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Anti Virus?

AV or No AV

  • Yes i run an AV app

    Votes: 38 45.8%

  • Nope, going commando

    Votes: 45 54.2%
  • Total voters
    83
W

wonder-boy

n00b
Joined
Jan 19, 2011
Messages
8
Hey guys,

probably been said before but thought id see who all runs an AV product on the mac or what?

I am using Kaspersky AV just now, but is it really needed?
 
Kapersky's probably a decent choice if you're looking to avoid passing along any Windows viruses throughout your network or otherwise. Otherwise, I consider it a gargantuan waste of money.

If you haven't done so already, enable the software firewall (even if you're behind a hardware firewall, the software firewall will afford you some additional control), pay attention to administrator prompts and download only software from developers you trust. This is really all you need to do.
 
You don’t need an antivirus app on OS X unless you do at least one of these two:

1. Your Mac is part of a mixed-OS LAN, or;
2. You commonly and routinely share files with Windows users.

In which case, having an antivirus app to scan those files as received and sent is a courtesy gesture. Those Windows users should have their own AV setup, and scanning the files they send you is simply another layer of redundancy.

Otherwise, you do not need an antivirus app on OS X. There are no OS X viruses in the wild to scan for.
 
I run eset. saw they had a mac version and figured "why the hell not?" and its been running pretty smoothly. Havenet seen a single slow down since installation.
 
Don't run AV at home, but do run it on my work computer (mainly to ensure I don't forward an office document with some virus).
 
How about non-virus security? Programs like Little Snitch will help you watch data being sent out by apps and webpages.
 
It's a waste of time.

I scan files I received from Windows users, only if I'll be sending them to other Windows users. But other than that, it makes no sense to scan.
 
You do realize that apple users who do banking business are at risk? There have been many who fell to identity theft due of trojans on macs.

Oh, and before you start crying bs and post proof and all the normal apple crap, my sister in law got her imac infected last summer, her bank account accessed and funds taken, her facebook infected with spam posts...etc...
Another friend at work, an apple fanatic, had his identity stolen twice and still claims it's not a virus on his imac, so he still does not run AV.

You want verification links, all it takes is a short google search filter for the last year:

http://www.dailytech.com/New+Trojan...+Via+Social+Networking+Sites/article20008.htm
 
Last edited:
BBA said:
You do realize that apple users who do banking business are at risk? There have been many who fell to identity theft due of trojans on macs.
Click to expand...

Yes, OS X is awash in a flood of Trojan Horses. Over 30 million OS X users have had their identities stolen. :rolleyes:

One more time: virus scanners on OS X scan for Windows viruses.
 
Terpfen said:
Yes, OS X is awash in a flood of Trojan Horses. Over 30 million OS X users have had their identities stolen. :rolleyes:

One more time: virus scanners on OS X scan for Windows viruses.
Click to expand...

Ahh...another disbeliever. Sorry about the root you probably don't know about.
 
BBA said:
,,,my sister in law got her imac infected last summer, her bank account accessed and funds taken, her facebook infected with spam posts...etc...
Another friend at work, an apple fanatic, had his identity stolen twice and still claims it's not a virus on his imac, so he still does not run AV...
Click to expand...

So your sister clicked on a facebook link she should have avoided, and somehow that is related to her Mac? It sounds like your sister needs some education on how to use a the internet.

And if there are no documented viruses for OS X, why would you ever run an antivirus application? Or are you one of those people that post things without backing them up, and then say "just google everything and you'll see"? Since you are making the claim, YOU show us.
 
No documented virus's? I guess if you don't include trojans that install rootkits as virus's.

trojan.osx.boonana.a

And that's just one that targets MAC's. There are many more I'll leave up to you to ignore or not.
 
santaliqueur said:
Since you are making the claim, YOU show us.
Click to expand...

I showed you in TWO posts above, but, you must have ignored both links while thinking you were actually right.

Look, it's not my bag of tricks to convince you, it's your mac, your data...you manage it anyway you feel appropriate. Over and out.
 
