mac anti virus software

[cowasaki]

I wouldn't bother with anti-virus on a Mac. The biggest threat is a trojan and the only two actual trojans that ended up out in the wild have both been built into stolen Apple software placed on a torrent site. The reality is that if you don't download stolen software or run something just because a web site tells you to then you are not going to have an issue. Both the torrents which were released were blocked quite quickly and Mac Defender is basically another piece of software which jumps on people who are happy to believe what they see.

If someone sent you a hammer in the post with a note saying "please smash your front window with this" would you ?

 

[dejongj]

Not only that but macs can harbour windows malware helping spread it

And that is the only reason I am running Sophos...I really am not worries about the Mac's. But the Mac's can pass it on to PC's, and I would be very embarrassed if my company is seen to help spread viruses. So anti-virus on the mail servers, IPS/IDS on the network, and unfortunately sophos on the clients as well...

PS. Antivirus of course doesn't stop malware or trick ware or any kind of ... ware. That is just a case of Pibkac...and as it is pibkac I make certain the machines are locked down including my own and I don't operate it with elevated privileges assigned to myself. Basic and simple precaution.

 

[Musicman]

And that is the only reason I am running Sophos...I really am not worries about the Mac's. But the Mac's can pass it on to PC's, and I would be very embarrassed if my company is seen to help spread viruses. So anti-virus on the mail servers, IPS/IDS on the network, and unfortunately sophos on the clients as well...

ditto. I've been using ClamXAV on our users' Macs at work for several years now. It also checks the mail server.

Word Macro viruses and Windows trojans are most of what it finds.

Can't say I've noticed any particular performance impact either.

 

[cowasaki]

I don't actually run virus protection on my Windows 7 box because it only runs 3/4 pieces of software which are all commercial packages installed from their discs and I don't browse the internet or use it for email.

I would install anti virus on it and to be honest probably will be do eventually (not sure which is considered the best free package nowadays to be honest).

I am also going to install Windows 7 on my current 17" Macbook Pro when I get my new one (again for the same packages - Electronic design, configuration, programming and IC programming).

I end up "repairing" lots of computers which have "been attacked by a virus" but virtually ALL of them have actually been hit by a trojan/other malware. People see a window on the screen saying "Windows virus scanner has detected a virus you must install this" and just install some random junk. It is funny when these appear on the Mac

 

[swiftflo]

As I understand it a virus resides in the BIOS of a PC, but a mac does not have BIOS so no threat.

 

[cowasaki]

As I understand it a virus resides in the BIOS of a PC, but a mac does not have BIOS so no threat.

No a virus is a self perpetuating program.

It basically runs then transfers itself automatically to some other media which will then automatically run on the next machine. In the earlier days of, mainly, DOS the virus would copy itself to the BOOT SECTOR of a disc. Then when the disc was inserted it would copy itself to the computer and then copy itself to each disc you then inserted. Later they linked to other programs and transferred via other methods.

Copying itself to the BIOS is not really a normal option. Viruses could theoretically work under most OSes it is just that certain OSes are likely more prone to it. UNIX and hence linux and MacOS are more secure but not immune.

 

[WillW]

As I understand it a virus resides in the BIOS of a PC, but a mac does not have BIOS so no threat.

There is no current malware in the wild that resides in the BIOS. Not all PC's have a BIOS either.

Viruses could theoretically work under most OSes it is just that certain OSes are likely more prone to it. UNIX and hence linux and MacOS are more secure but not immune.

Less targeted, not more secure.

 

[cowasaki]

Less targeted, not more secure.

More secure and therefore less targeted.


Lots of Windows users say this saying that viruses are aimed at windows because that is 80odd percent of the users but why would you write a virus to be one of 300000 when you could be one of one on the mac even with its smaller user base.

I use all three oses and was a windows developer so I have no axe to grind etc.

 

[whiteflyer]

There is a near 100% way of stopping all viruses Trojans and malware getting on to your computer. Find the little lead that plugs into the telephone socket from your modem/router and pull it out

Personally I use ClamXav, never had a hit yet, (wouldn't mind finding a safe way to test if it works) and don't see any performance drop on my iMac.

 

[WillW]

More secure and therefore less targeted.

