats why you should consider a anti virus programm. Thou if you dont share files then you should use the money on the mac app store rather than for an anti virus programm

 

[simsaladimbamba]

This is a much discussed topic.
Get a virus scanner or not...

Some points/questions:

- More and more people are using macs, will it become viable for them to produce more viruses for them. Its not macs cant get viruses, its just there arn't very many.

ZERO viruses exist currently that could affect Mac OS X, there were some a decade ago for Mac OS, but since Apple issued Mac OS X, there have been none.

In addition to the already posted malware FAQ: http://seekingalpha.com/article/52722-the-mac-os-x-malware-myth-continues (in short, marketshare has nothing to do with Mac OS X' ability to get viruses, it is the UNX code that protects us).

 

[mpt-matthew]

First, read this: Mac Virus/Malware Info

Trojans are the only current threat out there, and there are less than a dozen of those. You can avoid those by being careful what you install.

No.

Ok, so in the future i may need a anti virus (when trojans are more common). Thats why im asking now, just an update on how common viruses are.

Having a safety net incase i open a Trojan could be a good thing.

 

[GGJstudios]

Ok, so in the future i may need a anti virus (when trojans are more common). Thats why im asking now, just an update on how common viruses are.

Having a safety net incase i open a Trojan could be a good thing.

No anti-virus application can protect you from a virus that doesn't yet exist. They don't know what to look for. You can avoid trojans by not installing pirated software or installing software from porn sites, etc. To get a trojan, first you have to find a file that contains one, which is quite rare. Then you have to download it, install it, and enter your admin password. It's not something you accidentally "get". Read the link I posted. It really will answer your questions.

 

[MisterMe]

No need to bother. It's possible to make viruses, but people don't as Windows PCs are still ~90% of the computer market, so if they want to get a virus out, it just doesn't make sense to make it for Mac. There is some security built into the OS as well, such as it will ask for your password anytime you open an app file that's downloaded from the internet for the first time.

Please don't try to slip the thoroughly discredited "security through obscurity" excuse on a group of people who know better.

 

[GGJstudios]

Please don't try to slip the thoroughly discredited "security through obscurity" excuse on a group of people who know better.

True! Yeah, Macs are really obscure, to the tune of over a million new Macs sold per month, in addition to tens of millions already out there!

 

[gr8whtd0pe]

Every once and awhile I'll download kasperskys free trial update it and let it scan. Nothing ever comes back.

 

[dirt farmer]

This here should be made into a sticky!