Oh, please. The pwn2own exercises involve cooperative targets. Try pushing your rope with people who don't know better.
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What is the purpose of Anti-virus software?
- Thread starter derickdub
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The only "cooperation" is a click on a link by a non-privileged user, this is not any sort of stretch in the world I live in. With a poisoned Google cache or XSS vulnerability on a popular website pointing to one of the 0-days used, the user and system are done and there was no "dumb action" on the part of the user.
My point simply is that Macs aren't somehow immune to software vulnerabilities, let's not pretend that they are.
You are still missing the point, poor decisions come from lack of knowledge, common sense can only be used with common knowledge, please tell me the percentage of computer users worldwide that understand and practice safe computing, since you seem to assume everyone does!
I know many people that use computers but have no idea about keeping safe when using it, even if you tell them, they rarely take it on-board and carry on regardless.
Antivirus/malware/spyware etc... is merely a safe net, and I'd prefer people that lack computer knowledge to have that safety net, to protect the rest of us from zombie networks, worms, spam relays and so on.
No, I don't assume everyone practices safe computing. Nor are we addressing all computer users, but only those who come to this forum, looking for information. While it's fine to use antivirus software if they choose to do so, the message we should not be telling them is to assume that if they have AV running, they're safe. They will benefit more if we educate them on safe computing practices to avoid malware, which, by the way, aren't that tough to learn: Simply exercise caution when selecting and installing software, making sure it's obtained from trustworthy sources. That will go farther in protecting them than simply installing antivirus software which has less than 100% detection rates.
I'd prefer to educate those people, so they know how to protect their computers from malware, whether they run AV software or not.
I agree, educating people is the better method, but for those that won't be educated or take any notice, AV works to a certain degree. I'm mostly talking Windows users here, as Mac users are slightly less at risk, due to the lower number of nasties out there for Macs.
Edit: my last post should have said safety net rather than safe net, as in it doesn't mean you're completely safe, but as a last resort if you land on it you may live to see another day
Edit: my last post should have said safety net rather than safe net, as in it doesn't mean you're completely safe, but as a last resort if you land on it you may live to see another day
FWIW, to be sure to be sure I use Sophos Anti-Virus. Sophos has a good reputation with a focus on business rather than home users. And it is free.
There are threads that point out that Sophos makes your computer MORE vulnerable.
I wouldn't recommend Sophos. It has spotty detection rates, and can actually increase vulnerability.
On the Mac side of things, some people want the peace of mind, especially if they just switched from using Windows for a long time. One less thing for them to worry about, even if it's not actually a problem because there's so little malware out there except for the occasional scam software like Mac Defender.
When I use Windows I still use an anti-virus just because there's so much malware made for Windows that I'm not really 100% sure everything I download or every site I view is safe unless it comes from a major software provider. I'd probably do the same when using OS X if there was more malware floating about.
When I use Windows I still use an anti-virus just because there's so much malware made for Windows that I'm not really 100% sure everything I download or every site I view is safe unless it comes from a major software provider. I'd probably do the same when using OS X if there was more malware floating about.
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Sophos should be avoided, as it could actually increase your Mac's vulnerability, as described here and here.
Mac Virus/Malware Info
Windows users who claim that they don't need anti-virus remind me of smokers who claim that smoking doesn't cause cancer because they don't have it.
But smoking (cough) doesn't (cough, cough) cause (cough, wheeze, cough) cancer! (cough, hack, wheeze, choke, cough)
I think you should have antivirus for Windows (Microsoft Security Essentials is enough, and it doesn't cost anything). For Mac, I do not think it's necessary. There's not that many viruses and stuff around and the Mac is pretty secure so I wouldn't worry about it.
Also, if malware does get out of hand for Mac-users, Apple would be the type of company to make a good, free antivirus software downloadable from their website. Or it would come preloaded with every Mac.
Also, if malware does get out of hand for Mac-users, Apple would be the type of company to make a good, free antivirus software downloadable from their website. Or it would come preloaded with every Mac.
You two gentlemen have no clue what a cooperative target is, do you?