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Do I need Anti virus for my Mac?
- Thread starter Kinkokoro
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"More chances of winning the lotto than getting a virus on your mac"
I use the quotation marks because this was told to me by an applecare representative.
Always trust the applecare representative lol
That's pretty amazing guys, thanks.
and please search the forums before posting. please people!The OS is much more securely coded, and as there are less macs than Windows computers, there is more incentive to make a Windows virus
There are any number of theories, the most quoted of which is that it is because OS X has such a small marketshare, and if it was as big as Windows, it would have as many viruses.
A strong argument against that is this. Let's say for sake of argument, that there are only 2 choices, Windows and OS X. OS X has 10% of the market share, and Windows has 90%. Now, let's say that last year there were 90 unique viruses found that infect Windows machines. You know how many OS X viruses there were? 0. Let's increase that number to 114,000 for Windows (I am fairly certain that is the actual number for last year). OS X... 0.
So one would think that even with their reduced market share, they would at least get some viruses right?
The actual reason has quite a bit to do with how OS X handles things as compared to Windows, and the steps built into the OS for security and the like.
Generally speaking, if you actually use common sense you can avoid all viruses and 99% of the spyware out there. Sure, sometimes you might get unlucky, but for the most part, just keep your head about you.
I'm not sure if you were intending "were" to be your operative word... This is from a year-and-a-half ago. https://www.macrumors.com/2006/02/16/the-first-mac-os-x-virus-a-new-os-x-trojan/
Still, I think A.V. is pretty senseless on OS X at this point. Just follow good practices while on the internet (downloading, clicking, etc.)
And as stupid as this sounds, AntiVirus and a Firewall are two completely different concepts; You NEED a firewall. Period. It's amazing how many people are confused that there is a difference.
There isn't much need for virus software, but that's no reason to be complacent. Some of your files may be infected with Windows viruses and if you send them to friends or family with Windows machines they can become infected because of you. I run ClamXAV as my virus software. I don't run it often, but it's there just in case.
Well you are right, I had forgotten all about the trojan on OS X (which i don't think is in the wild anymore) that required the user to authenticate, and then spreads itself to all your AIM contacts so that it can then (if they are on OS X) spread itself to all their AIM contacts.... if they authenticate.
Windows: 114,000
OS X: 1ish
The latest issue of Mac Format has an article titled, Mac users face virus onslaught.
I think that as the Mac becomes more popular it is going to attract more and more people who create viruses and other problems.
Porting Safari to the PC was probably not a good idea. And consider that some disgruntled iPhone customer, angry about the recent pricing fiasco and having the knowledge to attack the Mac platform, might decide to try his hand at attacking the Mac OS. Heck, the very sight of so many Mac users acting so complacent about the invulnerability of the Mac OS could be seen as a challenge by some intrepid virus writer.
I wouldn't be so sure that Mac users have nothing to worry about on the virus attacks front anymore.
I think that as the Mac becomes more popular it is going to attract more and more people who create viruses and other problems.
Porting Safari to the PC was probably not a good idea. And consider that some disgruntled iPhone customer, angry about the recent pricing fiasco and having the knowledge to attack the Mac platform, might decide to try his hand at attacking the Mac OS. Heck, the very sight of so many Mac users acting so complacent about the invulnerability of the Mac OS could be seen as a challenge by some intrepid virus writer.
I wouldn't be so sure that Mac users have nothing to worry about on the virus attacks front anymore.
Nearly everyone says none is needed, but if you feel happier install one ..
p.s.
Norton tends to slow your system down a tad ..
p.s.
Norton tends to slow your system down a tad ..
i dont want to scan my files for windows viruses because if they do get sent to a windows computer, all the more reason for them to get a mac.
on an old windows computer i had a few years back, we had someone come in to clean it and it had like 20000 viruses!! the most the tech guy had ever seen
on an old windows computer i had a few years back, we had someone come in to clean it and it had like 20000 viruses!! the most the tech guy had ever seen
Touche!
Luis Ortega said:
It's my (unprofessional) opinion that systems derived on Unix (BSD in particular) are inherently more immune to viruses, at least compared to OS 9 and before and especially Windows.
But magazine articles titled "Mac users probably won't get as many viruses" just doesn't sell now does it? We've been hearing the "onslaught" will be coming for years, and as TheStu pointed out, it's questionable if they even can be classified as a virus to begin with.
Do you need it for your mac? Not at this time. But it might be useful to scan email for coworkers before passing it along - never know when something like that'll happen
Though all AV's for mac do more harm then good at the moment so they're best to be avoided (AFAIK a least)
Though all AV's for mac do more harm then good at the moment so they're best to be avoided (AFAIK a least)
There is a major flaw with the theory that as Macs get more popular, they will become more prone to viruses. As we know, OS X is built upon the Berkley Software Distribution (Free BSD for some), and that has been around since the late 70's. There is NO known security break on that OS since it came about.
Furthermore, if it was that simple- that no one cares enough to make a virus for the Mac, there still would be someone that wants to be the first. Think about it- would you rather be the hacker that made the 114,983th virus to infiltrate XP, or would you rather be the one guy that managed to bring OS X down? Seriously- it has a lot to do with permissions, admin vs root privilidges, and the way programs are handled.
Furthermore, if it was that simple- that no one cares enough to make a virus for the Mac, there still would be someone that wants to be the first. Think about it- would you rather be the hacker that made the 114,983th virus to infiltrate XP, or would you rather be the one guy that managed to bring OS X down? Seriously- it has a lot to do with permissions, admin vs root privilidges, and the way programs are handled.
Uh huh...
http://www.freebsd.org/security/
http://www.google.com/search?q=freebsd+security+advisory
And on a sidenote, one of the most "secure" OSs I know of (openbsd) advertises that it's only had two remote vulnerabilities in 12 years or so (in a default install)...sooo...
Plus there's plenty of room for holes in 3rd party applications...which OS X comes with a LOT of.
I think you mean NetBSD, not OpenBSD. And even they have had a few, albeit a small number, of vulnerabilities. There is no such thing as a perfect secure OS, only varying degrees of acceptably secure. OS X is on the higher end of the spectrum...
But remote vulnerabilities and viruses are different beasts...
At the risk of going way OT, I think virus makers look for "maximum damage" and their best bet is going with the 90% marketshare platform, not the 8%. But I disagree that this is the reason we don't see more OS X viruses; like you say, it has a lot to do with security and privileges.
Of course no one will find out unless the malware crowd tears us a new one like they did with Windows... Even MS has done a good PR job with "It's not us, it's those damn hackers!" They even seem to have spun their security flaws of the past as a way to sell Vista... Sorry, but why would I ever trust you again, Microsoft?