What is Digg?Sponsored by Sony Pictures
Adam Lambert sings the 2012 theme song, "Time for Miracles" view!
whowillsurvive2012.com - Watch the Adam Lambert music video for the 2012 theme song. See 2012, in theaters Nov 13
434 Comments
- Flyer00, on 12/02/2008, -63/+440Why? I thought Macs were immune to viruses? ;)
- CptnEvilStomper, on 12/02/2008, -9/+162I hate how the word "virus" is used so loosely. A virus copies itself to your hard drive without your knowledge, executes malicious code, and then usually tries to infect other computers. I'm sure one day someone will write a true virus for OS X, but that's not the main issue here. The issue is that people have become so trusting of OS X that they think no malicious code exists that can affect it. They put their user name and password in and install things without really knowing what they're installing, which is why we all had to endure the flood of stories about the dumbass people who installed a video codec from a porn site and then were surprised when they found out it wasn't legit.
At this point any anti-virus software you install will have a few hundred thousand Windows viruses (if it checks for those) and the few known Trojans for OS X (DNSChanger, Lamzev, etc.). You have to actually install these Trojans, though, or give someone physical access to your machine, along with your password. This is really just to cover Apple's ass in case somebody comes along with a lawsuit becomes they thought "virus" meant "all malicious code" and they installed one of those Trojans.
If you want to keep from getting a virus, just be smart. Turn off the "open safe files automatically" option if you use Safari. Install WinSwitch, set up a keyboard shortcut for locking your machine, and lock it whenever you leave your computer for any extended period of time. Set a firmware password, disable automatic login, and turn the firewall on. Keep up with security updates through Software Update. An AV application is just overkill and will only suck up system resources unnecessarily. - eggsovereasy, on 12/02/2008, -9/+125With the smugness of some Apple users I'm surprised someone hasn't done it just to make them shut up.
That being said, I probably won't be installing anti-virus on my Mac. - oblique63, on 12/02/2008, -7/+120Apple encouraging the use of non-proprietary software?
unpossible... - celotil, on 12/02/2008, -3/+94I have ClamXav installed and set to automatically scan any archived files I open.
Why?
Because even if my Mac can't catch a Windows-based Virus, it can still act like a carrier if I pass on that file to a Windows-using friend.
I used to run AV software on my old Linux-running machines as well. - bradleyjx, on 12/02/2008, -18/+98If you were making a virus, assuming entering into any OS would be equally as difficult/easy, would you choose the market share of Apple OS or Microsoft OS?
It's not that Macs are immune to viruses, it's more that Windows is such a large target. - foolishwolf, on 12/02/2008, -3/+77Any recommendations for the best Mac antivirus? I dont want a ***** system hog like Norton or some *****. That bitch turned my old pc upside down.
- zdiggler, on 12/02/2008, -0/+64And harder to remove that then a virus too!
- Snake732, on 12/05/2008, -7/+69iWorried for $399.99.
- ptFoe, on 12/02/2008, -6/+65they are if you put condom over your ipod
- skeletorcares, on 12/02/2008, -22/+73As a Mac tech, sitting jobless in my basement, for the past 15 years...
- zephc, on 12/02/2008, -3/+48ClamXav is probably the only good, non-invasive virus scanner for the Mac - it's based on the same code as ClamAV, an open source av toolkit
- aznhomig, on 12/02/2008, -1/+44Definitely implied by the Apple advertisements and even on their own website where they claimed their operating systems were inherently more resistant to virus attacks.
- Kwinti, on 12/02/2008, -7/+48I'll digg whatever I want. For you, sir, it is down.
- flgood, on 12/02/2008, -18/+57It's not that I don't like Macs. I don't like Mac users.
- NicoNicoNico, on 12/02/2008, -3/+38I really wish they would recommend something that isn't proprietary as well. There are plenty of options out there for free that work just fine for a Mac.
- identityxcrysis, on 12/02/2008, -6/+41Sorry, there's a lot more too it than just that.
If you don't go to websites that you don't know...your experience on the web must be pretty damn boring.
Following that, how did you come across digg? - kiensoy, on 12/02/2008, -5/+38I have never used an antivirus for Windows on my PC and I don't think I will ever need one for OSX on my PC either.
- rubaaan, on 12/02/2008, -20/+52time to start pulling some 'im a mac' ads eh?
- MWeather, on 12/02/2008, -5/+37"If you trick a user into running something though, it doesn't matter what platform they are on or how it functions architecturally, they are screwed either way."
Yeah, but usually only that user is screwed, not the OS. That's the difference between Mac/Linux and Windows. - 2h3px, on 12/02/2008, -9/+35This is just PR for Apple's new release, Pesticide.
- kurough, on 12/02/2008, -3/+27Especially the ones with Apple bumper stickers. What the hell is that all about?
- ChrisLondon, on 12/02/2008, -4/+27The madness of it. I decided to go to the McAfee online store to check the price of the downloadable anti-virus software for the MAC. I got the following message:
Your current browser is not supported.
To download and install McAfee software, your computer must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later.
To upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer, visit the Microsoft Web site at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads.
Check it yourself:
http://www.mcafee.com/us/small/free_scan/en_us/Not ... - inactive, on 12/02/2008, -12/+33They were all lies to begin with
- MWeather, on 12/02/2008, -8/+28The iPod is a hard drive with a wheel.
