I searched the forums first and didn't find anything that matched my question. So, I was wondering what is the best virus and spyware protection you can get for a Mac? Any of it free?
I searched the forums first and didn't find anything that matched my question. So, I was wondering what is the best virus and spyware protection you can get for a Mac? Any of it free?
There is no spyware on the Mac. Neither are there any MacOS X-specific viruses. I recommend using antiviral software as a measure of good citizenship, but it will not directly benefit you or your computer. I use Norton Antivirus for the Macintosh 10. There are competing commercial antivirus utilities and at least one free one, IIRC. Check VersionTracker.com and MacUpdate.com for all available options.
Microsoft and the Windows fanboys attribute it to "security by obscurity." The truth is that MacOS X has a superior security model. This issue gets discussed endlessly here and elsewhere. Search this forum if you want to read the arguments in other threads.
Not a virus but a trojan (not self-propogating through any particular vulnerability). You still have to execute it yourself.
Well, it had to happen someday ...
FWIW, there was a similar scare a couple of years ago. Apple responded by incorporating a warning whenever an application is downloaded. MacOS X also warns the user whenever an application is launched for the first time. If it is real, this little ditty cannot execute without user permission.
According to Macworld LINK, a new vulnerability in Safari has been discovered. The recent trend of discovering vulnerabilities is beginning to make me question just how secure of an operating system Mac OS X is. How dedicated is Apple to fixing these issues? Seems to me that we ought to be expecting a security update that fixes these issues.
This is a true vulnerability, although smart users like myself have "Open 'safe' files..." already turned off. But I expect disguised shell scripts will not count as safe files in the future. In fact that mechanism needs to be bullet proof.
Meanwhile, stay clear of any Leopard screenshots your buddies send you via IM.
And of course there's always the general word of caution of be careful what you click on and when you input your admin password.
I ran Allume's SpyAlert and it came up with 8 items, all in the Adobe Acrobat folder. I decided what the heck and that I would reinstall from the master CD. When I went to delete the files, an error popped up requesting my password. This is true for all files in the Acrobat folder, which is not locked.
All other Adobe folders allow me to delete at will. What's up?
Comments
The only free anti virus for OS X that I am aware of is
ClamXav
It can be found by searching the following places
Google
VersionTracker
MacUpdate
I hope this helps
Rob 8)
Originally posted by StarkWeather
I searched the forums first and didn't find anything that matched my question. So, I was wondering what is the best virus and spyware protection you can get for a Mac? Any of it free?
There is no spyware on the Mac. Neither are there any MacOS X-specific viruses. I recommend using antiviral software as a measure of good citizenship, but it will not directly benefit you or your computer. I use Norton Antivirus for the Macintosh 10. There are competing commercial antivirus utilities and at least one free one, IIRC. Check VersionTracker.com and MacUpdate.com for all available options.
Originally posted by StarkWeather
how is it that Macs can't get spyware?
Microsoft and the Windows fanboys attribute it to "security by obscurity." The truth is that MacOS X has a superior security model. This issue gets discussed endlessly here and elsewhere. Search this forum if you want to read the arguments in other threads.
Originally posted by 1337_5L4Xx0R
Er, on that note, there appears to be a Mac OS X virus floating around the web, disguised as Leopard screenshots.
Not a virus but a trojan (not self-propogating through any particular vulnerability). You still have to execute it yourself.
Well, it had to happen someday ...
Originally posted by BigBlue
Not a virus but a trojan (not self-propogating through any particular vulnerability). You still have to execute it yourself.
Well, it had to happen someday ...
FWIW, there was a similar scare a couple of years ago. Apple responded by incorporating a warning whenever an application is downloaded. MacOS X also warns the user whenever an application is launched for the first time. If it is real, this little ditty cannot execute without user permission.
this is why i dont want people switching and the mac platform getting much attention
is that greedy of me?
maybe but i dont care.
STOP REPORTING ABOUT APPLE!!
Meanwhile, stay clear of any Leopard screenshots your buddies send you via IM.
And of course there's always the general word of caution of be careful what you click on and when you input your admin password.
All other Adobe folders allow me to delete at will. What's up?
They are in a folder name ENU:
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