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Viruses

C

crtvmac

Guest
Original poster
Aug 14, 2009
85
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Would someone recommend a software to use in detecting Malware on Mac's? I went to a website and It cause my browser to crash. After I rebooted my computer and ran a security log check with my firewall virus program, It said there was a suspicious behavior event that happen. Also, one day my mouse pointer acted like it had a mind of it's own. I would manually scroll to the top of the browser page, when I would release the mouse, the page would scroll back down to the bottom of the browser page where I originally scroll from. It was as though someone else had taken control of the scrolling capabilities of my computer.
 
Macs can get viruses just as PC can, Macs can't get PC viruses, Since there a more PC virus then mac, your more likely to get viruses on a pc.

I would suggest ClamXav- A Free Mac Anti Virus

Check it out-It's the best Mac Anti Virus Out there, and it's Free
 
AppleMactablet said:
Macs can get viruses just as PC can
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Sure, if they existed for OSX.

The ClamAVX is OK, but really is only good for finding Windows-based viruses and trojans. iAntivirus focuses more on Mac threats like trojans.

For the OP though, having your browser crash is not a sign that you have some malware. Applications crash a lot. So more than others. If anything, maybe the site you were visiting had some bad mojo and was putting out something the browser simply didn't understand how to handle and crashed as a result, as can happen with malformed gif images.
 
AppleMactablet said:
Macs can get viruses just as PC can, Macs can't get PC viruses, Since there a more PC virus then mac, your more likely to get viruses on a pc.

I would suggest ClamXav- A Free Mac Anti Virus

Check it out-It's the best Mac Anti Virus Out there, and it's Free
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation?
 
Dont bother with antivirus under os x. The antivirus's are like virus's themselves. They take up RAM for no apparent reason. Apple take care with the very few virus's for OS X, just by making them impossible to run on OS X.
 
I can tell you about a strange Youtube issue where vids try to download by themselves. I heard of one other issue of this but with firefox.
 
A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability.

From Symantec:
What is the difference between viruses, worms, and Trojans?

What is a virus?
A computer virus is a small program written to alter the way a computer operates, without the permission or knowledge of the user. A virus must meet two criteria:
  • It must execute itself. It often places its own code in the path of execution of another program.
  • It must replicate itself. For example, it may replace other executable files with a copy of the virus infected file. Viruses can infect desktop computers and network servers alike.
What is a Trojan horse?
Trojan horses are impostors—files that claim to be something desirable but, in fact, are malicious. A very important distinction between Trojan horse programs and true viruses is that they do not replicate themselves. Trojan horses contain malicious code that when triggered cause loss, or even theft, of data. For a Trojan horse to spread, you must invite these programs onto your computers; for example, by opening an email attachment or downloading and running a file from the Internet.

What is a worm?
Worms are programs that replicate themselves from system to system without the use of a host file. This is in contrast to viruses, which requires the spreading of an infected host file. Although worms generally exist inside of other files, often Word or Excel documents, there is a difference between how worms and viruses use the host file. Usually the worm will release a document that already has the "worm" macro inside the document. The entire document will travel from computer to computer, so the entire document should be considered the worm.

What is a virus hoax?
Virus hoaxes are messages, almost always sent by email, that amount to little more than chain letters. Following are some of the common phrases that are used in these hoaxes:
  • If you receive an email titled [email virus hoax name here], do not open it!
  • Delete it immediately!
  • It contains the [hoax name] virus.
  • It will delete everything on your hard drive and [extreme and improbable danger specified here].
  • This virus was announced today by [reputable organization name here].
  • Forward this warning to everyone you know!
Most virus hoax warnings do not deviate far from this pattern. If you are unsure if a virus warning is legitimate or a hoax, additional information is available at the Symantec Security Response online database.
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As of this time, there are NO viruses in the wild that affect current Mac OS X. In the past, there have been a few viruses that ran on older versions of the Mac operating system, but no longer.

There are, as of this time, trojans that can affect Mac OS X, but these must be downloaded and installed by the user, which involves entering the user's administrator password. Trojans can easily be avoided by the user exercising common sense and caution when installing applications. A common source of trojans is pirated software, typically downloaded from bit torrent sites.

Having virus protection software on your Mac is pointless, as far as protecting your Mac from viruses, since AV software can't detect a virus that doesn't exist. It is possible to have a file reside on your hard drive that contains a Windows virus, but since a Windows virus (program) can't run in native Mac OS X, it would be harmless to your Mac. Some choose to run AV on their Mac to scan for Windows viruses, so the Mac user can't pass a virus-infected file to a Windows user. In my opinion, a Windows user should be protected by their own AV software, so the burden of protection lies with the Windows user.
 
There are no real viruses for Macs, so installing an anti-virus application only slows down your Mac slightly and uses up RAM and disc space ... it's a complete waste of time. The only exception is if you want to tell Windows-owning friends that the file they just sent you has a virus on it so they can clean their system.

The only way you can get even a semi-real so-called "Mac virus" is to download and install pirated software ... in which case, you get what you deserve.
 
Buzz Bumble said:
The only way you can get even a semi-real so-called "Mac virus" is to download and install pirated software ... in which case, you get what you deserve.
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Those are called trojans, and are easily avoided with a little thought and common sense.
 
GGJstudios said:
Those are called trojans, and are easily avoided with a little thought and common sense.
Click to expand...

Basically, if a porn site tells you that you need to install a Quicktime Plugin to see their naughty pictures, don't. If you are invited to install a brand new (pirated) version of Microsoft Word, don't. If you find an illegal copy of Photoshop or iWorks to download from a torrent, don't.
 
lots of naive posts in this thread filled with false pretense that using mac systems is safe. just because a virus/malware isn't publicly announced, does not mean that it does not exist, and being "smart" about using your computer to avoid viruses isn't really "smart." It's like locking your doors and windows when you leave home, and thinking that the burglar won't get in just because they're locked.

if you want to scan your computer, give nod32 beta for mac a try. i think it's free at the moment, and they make one of the top antivirus scanners for windows.
 
a related question regarding spyware

Do Mac-users need to be concerned about spyware? If the answer is yes, what would be a good protection?

Thank you.


Christina
 
definitive said:
lots of naive posts in this thread filled with false pretense that using mac systems is safe. just because a virus/malware isn't publicly announced, does not mean that it does not exist,
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No one is saying it's impossible for a Mac to get a virus. What IS true is that at this time, there are no viruses that exist in the wild that run on Mac OS X. If one were to be created/released, it would make BIG news and everyone would hear about it very quickly, especially in this forum.
definitive said:
and being "smart" about using your computer to avoid viruses isn't really "smart." It's like locking your doors and windows when you leave home, and thinking that the burglar won't get in just because they're locked.
Click to expand...
Being "smart" means only getting software from reputable sites, only installing what you know is legitimate/legal/non-pirated software, and thinking carefully before entering your admin password for anything. Doing these things will protect you from any of the trojans out there.
chnine said:
Do Mac-users need to be concerned about spyware? If the answer is yes, what would be a good protection?
Thank you.
Christina
Click to expand...
Spyware, such as keyloggers are out there, but you have to actively install them on your system. Of course, if you leave your Mac unattended so someone else can have access to it, all bets are off.
 
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