Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What virus software should I get?
- Thread starter pwbk5
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You dont need any. Totally unecessary. There are currently no viruses for Macs. Any sort of antivirus will just slow down the system; and for absolutely no reason either, considering there arent any viruses for it to find.
There are a few threads around here from people that havent done their research and installed antivirus software on their Macs, only for the system to become really unresponsive. I bet most, if not all, members here use their Macs with no antivirus software, and I bet there wont be a single reply in this topic that actually recommends you any.
There are a few threads around here from people that havent done their research and installed antivirus software on their Macs, only for the system to become really unresponsive. I bet most, if not all, members here use their Macs with no antivirus software, and I bet there wont be a single reply in this topic that actually recommends you any.
That's not entirely true. There is definitely malware written for the mac out there.
However the rest of your post is sage advice.
i use ClamXav, i kno AV software 4 mac isnt necesssary but i just use it 2 scan my downloads. it makes me feel safe especially cumin 4rm windows, whatever helps u sleep at night
I thought cumin was used in cooking? What does it have to do with windows?
But then again, I'm not even sure this post was in English.,
I suppose you would need some kind of antivirus if you download and install pirated software or other hacked stuff. Other than that, it's extremely rare. I got a worm on my system a few years ago but it wasn't doing much damage. Didn't even know I had it until a service bureau called to say that a disc I had dropped off was infected. The worm was just slowing down my machine until I managed to find it.
These are worthless Windows products (worthless to Mac OS X, that is).
How is that relevant?
THERE ARE NO VIRUSES on OSX.
Since there are no viruses, anti-virus cannot determine what is a virus at this time.
Giz Explains: Why OS X Shrugs Off Viruses Better Than Windows
http://i.gizmodo.com/5101337/giz-explains-why-os-x-shrugs-off-viruses-better-than-windows
The Mac Malware Myth
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/01/29/the-mac-malware-myth/
The Unavoidable Malware Myth
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/...-apple-wont-inherit-microsofts-malware-crown/
Road to Mac OS X Snow Leopard: 64-bit security
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/01/16/road_to_mac_os_x_snow_leopard_64_bit_security.html
Since there are no viruses, anti-virus cannot determine what is a virus at this time.
Giz Explains: Why OS X Shrugs Off Viruses Better Than Windows
http://i.gizmodo.com/5101337/giz-explains-why-os-x-shrugs-off-viruses-better-than-windows
The Mac Malware Myth
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/01/29/the-mac-malware-myth/
The Unavoidable Malware Myth
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/...-apple-wont-inherit-microsofts-malware-crown/
Road to Mac OS X Snow Leopard: 64-bit security
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/01/16/road_to_mac_os_x_snow_leopard_64_bit_security.html
Actually, it IS true. There are no viruses that exist in the wild that affect Mac OS X.
Completely true.
While it's dangerous and foolish to download and install pirated apps, no antivirus app can protect your Mac, because they don't detect Mac viruses, only Windows viruses. Consultant is right: You can't detect something that doesn't exist.
LOL! So true! But AntiVirus apps won't detect Him, either!Now now.. there are billions of religious people out there..
He's using "cumin" as an abbreviation for "coming" and "4rm" as an abbreviation for "from". See how many letters he saved with those alternate spellings?ceezy3000 said:
It seems like people have already forgotten about the iwork trojan https://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/22/iwork-09-torrent-carrying-os-x-trojan/
It wasnt even that long ago.
It wasnt even that long ago.
Repeat after me: NOT A VIRUS. A trojan does not self-replicate, and they usually rely on social engineering to trick the user into installing it - as is the case here.
Do you think the average user cares about major nitpicking like that? It still harms your computer without your knowledge of it being there, to 99.99% of the population thats a virus. Thats like getting into hacking vs cracking, nobody cares what the technical differences are.
Not to mention when people talk about "viruses" on Windows they are actually talking about trojans.
Not to mention when people talk about "viruses" on Windows they are actually talking about trojans.
Except, a trojan REQUIRES user-interaction to become installed - especially on a Mac, where you have to enter your admin password.
In the Windows world, you can get a virus sent to you, installed, and passed on to all of your friends without ever noticing ... that's not nitpicking, that's a major difference.
Blah blah blah. Everyone likes to say "Macs are virus free! Yaaaay!" The fact is, Macs are not free from all malware.
Check it out for yourself and surf the ClamXav forums for which trojans are covered in their virus def updates.
Also, IMO, it falls on the socially responsible side to not pass on a virus to an unsuspecting Window's user.
Check it out for yourself and surf the ClamXav forums for which trojans are covered in their virus def updates.
Also, IMO, it falls on the socially responsible side to not pass on a virus to an unsuspecting Window's user.
Absolutely untrue. The only way to be "infected" by a trojan is for the user to download it, install it and enter their admin password to authorize it, so they have full knowledge of its presence. That's quite different from a virus, which can install itself without the user's involvement.
No one says that Macs are free from all malware. They only say (accurately) that they are free from VIRUSES. The biggest threat to Mac OS security is the user.
Adding to this ...
They may not know exactly what they have (malware), but they do know it is there ... and since you can't get a trojan from a legitimate source ... any educated user will know the risks.
But the user doesn't enter it in, knowing it's a trojan. The trojan doesn't show a message "Please type in your password to install this trojan to your computer." The user does not know he/she has anything harmful on their computer.