BBA said:
No documented virus's? I guess if you don't include trojans that install rootkits as virus's.
Click to expand...
A virus, by definition, is a malicious self-replicating application. Trojans are not self-replicating.
 
santaliqueur said:
Trojans are not viruses. Educate yourself before you post.
Click to expand...

Well, then, I guess you need 'anti trojan' software and not 'anti virus'... let's see...where do you get anti trojan software for macs...hmm, in anti virus software I think.

But, you are technically correct, except for the fact that trojan's deploy virus's (and worse, root kits).
 
phide said:
A virus, by definition, is a malicious self-replicating application. Trojans are not self-replicating.
Click to expand...

Right, trojans can deploy virus's that deploy trojans...it's all symantics.
Good job of deflecting the thread topic instead of looking at the reality.
 
everyone knows there are things that attack macs. the gravy is in the NUMBER of things out there
 
BBA said:
Well, then, I guess you need 'anti trojan' software and not 'anti virus'... let's see...where do you get anti trojan software for macs...hmm, in anti virus software I think.

But, you are technically correct, except for the fact that trojan's deploy virus's (and worse, root kits).
Click to expand...

I'm technically correct: the best kind of correct.
 
BBA said:
Yes but technically, you're stupid for thinking you do not need antivirus software.
Click to expand...

Really? Care to share evidence of ANY viruses for OS X? Hint: trojans and spyware are not viruses.

Waiting for evidence. Again.
 
santaliqueur said:
Really? Care to share evidence of ANY viruses for OS X? Hint: trojans and spyware are not viruses.

Waiting for evidence. Again.
Click to expand...

nVir

Most Mac users take security too lightly. In fact, most are quite proud of the fact that they don't run any security at all

That's an open door, at some point it will be exploited...........
 
phide said:
A virus, by definition, is a malicious self-replicating application. Trojans are not self-replicating.
Click to expand...

A virus is a piece of software that attaches itself to another program (the host) then uses the ability of the host program to self-replicate
 
santaliqueur said:
Really? Care to share evidence of ANY viruses for OS X? Hint: trojans and spyware are not viruses.

Waiting for evidence. Again.
Click to expand...

One was posted by Spoony, you probably overlooked it in your quest to be technically correct.


Here are a few:
2010:
Finally, this year saw the introduction of the OSX/Pinhead or HellRTS virus was spread disguised as iPhoto. The virus would open up a back door to allow a hacker to remotely execute malicious code on the computer.
Click to expand...
http://www.neowin.net/news/a-history-of-viruses-on-the-mac

Here is a list of more:
http://www.datarecoverymac.org/mac-virus-data-corruption-to-data-recovery.php

You're argument effectively holds no water as there are viruses for MACs and as well, the only way to prevent trojan damage is also this: Use antivirus software. Hence, the need for antivirus on MAC. You can get all technically jumbo'd up if you like, the fact is, you are giving/taking bad advice if you refuse to acknolwedge you are at greater risk without running AV software.

MAC does not offer a trip to la-la land, it's security is worse than windows.
 
Last edited:
Spooony said:
A virus is a piece of software that attaches itself to another program (the host) then uses the ability of the host program to self-replicate
Click to expand...
Right.

Spooony said:
Most Mac users take security too lightly. In fact, most are quite proud of the fact that they don't run any security at all
Click to expand...
All Mac users run "security" because OS X has built-in security, including malware prevention, malicious code execution prevention systems, selective privilege escalation and the software firewall. Just like Windows. I always tell new Mac users to enable the software firewall the first time they start their machines even if they're behind a hardware firewall and in no way am I "proud" of the fact that the software firewall is disabled by default.

Do most users need to run a resident anti-virus? No. For some it may be of benefit, as Terpfen explained earlier. For most, it is no less pointless than running an anti-virus in UNIX/Linux.
 
I'm not saying anything about the Mac Os or want to compare it to a other platform.
Malicious malware like file viruses that destroys a pc in a matter of hours are created by these blokes that say YOUR VULNERABLE buy our Internet security.

Trojans that's stealthy, not having a big payload and steal your personal info are created by the blokes who lives in some basement or a stuffy room.

Dunno but that's what I think
 
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