Anti Virus software, if so can you tell me what I need please?..........Thanks

Edited 17 August, 200916 yr by ag.morley

I think the general consensus is no Andy, there are some products available but not too many.

I think the general consensus is no Andy, there are some products available but not too many.

Thanks Stu........I'll sleep soundly Tonight

How web savvy are you? I've never had to rely on anti virus software, but I know plenty of people who you couldn't trust with a link that says: "Do NOT click me!"

How web savvy are you? I've never had to rely on anti virus software, but I know plenty of people who you couldn't trust with a link that says: "Do NOT click me!"

Come on then.......Someone click it.....

DoH Rick Roll'd

Most Apple users from old will say no you dont.

HOWEVER, given the popularity of the iphone, many scammer/hackers are now paying much more attention to attacking apple products.

Once ypu were safe, but dont count on it anymore!

i've never had any virus problems on my mac but i've heard that there are a few about

there are a few products out there.

most of the viruses i've heard about for the mac are either not running amok in the wild or rely quite heavily on end user stupidity to click on a link and then enter their password in the system admin box you get when you install on a mac....

I could be wrong of course.

Touch wood, almost two years of Mac ownership, no problems at all.

If you're the complacent type (like most Mac owners) that thinks "no one makes viri for Macs" then sure go with out, but I've never taken you as that type

This is worth putting on:

ClamXav

It lets you scan files on your machine and detect things that would be aimed at both yourself or windows users. IIRC it's not doing permanant background scans, just daily or weekly scans, on demand scans and mail downloads.

As stated, it's harder to make something nasty for a UNIX like system due to more enforced user permissions, but there are people actively targeting OS X due to it's popularity.

Come on then.......Someone click it.....

Temptation got the better of me and I clicked It and I have been seriously affected.......off for a lie down

Thanks Quinten, looks like a week off work after that.........

Temptation got the better of me and I clicked It and I have been seriously affected.......off for a lie down

Thanks Quinten, looks like a week off work after that.........

Glad I could help

My advice is now to get some anti-virus software

I wouldn't bother with anti-virus s/w.

I would follow one of the many online guides to securing your Mac though. These tend to suggest things like setting up a non-Admin account for daily use, regular software updates, etc.

I have had Mac's for about 9yrs, never used anti-virus & never had a problem but I am very careful with my firewall/ports/account settings etc.

Thing is you make the for 9 years comment but one thing has changed massivly in the last 3 or so.

They are popular and so worth spending time and resource targeting for nasty software.

Anyone that says any system doesn't need virus protection is a fool!

That said, if you dont surf "adult" websites, and dont download from P2P sources, then your pretty safe on any platform.

Thing is you make the for 9 years comment but one thing has changed massivly in the last 3 or so.

They are popular and so worth spending time and resource targeting for nasty software.

I don't think Mac's are that much more popular now than they were 9yrs ago. Installed user base is still the same 3-10% (depending on who you believe). I'll admit they are possibly more fashionable than they were 9yrs ago. At least I don't get spat at in the street anymore

Anyone that says any system doesn't need virus protection is a fool!.

Thanks!

But I didn't say Mac's didn't need virus protection, just that it probably wasn't worth installing anti-virus software.

The protection comes from installing the latest s/w updates, ensuring your system is set-up properly & not downloading/clicking/Admin passwording things you shouldn't.

As I understand it anti-virus works from definitions (updated regularly) & by restricting things that act as viruses would act. The first part is pretty irrelevant as there aren't any viruses in the wild to have definitions for & the second part can be a major pain. How many questions here refer to disabling or changing AV s/w in order to get something else to work.

I am not smug or complacent (nice generalisation Babs). It's not a Mac vs Windows thing either. When the time comes I'll use AV s/w on my Mac (or switch to something better). I just don't think that time has arrived yet & feel the o/p is better off without it at the mo'

That said, if you dont surf "adult" websites, and dont download from P2P sources, then your pretty safe on any platform.

Imho, that's a pretty naive view. If you're connected to the internet, you're potentially at risk from worms and other nasties that capitalise on vulnerabilities in the OS. Having a good firewall and keeping on top of updates will lower the risk significantly though.

In answer to the O/P, here's an interesting recent article on the subject....

http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/01/spread_of_downa.html;jsessionid=H3DFJF0P1RIWRQE1GHOSKHWATMY32JVN

Chris

If you look at apples volume sales you will see they are much higher than they were a few years back.

The upturn started with the plastic CRT iMacs and has gone up since.

Having a good firewall and keeping on top of updates will lower the risk significantly though......

.....here's an interesting recent article on the subject....

Chris

Talking of firewalls; Steve Gibson of Security Now swears by hardware firewalls & recommends getting a good router in place between your PC & the internet. (episode 3, near the bottom of the page.)

As to the Mac trojan; would AV software pick that up?

From the article:

"The moral? Buy your software' date=' patch, and download trials from legitimate Web sites."[/quote']

Edited 22 August, 200916 yr by The Ors
Added info

I don't think Mac's are that much more popular now than they were 9yrs ago. Installed user base is still the same 3-10% (depending on who you believe). I'll admit they are possibly more fashionable than they were 9yrs ago. At least I don't get spat at in the street anymore :)'

Yes but 10% of user 9 years ago and 10% today would be totally different numbers of users -the latter being higher.

Remember as well the iphone uses a version of the same OS, and due to popularity Scammers are now turning their attentions to apple products.

Another Mac Virus Alert. Real This Time? | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

Macintosh Security Site - Security for Mac Platform MacOS X Security Firewalls Desktop Network Security secure mac os x Virus Encrpytion PGP macosx

Apple Acknowledges Malware

The first iPhone virus is discovered - Mac Forums

I just don't think that time has arrived yet...

Looks like Apple doesn't agree with me! (Kinda)

Snow Leopard Antimalware Feature Gaining Publicity [updated] - Mac Rumors