Bought My 1st Macbook

MJB3648 · 08-01-2008, 10:14 AM

I finally broke down and bought me my 1st macbook or should I say that I have made the switch.

Anyway, For anyone out there that owns a Mac. Do you have any Anti-virus software on your system and if so, what is a good recommendation?

I have noticed that Macs don't have any anti-virus software on them and trying to find software is like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

I've been looking around on the net and there seems to be a lot of mixed responses regarding this topic. Some people say you don't need AV software because of the way Mac's OS is written or something like that and because the threat to Macs is very minimal. Then on the other hand, you have people saying that the threat is there and you should be protected. To be honest, I feel kind of insecure surfing the web knowing that I don't have any AV software on my Mac. Especially if I need to do some online banking or shopping.

Anyone with a Mac, I would like to hear your suggestions or thoughts on this subject. Thanks for reading.

SP1966 · 08-01-2008, 10:18 AM

I have had a MacBook Pro for a couple years now, I have never installed any anti-virus software. There have yet to be any self propagating viruses for OSX.

The worst thing that can happen currently, and I have not actually heard of anyone do it, but if you download a Trojan and activate it you could find your personal files deleted. Use Time Machine to back up and you don't really have to worry about it.

Good luck, you will love it. I was a long time Apple hater but now I have seen the light. It just works!!!

freebirdmac · 08-01-2008, 11:17 AM

In the 14 years I've had a Mac I've never installed anti-virus software. You're better off securing your network, particularly if it's wireless and then just keeping up with the security software updates. Software update will tell you what if any updates are available.

Enjoy it!

Coco9 · 08-01-2008, 12:19 PM

Congrats on your switch! I'm a Mac lover and I'm so glad I made the switch 2 years ago. The graphics are amazing! I didn't put any anti-virus softwear ethier. On the other hand, I still have a PC for my boys and have to make sure I always have protective softwear there since those are viruses magnets.

I have a MacBook Pro and a 20" iMac

Once you go Mac you'll never go back lol!

chodan9 · 08-01-2008, 01:10 PM

while the mac OS hasn't been traditionally a target for virus writers, the fact that its market share is growing means that they may soon have a big target on there back for those unscrupulous individuals. why write a virus for %2 of the market? but let them hit 10 or 20 percent and you can bet there will be more. Thats what I think anyway, I personally think not doing AV is folly even on a mac.

bhaputi · 08-01-2008, 01:19 PM

In before the delete.....

freebirdmac · 08-01-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chodan9

while the mac OS hasn't been traditionally a target for virus writers, the fact that its market share is growing means that they may soon have a big target on there back for those unscrupulous individuals. why write a virus for %2 of the market? but let them hit 10 or 20 percent and you can bet there will be more. Thats what I think anyway, I personally think not doing AV is folly even on a mac.

That's what everyone is expecting, but it hasn't happened yet. VP is only good when it's properly updated for the latest threats. Since there aren't any, what is it going to protect against? The only concept viruses I've seen so far have been developed by the AV software vendors. Talk about creating a need!

It won't hurt to use Norton AV, but it's not something that one need run out and buy.

SP1966 · 08-01-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chodan9

while the mac OS hasn't been traditionally a target for virus writers, the fact that its market share is growing means that they may soon have a big target on there back for those unscrupulous individuals. why write a virus for %2 of the market? but let them hit 10 or 20 percent and you can bet there will be more. Thats what I think anyway, I personally think not doing AV is folly even on a mac.

OS X is Unix based, thus it has had some of the best security work done on it. The reason Windows is so easy to write a virus for is that everything is tightly integrated into the os. Hell, they have IE so tightly wound into the underlying system that web pages can cause havok on the system. Not so with OS X.

Not saying it is perfect, but it is as close as you can get at the moment, short of Linux.

chodan9 · 08-01-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

That's what everyone is expecting, but it hasn't happened yet. VP is only good when it's properly updated for the latest threats. Since there aren't any, what is it going to protect against? The only concept viruses I've seen so far have been developed by the AV software vendors. Talk about creating a need!

It won't hurt to use Norton AV, but it's not something that one need run out and buy.

true,
may not be a big need now, but I think people will be flocking to the mac os in the next few years,
what you said earlier about securing your environment is the most important part though, no matter what your running.

