Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Who's using AntiVirus software

EmperorDarius said:
I don't know, I never played with the settings a lot. I think it's designed to be a totally automatic thing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats the impression I got. Thanks.



As for ClamXAV - it's works great for picking up threats, but doesn't have definitions for any OS X malware, so it can't detect them.

The only exception is the OSX.RSPlug.A trojan, which is from late 2007. Versions B, C, D, and E are not detected.
 
For security, I would say Mac OS X is safe through obscurity more than anything else. If Macs keep increasing in market share, one day there will be one MASSIVE virus/trojen/malware/security issue that'll make every Windows user laugh themselves silly.

Plus, Apple suck at releasing security updates. They are slower than both most Linux distros and Microsoft from time to knowing about an issue to releasing a fix for it.

If market share increases, it's not a matter of if, but when ;)
 
Diaresi said:
For security, I would say Mac OS X is safe through obscurity more than anything else. If Macs keep increasing in market share, one day there will be one MASSIVE virus/trojen/malware/security issue that'll make every Windows user laugh themselves silly.

Plus, Apple suck at releasing security updates. They are slower than both most Linux distros and Microsoft from time to knowing about an issue to releasing a fix for it.

If market share increases, it's not a matter of if, but when ;)
Click to expand...

No, market share has absolutely nothing to do with it, but please try again.
 
Diaresi said:
If market share increases, it's not a matter of if, but when ;)
Click to expand...
Macs have greater market share than ever before, yet the number of viruses in the wild that affect Mac OS X is..... zero! There were a small number of viruses in the past that affected earlier versions, but not anymore. The market share theory is completely baseless.
 
chatoyer said:
Sometimes it's not that simple. I use in a Mac in a corporate environment that is predominantly Windoze. My IT support guys are adamant that, in 2009, they want to put some form of anti-V on this system because corporate policy states that all machines must have virus protection. (Corporate policy also states lots of other things re: not giving users administrative/root access, etc., by our IT guys have been exceptionally nice with me and let me do my own thing with this Mac.)

So, I'm staring at the reality that sometime this year I'll need to put something on, and everyone acknowledges that it will predominantly be done to protect Windoze users from getting Windoze viri passed along by me, the Mac user. It's silly, don't get me wrong, but corporate policy sometimes exists to protect the lowest common denominator.
Click to expand...

If you want to argue, you can call on OSX's sandboxing, and all the other built in security featueres, it's already got anti-virus ;)

Or get iAntivirus it's free :)
 
With market share comes the ability to make money (from writing malware/selling it), from money comes the notion to not disclose security threats.

We all know, there are plenty of security issues.

Plus, bigger market means some people enjoy just screwing things up for fun.

If you think your Mac is more secure than Windows, that quite possibly is true (but still up for discussion). If you think that a Mac can't be screwed around with left, right and centre...you will be proved wrong, eventually.

ggjstudios said:
Macs have greater market share than ever before, yet the number of viruses in the wild that affect Mac OS X is..... zero! There were a small number of viruses in the past that affected earlier versions, but not anymore. The market share theory is completely baseless.
Click to expand...

You've been watching Steve Jobs' keynotes haven't you. They always give the figures in terms of market growth, never in raw market share. Windows still has over 90% - not much point going after OS X which has increased about 2-3% recently as it's still a tiny amount.
 
Diaresi said:
If you think your Mac is more secure than Windows, that quite possibly is true (but still up for discussion). If you think that a Mac can't be screwed around with left, right and centre...you will be proved wrong, eventually.
Click to expand...
As long as a user is reasonably careful what they download and install, Macs are quite safe. The biggest risk is trojan horses, which can be avoided by not installing and entering your admin password. Mac OS X is very secure.... it's only a user's inappropriate activities that make it otherwise.
 
Diaresi said:
You've been watching Steve Jobs' keynotes haven't you. They always give the figures in terms of market growth, never in raw market share. Windows still has over 90% - not much point going after OS X which has increased about 2-3% recently as it's still a tiny amount.
Click to expand...

You've NOT been paying attention to the news, haven't you?

Windows is below 89% for the first time in a long time.
OS X just topped 10%

And you're ignoring the fact that you have no idea why market share does not equate to viruses on OS X.
 
No need for antivirus on Mac OS X :)

But you can't run windows without it... I'm using Avira on Windows 7 testing machine..
 
ggjstudios said:
As long as a user is reasonably careful what they download and install... it's only a user's inappropriate activities that make it otherwise.
Click to expand...

How to you think Windows gets infected 90% of the time?


Tallest Skil said:
You've NOT been paying attention to the news, haven't you?

Windows is below 89% for the first time in a long time.
OS X just topped 10%

And you're ignoring the fact that you have no idea why market share does not equate to viruses on OS X.
Click to expand...

Really? My mistake. I thought I read some figures but they were including Safari on the iPhone and such.

Please, tell me why it doesn't :)
 
Diaresi said:
You've been watching Steve Jobs' keynotes haven't you.
Click to expand...
Actually, I've never seen one of Jobs' keynotes. I don't rely on Apple or Microsoft for market share data. Only independent, unbiased firms are qualified to give accurate data without "spinning" it to their advantage. Get your head out of the sand!
 

Attachments

  • Picture 3.jpg
    Picture 3.jpg
    211.4 KB · Views: 83
I was implying that it was 90% user stupidity :p I've never had malware just install itself, then again I haven't had malware on a Windows computer ever. If you use Firefox and make sure Windows is patched fully then IMO all you're left with is user stupidity.

You can tell I didn't get a Mac because I thought it was any more secure ;)
 
There is ONE minor reason why you might need an anti-virus. Bootcamp/parallels with windows running on the computer. There is currently a very bad virus on the loose that effects windows computers. And you can get it via a flash drive if it has been used on a infected computer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back