- TVarmy, on 12/02/2008, -5/+25Apple seems to be hedging their bets. It's great marketing that the Unix-style kernal and networking OSX is based on are both intrinsically more secure than Windows XP and Vista, and low market share also plays a large role in keeping the number of virii down. However, OSX has security holes, like every piece of software, and they probably don't get patched as fast as Ubuntu and other Linux distributions because of greater quality control.
Since OSX is thus vulnerable to a small degree, Apple is wise to change their marketing and thus dodge a class action lawsuit if a viable virus emerges for OSX. - rimantas, on 12/02/2008, -2/+22Then again, how does that explain Mac OS8/9 having viruses with the even smaller market share?
- inactive, on 12/02/2008, -4/+22no avast? http://www.avast.com/eng/buy-avast-antivirus-mac-e ...
- partysan, on 12/02/2008, -4/+22Maybe you should invest in a pair of non-slip gloves instead
- Innagadadavida, on 12/02/2008, -1/+18As opposed to digging themselves into a half?
- frieddonuts, on 12/02/2008, -4/+21Free software can still be proprietary.
- inactive, on 12/02/2008, -11/+28fan boys say it aint so
- ism70605, on 12/02/2008, -3/+19It is viruses, and not virii. Even if the word "virus" did follow latin grammar it would be viri.
- inactive, on 12/02/2008, -0/+16You would be surprised how many people can't figure out how to make a folder in mail...
- iofthestorm, on 12/02/2008, -1/+17Where where?
- inactive, on 12/02/2008, -0/+15Whether you're a PC or a Mac user, I think we can all come together and hate Norton equally.
- Hortnon, on 12/02/2008, -5/+19I would argue that Vista has embraced something similar security to Unix, and has as a result been largely unaffected. I haven't seen any "virus outbreaks" on Vista, have you?
- inactive, on 12/02/2008, -1/+15Well that strikes one company off the list.
- DigDugDigger, on 12/02/2008, -1/+15...and don't use Limewire. Seriously, every PC I ever had to fix due to malware... that green little Limewire icon was on the desktop. They probably saw something like "SUPER SECRET ____ SEX TAPE.exe" and decided to download it. Or downloaded a movie that needed some special "codec" to play.
- DiggUmFrog, on 12/02/2008, -1/+14There, there.
- Angostura, on 12/02/2008, -1/+14kirado4
No. A trojan is a piece of software that pretends to be a useful app.
A virus is a piece of software which attaches itself to other software. - tgunner, on 12/02/2008, -1/+14Here here.
- wukillabee, on 12/02/2008, -18/+30i can run xp without any antivirus/trojan software, actually you have to be pretty dumb to run any of that crap
-dont download .exe attachments
-dont go to websites you dont know
-use firefox + adblock plus
how hard is that? - inactive, on 12/02/2008, -10/+22I think its high time the Mac fanboys got a taste of real, hardcore computing. These pampered white Mac bitches ain't got no idea what it's like being born and raised in the Ghettos of Windows 98. Havin' to resort to crime just to get yo mammy a game of minesweeper.
- smmakira, on 12/02/2008, -0/+11As a Mac user this was a totally idiotic statement. I bite me thumb at thee sir!
Every operating system has more than one virus. While it is harder/ less likely to get a virus on a Mac, it's certainly not impossible.
I would only suggest Anti-virus measures on a Mac in a business environment. Otherwise you can just use your common sense to avoid them. - Soihavenoidea, on 12/02/2008, -6/+17Vista with Nod32 has been near invincible for me these days.
OSX, invincible since I've had it, if Nod32 had an equivalent on the OSX I would buy it in a heartbeat. - york2600, on 12/02/2008, -2/+13Unless I'm missing something ClamXav has no active scanning making it almost worthless. The same users dumb enough to get a virus will NEVER manually scan their computer
- inkswamp, on 12/02/2008, -13/+24For all you Apple haters dancing your little jig, slow down. Apple is doing this for 2 obvious reasons: 1) to encourage Mac users to not be instrumental in inadvertently passing along Windows viruses in attachments, which does happen, and 2) to reduce any legal liability Apple's ads will have opened them up to once an actual OS X virus does surface and damages the data of some unsuspecting users.
But you can put away the party favors. As of this moment, there are still no OS X viruses. Sorry. - raydeen, on 12/02/2008, -1/+12I've seen one really destructive Mac virus but it was pre OS X (took down the pre-press room for damn near 3 days). The best reason to have antivirus installed on your Mac is to prevent the possiblity that your machine will be a 'carrier'. You could theoretically pass on an infected file (Word doc, zip file, etc.) that you'd never know was infected but the poor guy sitting at his PC will find out the hard way. Just don't use Norton as it's just as annoying if not more so on a Mac. ClamAV is good for both Mac and Linux. I use all three platforms and do my best to run a tight ship.
- kronix2, on 12/02/2008, -0/+11I'm going to assume gnixon70 was being sarcastic.
"XP Antivirus 2009" aka "Windows Antivirus 2009" is a famous piece of malware which cons people into thinking they have viruses, in order to scare them into paying for their bogus product. It's a scam. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XP_Antivirus -
Show 51 - 100 of 443 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is