Mac antivirus

[frostie89]

im looking for an antivirus for mac os x , preferably free. i found one called clamXAV, is it any good?
thanks

 

[taper]

You're in luck. I don't know anything about Macs, but this article came up on slashdot today. Looks like ClamAV is pretty decent.

 

[Toxitalk]

im looking for an antivirus for mac os x , preferably free. i found one called clamXAV, is it any good?
thanks

As long as you have your mac setup right, you should not need a anti virus.

 

[taper]

As long as you have your windows box set up right, you should not need an anti-virus, but it's still a good idea to have one. Despite the raving of the Mac fanboys, OSX is not 100% secure, and there is (limited, I'll admit) malware out there. The worst part is that when a highly contagious virus does come out, very few Mac users will be prepared for it.

 

[Toxitalk]

As long as you have your windows box set up right, you should not need an anti-virus, but it's still a good idea to have one. Despite the raving of the Mac fanboys, OSX is not 100% secure, and there is (limited, I'll admit) malware out there. The worst part is that when a highly contagious virus does come out, very few Mac users will be prepared for it.

Macs dont work on the os level in the same way as windows, they are more akin to linux. It is almost impossible for a virus to auto infect the system with out some help from the user (this is known as a Trojan).

I have come up with an idea for the ultimate virus though...

 

[taper]

Macs dont work on the os level in the same way as windows, they are more akin to linux.

Actually, they're both descended from UNIX, which was one of the first OS's to be hit by viruses. Being different from Windows does not make you immune.

It is almost impossible for a virus to auto infect the system with out some help from the user (this is known as a Trojan).

Probably not impossible, just hasn't happened yet on the current OSX release. A future version or patch could have a major vulnerability, which is why installing a (free!) antivirus now is a good idea. I am 100% certain it's only a matter of time before something nasty comes out.

I have come up with an idea for the ultimate virus though...

Here's mine:
I don't know if it's even physically possible, but I would write something that would slam the head of the hard drive against the platter, creating pits in a certain pattern. I'm thinking something along the lines of the HA HA guy.

 

[dutchking]

Macs don't need or have anti-virus, the hardware IS anti-virus, unless your running windows, then you don't need to get anti-virus. I don't even think there is anti-virus out there for mac users who for some reason would want it.

 

[taper]

Macs don't need or have anti-virus, the hardware IS anti-virus, unless your running windows, then you don't need to get anti-virus. I don't even think there is anti-virus out there for mac users who for some reason would want it.

How many time do I have to say this? NO! While it is harder for malware to infect Macs, it is not impossible. Inqtana, Leap, and even the old Melissa worm to name a few. Norton, MacAfee, ClamXAV are just three Mac AV products available and some are sold in Apple stores, so you're wrong there too.

 

[dutchking]

How many time do I have to say this? NO! While it is harder for malware to infect Macs, it is not impossible. Inqtana, Leap, and even the old Melissa worm to name a few. Norton, MacAfee, ClamXAV are just three Mac AV products available and some are sold in Apple stores, so you're wrong there too.

I didn't say it was impossible for macs to get viruses. I said that I wasn't aware of any sort of software out there for mac antivirus. And I also said that the CHANCES of macs getting viruses are very slim, so I don't think it would be necessary to get mac antivirus.