getting a mac-do I need AV?

[Paul Watt]

Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a mac, do i need to worry about anti-virus software?
I seem to recall there was a story about a virus for macs, but I cant seem
to find it on the interweb.
If theres a group FAQ that covers this, then please accept my apologies and
kindly point me in the right direction.

 

[kurt wismer]

Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a mac, do i need to worry about anti-virus software?
I seem to recall there was a story about a virus for macs, but I cant seem
to find it on the interweb.

how can you not find it? googling 'mac virus' brings back lots of hits...

of course there are very few viruses for mac's os x operating system but
the number isn't going to get smaller, only larger...

If theres a group FAQ that covers this, then please accept my apologies and
kindly point me in the right direction.

faqs.org has faqs for lots and lots of groups... unfortunately the faq
hasn't been updated for some time... you may find
http://www.macvirus.org/ useful though... maybe...

 

[Ron Lopshire]

how can you not find it? googling 'mac virus' brings back lots of hits...

of course there are very few viruses for mac's os x operating system but
the number isn't going to get smaller, only larger...


faqs.org has faqs for lots and lots of groups... unfortunately the faq
hasn't been updated for some time... you may find
http://www.macvirus.org/ useful though... maybe...

At this time, I probably would not consider a resident AV app for a
Mac. On-line or on-demand scanning maybe. This issue is probably the
OS X kernel. Once the idiots start getting serious about hacking into
the Unix kernel, it might become more of an issue. More info from KL:

Malware Evolution: MacOS X Vulnerabilities 2005 - 2006

http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=191968025

Quote: "Whether the proof of concept code covered in this article will
be used for financial gain in the near future remains to be seen.
History, however, shows that once vulnerabilties are identified,
malware writers are never far behind."

Kaspersky Security Bulletin, January - June 2006: Malware for non
Win32 platforms

http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=198977709

Just like those who use Windows, the most important thing a Mac user
can do is keep his or her OS up-to-date. Sign up with Apple for
Automatic Updates.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106704

And unlike the rest of us, you won't have to wait until the second
Tuesday. [g]

Ron

 

[Kurt Ullman]

At this time, I probably would not consider a resident AV app for a
Mac. On-line or on-demand scanning maybe. This issue is probably the
OS X kernel. Once the idiots start getting serious about hacking into
the Unix kernel, it might become more of an issue. More info from KL:

Malware Evolution: MacOS X Vulnerabilities 2005 - 2006

http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=191968025

Some of this will depend on how you are going to use the Mac. too. The
consensus on the Mac use groups is if you have a newer generation Intel
Mac and want to run on Windows through things like Boot Camp, then you
need to have regular AV protection on the Windows "side".

 

[kurt wismer]

At this time, I probably would not consider a resident AV app for a Mac.
On-line or on-demand scanning maybe.

the reason on-access scanning exists is primarily that people can't
remember to check everything with an on-demand scanner first... this
problem will be compounded by mac users' unfamiliarity with the concept
of scanning all incoming materials...

This issue is probably the OS X
kernel. Once the idiots start getting serious about hacking into the
Unix kernel, it might become more of an issue. More info from KL:

Malware Evolution: MacOS X Vulnerabilities 2005 - 2006

http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=191968025

Quote: "Whether the proof of concept code covered in this article will
be used for financial gain in the near future remains to be seen.
History, however, shows that once vulnerabilties are identified, malware
writers are never far behind."

a little out of date now that there is osx adware (they're already
trying for financial gain)...

 

[Ewan Hoozarmi]

Hi,
I'm thinking of getting a mac, do i need to worry about anti-virus software?
I seem to recall there was a story about a virus for macs, but I cant seem
to find it on the interweb.
If theres a group FAQ that covers this, then please accept my apologies and
kindly point me in the right direction.

I've seen precisely 1 Mac with a Mac virus in 10 years. I've
seen 2 with Word macro viruses though. And we don't have many
Macs at our site.
If it was me, I'd get some antivirus, just in case.