Will I need AV software

[Moz4]

I'm going to get myself an iMac when Leopard comes out and will be loading Windows XP onto it so I can use Windows apps on it.

Question is, will my Mac be vulnerable to virusses just like a PC because it's running Windows?

I currently run Norton on my PC, and it's due to expire - I don't want to buy another year's worth if I'm not going to need it when I get my iMac.

 

[Allotriophagy]

I have used 95, 98, 2000, XP...never had a virus, ever. Or malware. Or adware. Or anything like that. I didn't use any AV or firewall software.

If you feel you can refrain from clicking on every single pop-up you see, opening all your email attachments with a big grin on your face and blindly installing every program you come across, you should be okay. Just stay up to date with patches and hide behind your router.

Save yourself some money.

 

[gnasher729]

I'm going to get myself an iMac when Leopard comes out and will be loading Windows XP onto it so I can use Windows apps on it.

Question is, will my Mac be vulnerable to virusses just like a PC because it's running Windows?

I currently run Norton on my PC, and it's due to expire - I don't want to buy another year's worth if I'm not going to need it when I get my iMac.

It depends. If Windows XP is connected to the Internet, it is vulnerable, whether it is running on Apple hardware or on anyone else's hardware. If you run it under Parallels, then you can completely prevent any internet access, and it wouldn't be vulnerable. Of course you can't use Windows software for Internet access, reading mail and so on if you do that.

Also, with Parallels, you can backup your complete Windows setup. If you do that, then even if you catch a virus, you just go back to the backup copy without the virus.

 

[Sesshi]

If you feel you can refrain from clicking on every single pop-up you see, opening all your email attachments with a big grin on your face and blindly installing every program you come across, you should be okay.

Clearly this is what anyone who switches to Mac and goes 'the scales have fallen from my eyes!!!' does all day

I run without an AV scanner on my personal machines, only monitoring / port blocking / buffer overflow prevention tools - and like you I have never caught a virus / adware, etc.

Moz4, if you need antivirus get yourself a free antivirus like AVG. Don't bother with Norton - extreme bloatware for people who got it by default, or for corporate users who want 'hands off' management and don't care about the performance impacts.

 

[jdechko]

Clearly this is what anyone who switches to Mac and goes 'the scales have fallen from my eyes!!!' does.

Get yourself a free antivirus like AVG. Don't bother with Norton - extreme bloatware for people who got it by default, or for corporate users who want 'hands off' management and don't care about the performance impacts.

I vote for AVG too. If you're running Windows, you're vulnerable --you don't even necessarily have to be connected to the internet to catch a virus. Documents, pictures, videos, and any type of file on a CD could potentially contain a virus. Not trying to scare you, but you have to know your sources. If you use Windows enough, it would be a smart idea to have at least AVG installed. Dont visit any questionable sites or download and install questionable programs and you should be fine as far as adware and spyware are concerned.

 

[72930]

I have used 95, 98, 2000, XP...never had a virus, ever. Or malware. Or adware. Or anything like that. I didn't use any AV or firewall software.

Have you ever run a virus scanner afterwards, IMO there is a big possibility that you had malware you did not know about...

 

[zero2dash]

I 3rd the AVG vote; best free antivirus on the planet.

If you want to pay for it - get Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10 (lifetime subscription/free updates).

Standard user Norton products come with a 1 year subscription/updates, anything McAfee puts out is garbage. I've seen McAfee hose so many computers and require them to be reformatted that I've lost count.

AVG is the best option unless you want to spend money, and really - you don't have to.

I also recommend you install Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot - Search & Destroy, and SpywareBlaster and keep all three updated. I'd also recommend updating to Internet Explorer 7. Using these three products has kept every Windows machine I've had anything to do with spyware and virus free.

 

[apfhex]

Windows Defender also (supposedly) takes care of spyware.

Better than updating to IE7, use Firefox. IE7 is still sucky IE.

 

[Allotriophagy]

Have you ever run a virus scanner afterwards, IMO there is a big possibility that you had malware you did not know about...

I checked now and again with various free products. Nothing. The most that ever happened was AdAware barfed at my cookies.

Seriously, the larger part of Windows' virus/malware problems don't come from it being an inherently bad system but because of slightly dim users who really cannot resist having ten search toolbars in IE and cool animated pointers and free screensavers and HOT PORN NOW and megafun icon packs for MSN Messenger and opening holidaypics.pif on emails from someone called jbnfubf45@fhnufhu.com. Things like worms are obviously different but still...

Malware doesn't just magically appear "on your Windows from the internets".