I'm definitely not trying to get involved in a Mac v PC debate, but macs are not more secure merely less targetted. A consequence is that it's safer to use a Mac to look at porn, but they are not inherently more secure.

Lots of Windows users say this saying that viruses are aimed at windows because that is 80odd percent of the users but why would you write a virus to be one of 300000 when you could be one of one on the mac even with its smaller user base.

Distributing malware is a business, it's not as simple as releasing it onto the internet to compete with all other malware. The latest variants of big players get spread widely very quickly.

Say that there is a 10% chance for a user to be infected - you make money for every user infected, and around 1% of infected users will buy the fake AV program you've put on their system. More users = more money, but the 10% is the same. Would you prefer to target Macs or PCs?

To be honest, if I had a Mac I'm not sure if I would run AV constantly. I would probably end up just doing a scan once a month, but mac malware is something to be aware of especially as it starts to become more prominent. If the Mac user base continues to increase, more malware will come and it will be more advanced.

The myth that Macs are inherently more secure is.... well a myth.

 

[cowasaki]

I'm definitely not trying to get involved in a Mac v PC debate, but macs are not more secure merely less targetted. A consequence is that it's safer to use a Mac to look at porn, but they ......

Windows 7 is more secure than previous versions and unix/macos is also as secure. Using all three gives a real incite into the issues.

We'll just agree to disagree on the specifics.

Like I said, I don't currently run av on any of the three but use macos for my normal desktop currently.

 

[CT]

I run Mackeeper on my Mac desktop and it occasionally finds the odd tracking cookie, so it's probably a bit belt and braces, but better safe than sorry.

 

[swiftflo]

No a virus is a self perpetuating program.

It basically runs then transfers itself automatically to some other media which will then automatically run on the next machine. In the earlier days of, mainly, DOS the virus would copy itself to the BOOT SECTOR of a disc. Then when the disc was inserted it would copy itself to the computer and then copy itself to each disc you then inserted. Later they linked to other programs and transferred via other methods.

Copying itself to the BIOS is not really a normal option. Viruses could theoretically work under most OSes it is just that certain OSes are likely more prone to it. UNIX and hence linux and MacOS are more secure but not immune.

I guess I stand corrected.:razz:

 

[big soft moose]

one thing i found out the other day (on prerusing the lloyds bank internet banking teeny print) is that if you do suffer an internet loss your bank/credit card will expect you to be using AV software as part of the 'take all reasonable precautions' criteria in their teeny print, and if you arent (because for instance you wrongly assumed your OS of choice was invulnerable to spyware) then they won't indemnify you for loss.

Therefore my feeling about AV on linux /Mac etc is that although you probably won't need it , is it worth the risk of not having it in case you're wrong

IMO using any computer on the net with no AV is about as bright as having casual sex without a condom - you might not catch anything on any given occasion, but who wants the consequences if they do ?

 

[Sebastian]

IMO using any computer on the net with no AV is about as bright as having casual sex without a condom - you might not catch anything on any given occasion, but who wants the consequences if they do ?

He's rrrrrrright!

 

[Martyn...]

I run Mackeeper on my Mac desktop and it occasionally finds the odd tracking cookie, so it's probably a bit belt and braces, but better safe than sorry.

I have that Cedric, nice program ... it has some useful applications

 

[swiftflo]

You DON'T have a virus on your Mac!
If you want to know why this is true, read on.

Staff edit: I've removed your post and replaced it with a link to Apple's site, the original text was copyright.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4650

 

[swiftflo]

Sorry Staff but this was not from the Apple Site but from "MacRumors" - Mac Virus/Malware info.

 

[cowasaki]

Sorry Staff but this was not from the Apple Site but from "MacRumors" - Mac Virus/Malware info.

They've nicked it from Apples site but if they haven't we can't copy chunks of text from someone's site. If there is something relevant then a link is better but even then we can't always have it.

 

[swiftflo]

They've nicked it from Apples site but if they haven't we can't copy chunks of text from someone's site. If there is something relevant then a link is better but even then we can't always have it.

Okay.

 

[cowasaki]

If people have missed it here is a link to my Top Tips thread.. <HERE>