BrotherWolf · 08-01-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJB3648

I finally broke down and bought me my 1st macbook or should I say that I have made the switch.

Anyway, For anyone out there that owns a Mac. Do you have any Anti-virus software on your system and if so, what is a good recommendation?

I have noticed that Macs don't have any anti-virus software on them and trying to find software is like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

I've been looking around on the net and there seems to be a lot of mixed responses regarding this topic. Some people say you don't need AV software because of the way Mac's OS is written or something like that and because the threat to Macs is very minimal. Then on the other hand, you have people saying that the threat is there and you should be protected. To be honest, I feel kind of insecure surfing the web knowing that I don't have any AV software on my Mac. Especially if I need to do some online banking or shopping.

Anyone with a Mac, I would like to hear your suggestions or thoughts on this subject. Thanks for reading.

Congratulations .. I have been using Macs since the Apple II but also PC's
I do have a virus software but it is not necessary, as of today there is 1 virus for OSX and it can't be run unless you make it run , the chance of you getting infected is 0 .
But just so you feel better here's the link for the best OSx virus software out there
http://www.clamxav.com/
there are no trojans and no key loggers for osx online banking with a Mac is safer than you physically going to the bank ...

BrotherWolf · 08-01-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chodan9

while the mac OS hasn't been traditionally a target for virus writers, the fact that its market share is growing means that they may soon have a big target on there back for those unscrupulous individuals. why write a virus for %2 of the market? but let them hit 10 or 20 percent and you can bet there will be more. Thats what I think anyway, I personally think not doing AV is folly even on a mac.

I have been hearing this since the year 2000 when OSX was released to developers ..
it's absolutely impossible to catch a trojan or a virus if you are running OSX
if you have set up a password .
as you use it and get updates you will notice osx is going to ask you
for the password, in other words any software that is supposed to run osx will ask you first, make sure it's what it is and click ok or reject .. that simple. Apple was smart enough to have that feature turned on by default while MS for example has similar but not so great working feature turned off by default in XP and Vista .... go figure why

read this you will find it humorous
http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/...p/t-26730.html

it explains what the one and only virus for the Mac does to your machine

BB_Surf · 08-01-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJB3648

Do you have any Anti-virus software on your system and if so, what is a good recommendation?

You do not need anti-virus software for Mac.

move along and enjoy your new toy. I have 2 Macbook Pro's.

raybbaby · 08-01-2008, 02:29 PM

Hmm, I bought a PC new last year, was hesitant to make the jump into the apple stuff. I regret it now, though I'm not sure I should. Maybe with this new computer not being outdated, would be a good time to try a new one? What do you think, is one better than the other?

BrotherWolf · 08-01-2008, 02:30 PM

Sorry I apologize there is a terrible virus that can run on your Mac if you use
boot camp.. it's called Vista

LOL

BB_Surf · 08-01-2008, 02:30 PM

I recommend everyone buy a mac. Really, you can't go wrong. There's so much software these days, you don't have to worry about email or documents.

chodan9 · 08-01-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrotherWolf

it's absolutely impossible to catch a trojan or a virus if you are running OSX
if you have set up a password

umm, I highly doubt that, improbable maybe,

all I know is I get a lot of cert advisories about OS vulnerabilities, and I get plenty on windows for sure, I also get them on the many flavors of Linux, UNIX, cisco IOS, and also for all versions of MAC OS.
the nature of computing means all OS's are vulnerable, defiantly some more than others.

BrotherWolf · 08-01-2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raybbaby

Hmm, I bought a PC new last year, was hesitant to make the jump into the apple stuff. I regret it now, though I'm not sure I should. Maybe with this new computer not being outdated, would be a good time to try a new one? What do you think, is one better than the other?

