sujmano Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 its a good idea to get an anti-virus just in case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circaflex Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 I've always looked at it as nonsensical. Why should I buy a program thats supposed to detect something that isn't out there? oh dont be ignorant, there ARE mac viruses out in the wild. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Veteran Posted June 1, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 1, 2009 oh dont be ignorant, there ARE mac viruses out in the wild. I've spent nearly 5 years looking for one. Tried a couple hundred programs...I've yet to see proof of it that wasn't motivated by greed. Link me to one that isn't trying to sell something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatsniffer Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Macs are not immune to viruses, but you are less likey to get one on a mac because they aren't a prime target for hackers as they have less users around the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redvamp128 Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 (edited) I have asked around and was directed to these- here you go http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_computer_viruses Which Mac is vulnerable to some of them as well - However- 90% of them the following has to happen. Download onto machine- Switch to Root- Change File to Executable- Then Terminal them to run. Which for a normal user this would be a stopper- and when you are asked for sudo and root privileges which should throw up red flags. That and they have to be downloaded not from the main software source- (which is the stopper for most viruses) and people say what about IWORK and bots (the bad thing that some Mac machines get)--However If you bought an official version you would not have that. (if you ask me user stupidity or negligence there) The 10% that don't need that is http://math-www.uni-paderborn.de/~axel/bliss/ Which however- the kernel I have been told has been patched to block that. Here is a common article about why Linux (which to some extent a Mac) are not prone to Virus attacks- Now granted Spyware can be placed onto machine which can be gotten rid of unless you decide to run as Root all the time. http://librenix.com/?inode=21 Wine can get a virus- but a quick Ctl-alt-backspace then log back in and remove wine- delete the drive_C and reinstall wine and virus is gone- The reason for that is Wine does not run startup so the virus can't replicate as well as can't attach itself to linux native files only windows files. I Did not write any of this but was directed from Developers when I asked the same question about Viruses and Linux. Also the same people told me- That Linux by its design is not likely to have viruses (not saying they can't there and also not denying of Vulnerabilities). Because of Open Source- Where any programmer can look at the source before compiling or installing. Many eyes seeing the source and someone finds a flaw,bug,and vulnerability it gets fixed. Also people say what about places like SourceForge- Most of the time the code is examined by them before it is posted there and is tested in house before it is placed on the site and open to the public. Edited June 1, 2009 by redvamp128 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted June 1, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 1, 2009 ...Also the same people told me- That Linux by its design is not likely to have viruses (not saying they can't there and also not denying of Vulnerabilities). Because of Open Source- Where any programmer can look at the source before compiling or installing. Many eyes seeing the source and someone finds a flaw,bug,and vulnerability it gets fixed. ... Those people either don't know what they are saying on this point, or were mis-quoted somehow. Whether an app is Open Source or Proprietary has nothing to do with viruses. It sounds like they were talking about the code review process, and the advantages of Open Source there. But code reviews have nothing to do with viruses (which can run on well-written code, since an infection is mostly a matter of tricking a user to install a malicious app). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redvamp128 Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 (edited) That was something that somehow I got locked out of an edit last night and I gave up on the edit. They were talking about how people say "what if someone uploaded a virus to the main software source?" which for some reason that line didn't make the edit that I decided to change to bold" That line should have read like this-- I was trying to bold the What if someone uploaded a virus" but this was an edit started at 11:58 and ended at 00:03 but the whole line disappeared and was unable to go back and add it. Also the same people told me- about how people say "what if someone uploaded a virus to the main software source?" To which they replied that Linux by its design is not likely to have viruses added to the main repositories (not denying of Vulnerabilities). Because of Open Source- Where any programmer can look at the source before compiling or installing. Many eyes seeing the source and someone finds a flaw,bug,and vulnerability it gets fixed as well as code is scrutinized with all the changes to main repositories The above is how the line should have read- but the Forum For some reason locked me out of that change which is why line was incomplete and didn't make sense and seemed like a misquote. Edited June 1, 2009 by redvamp128 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zickar Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 SOme people are saying that Macs get viruses when the user downloads and installs pirated software like iWork and Photoshop and so on , But what's new about that , If users download legitimate software on Windows they won't get viruses either and if they didn't visit malacious sites they won't get viruses and if this and if that ... Bottom of the line is Macs and all apple related software are vulnerable just like Windows or Linux for that matter ... Its not degrading to them , the war is always on between Virus/Spyware etc ... makers and OS designers to design a safer secure OS, the faster any operating system responds to a Vulnerablity the better it is , In their defence the people at apple have released some quick patches for vulnerabilities Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thealexweb Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 An operating system's security is only as strong as it's user. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zickar Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 An operating system's security is only as strong as it's user. That's why its important to admit that Macs can get a virus or trojan at some point so users can be careful ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sujmano Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 An operating system's security is only as strong as it's user. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Kompressor Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 The safest OS is one that you build...and only you or your company have the code. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_Guy Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 do i need anti-virus software for my new mac? Apple has done their song and dance about Mac users not needing anti-virus for a long time. But then you should ask yourself: If that is true (And Apple never, ever lies, ever) why would they even make AV software for Mac? Hhhhhhhmmmmmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xenomorph Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Apple has done their song and dance about Mac users not needing anti-virus for a long time.But then you should ask yourself: If that is true (And Apple never, ever lies, ever) why would they even make AV software for Mac? Hhhhhhhmmmmmmm... While at the Mac store, I saw Norton Antivirus for Mac, and at LEAST three boxed "fixing" utilities for Macs (like "TuneUp Utilities" or something). Things that promised to fix slow performance, crashing, etc. Apple's own store sells products to fix issues Apple likes to pretend don't exist (at least, that is the impression I get from those "PC vs. Mac" commercials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Veteran Posted June 7, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 7, 2009 But then you should ask yourself: If that is true (And Apple never, ever lies, ever) why would they even make AV software for Mac?Hhhhhhhmmmmmmm... Excellent logic there (Y) If they make it, it must be something everyone needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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