do macs really need anti virus software
 

Hi I have just started a tafe course on learning to use a pc for work, and the teacher is telling me that I need anti virus and firewall for my mac.
I have a g4 desktop running 10.4.4 and I have not got a virus in over 4years, I would be really interested in what some other mac users think. I am a frequent user of limewire, I love it thanks everyone

Firewalls and anti spyware should be used .. realize that anyone can get access to your computer and Macs are vunerable to snoopers like any computers. As for viruses. I have yet to hear of a good argument for putting anti virus software in a mac. ...... but tomorrow, it may well be necessary

Do a google search for mac virus ... You won't find many hits:)

imho:)

G3 OSX10.3.9

OS X virus
 

To date there are no viruses for OS X. A firewall also is not necessary as Safari has it's own protection.
Jim

Likewise, I only have my firewall turned on occasionally. More-so if I'm visiting suspicious sites. As for AV, the AV programs for mac have 99.9% definitions for windows viruses & the others for pre-OSX viruses which are now so so old. I've never come across a mac virus on the net but did from fellow students at university whilst I was using OS 9. Nice student prank huh! lol :D :rolleyes:

virus on osx
 

Actually there are at least two known viruses known to attack OSX. (the first found on Feb. 16 2006)

http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/...16005401.shtml

– Apple Computer claims that there are 4 known viruses.

http://www.securemac.com/

– Other sources claim over 63 known viruses for OSX.

Here you'll find a small list of known viruses: http://www.viruslist.com/en/find?sea...ds=osx&x=0&y=0


"As of 2006, there are relatively few security exploits [4] targeting Mac OS X (a Unix-based operating system); the known vulnerabilities fall under the classifications of worms and Trojans. The number of viruses for the older Apple operating systems, known as Mac OS Classic, varies greatly from source to source, with Apple stating that there are only four known viruses, and independent sources stating there are as many as 63 viruses. It is safe to say that Macs are less likely to be exploited due to their secure Unix base, and because a Mac-specific virus could only infect a small proportion of computers (making the effort less desirable). Virus vulnerability between Macs and Windows was/is a chief catalyst of the platform wars between Apple Computer and Microsoft." — Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus

I use ClamXav. It's licensed under the GNU Public License and can be downloaded at http://www.clamxav.com/

Also go into Safari's preferences and make sure you have the option to "open safe files" unchecked. And make sure that you check the "get info" on every file you download before you launch and make sure that the description matches the file extension. If "get info" tells you it's a Unix Executable File but the extension says something else (like .jpg or .mp3) toss it in the trash and do a "secure empty trash." And by the way, use your firewall. By default in osx (who knows why) the firewall is disabled. I would expect more viruses to attack OSX in the future. I'm sure this is only the beginning. Hope all this helps ;-)

I would like to see an actual admission by Apple that there are OSX viruses. Not by security/virus companies who "rumour" such things to obtain business or create such viruses/security cracks for the same purpose. Not one of those articles refering to viruses is by apple. They are all by security/AV businesses. So what is the objective of such businesses? To make money!!! How to create customers? Create rumours or actual problems themselves.

I heard many years ago that in the Philippines, the Norton branch there paid young experts to create viruses so fixes for them could be made.

I know one of the viruses for a mac. It is called mosaic. It ruins your computer. It isn't spreaded anymore I don't think.

I Use Norton Antivirus For Mac And It Works Beautifully Detecting
Virusus In Files I Download For My Bootcamp Windows Xp Sp2 Side Of My Imac5,1. And Its Free Search: Mac Norton Antivirus.