It depends on who you ask , if you ask a Mac user, whether someone like me who has been using Macs for more than a decade or a new switcher
most likely they will tell you it's worth it .. If you ask a Pc user who has never used a Mac but maybe played around with one at the Apple store, they will tell you there is no reason to switch or even that they prefer the PC...
Since today the Mac is the most versatile PC out there, I mean you can run any OS you like Linux,Vista,XP, OSx.. If the higher price doesn't bother you
Macs are better machines .
Apple does everything with style, there is a special something about what they design it's kind of like buying a German car and comparing it to a Korean one, they both drive and take you places
but the German car is special because of the details and performance the same with a Mac .. little things like the light gently pulsating when the Mac is asleep, the feel of the keyboard the magnetic power cord even the freaking box it came in is a work of art.. very hard to explain everything though :-)

BrotherWolf · 08-01-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chodan9

umm, I highly doubt that, improbable maybe,

all I know is I get a lot of cert advisories about OS vulnerabilities, and I get plenty on windows for sure, I also get them on the many flavors of Linux, UNIX, cisco IOS, and also for all versions of MAC OS.
the nature of computing means all OS's are vulnerable, defiantly some more than others.

I didn't say the OS isn't vulnerable but it requires the user to let a virus run on a Mac.. and remember we are still talking about a virus that doesn't exist..

if you are talking about network vulnerabilities , those are not virii and usually Apple fix them in 24 hours or less and the most they cause is a little data overflowing on a OSX server..

One thing though..it's good to have ClamX for OSx if anything because it will scan your Mac and find literally dozens of infected files
for PC and sometimes your Mac can pass them on, not always though but it's possible so especially in a mixed office environment
it's best to scan all computers

cast iron shore · 08-01-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrotherWolf

I do have a virus software but it is not necessary, as of today there is 1 virus for OSX and it can't be run unless you make it run , the chance of you getting infected is 0 .
But just so you feel better here's the link for the best OSx virus software out there
http://www.clamxav.com/
there are no trojans and no key loggers for osx online banking with a Mac is safer than you physically going to the bank ...

x2. I have been a Mac user for 18 years. There is no need for an antivirus software, but if you want one, clamxav is the one to get. It's better than any $70 Norton program and it's free.

cast iron shore · 08-01-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raybbaby

Hmm, I bought a PC new last year, was hesitant to make the jump into the apple stuff. I regret it now, though I'm not sure I should. Maybe with this new computer not being outdated, would be a good time to try a new one? What do you think, is one better than the other?

I believe that a person should try something they decide they don't like it. I believe the same thing about the whole Mac vs. PC debate. In my experience I have found that most PC users who argue against the Mac have not owned one, or used one extensively. A friend of mine used to tell me how stupid Macs were until he got sick of his PC crashing. He bought a MacBook and is one of the loudest (and most in-your-face) Mac advocates out there (hi Greg!).

If you don't know someone with a Mac, it might be a good idea to go to an Apple store and use one.

darrenism · 08-01-2008, 06:11 PM

My Macbook is on par with my comfiest pair of blue boxers, the difference being that I clean my Macbook from time to time.

MJB3648 · 08-01-2008, 06:49 PM

Would like to thank everyone that has responded to my post and brotherwolf, thanks for the links. I appreciate it.

I'm really excited about having my new mac but I need to learn how to use it now. It's definitely going to be a learning experience here.

I guess the reason I switched was because of Microsoft. With them eventually having everyone switching over to Vista in the near future. I also understand that with Vista you can't just use any software with it unless it has some kind of license agreement with Microsoft. I could rant and rave at why I hate Microsoft but I won't and I'm sure you Mac users out there know what I'm talking about to.

If anybody else wants to add anything to this thread, please, I'd like to hear from you.

Thanks again everyone

BrotherWolf · 08-01-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJB3648

Would like to thank everyone that has responded to my post and brotherwolf, thanks for the links. I appreciate it.

I'm really excited about having my new mac but I need to learn how to use it now. It's definitely going to be a learning experience here.

I guess the reason I switched was because of Microsoft. With them eventually having everyone switching over to Vista in the near future. I also understand that with Vista you can't just use any software with it unless it has some kind of license agreement with Microsoft. I could rant and rave at why I hate Microsoft but I won't and I'm sure you Mac users out there know what I'm talking about to.

If anybody else wants to add anything to this thread, please, I'd like to hear from you.

Thanks again everyone

Thanks .. if you need anything just ask

Microsoft frustrated a lot of people with Vista, it was a disaster and there is nothing in sight for another 2 years... probably more knowing MS