Greenfinch Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Hello. I know nothing about Mac's so here's a simple question: do Mac computers get viruses / spyware, etc., when on the internet? I have heard many times that they do not. Please give me the definitive answer. If they do, what software do you recommend to counter it? Thanks, G. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzie's Soliloquy Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 PLEASE do not put "Mac's" when you mean the plural rather than the possessive, it annoys a great deal of people out there... and yes, Macs do get viruses, but on no scale compared to Windows machines Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753102 Share on other sites More sharing options...
2LMan Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 There are some viruses for Mac's, but nothing you can just "catch" while surfing the internet. For the few Mac viruses out there, there are thousands more for Windows. But no, virus software is not necessary. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753103 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 so, surfing the internet is danger free...sounds too good to be true! (from a PC user). Finally, let me get this straight; I need to use NO protection software when using MacOS X? [i'm having trouble getting my head around this concept!!!!!!!!!!!] Thanks, G. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753878 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_muad_dib Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 i guess there is nav for macos Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753888 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 what do you use? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753889 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_muad_dib Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 no antivirus here, it's useless for now, all the "virus" you can get are bad apps asking for an admin pass to be installed Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753890 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 do you use any protection software? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753893 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_muad_dib Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 my brain Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753895 Share on other sites More sharing options...
^_^ Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 how about rootkit? does that consider dangerous? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headrush69 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 do you use any protection software? My guess is 90%+ of the people don't. Remember, just because a Mac may not be affected by most viruses, doesn't mean it can't relay them onto Windows users. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753910 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Simple question: do you use any protection software? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753911 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_muad_dib Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain what kind of protection do you want?! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753913 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 my brain is asking your brain for an answer... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753917 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_muad_dib Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 i use nothing.... i thought it was clear...lol Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753928 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 many thanks Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-753929 Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur7 Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 PLEASE do not put "Mac's" when you mean the plural rather than the possessive, it annoys a great deal of people out there...and yes, Macs do get viruses, but on no scale compared to Windows machines I would be very gratefull if you could tell me how you had your system QUAD booted.. i mean which programs help you to do it and how you use them!!! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-822670 Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeamp Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Quit surfing porn sites and downloading illegal copies of retail software and you may never end up with a virus on your "Mac's." Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-822734 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzie's Soliloquy Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 The only third party tool I used was EasyBCD from Neosoft, other than that it's all possible just by installing to different drives. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-822750 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cringemaster Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Only used Symantec Antivirus back in the system 7 days. I quit using after that. I think i remember reading there were something like a hundred viruses for mac os classic, and like 40 something thousand for windows at the time like 8 years ago. Any current viruses for Mac OS X would require you to run a program and input an administrator password to install. Even rootkits require a password. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-822828 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detosx Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Don't install pirated software, ever. It's a no brainer. Most of the people I speak with here have bought Leopard, along with iLife and iWork, both of which are cheap (and so they should be, with the free and wonderful openoffice biting at their heels). If you want a free ride, Ubuntu 8.04 liveCD is a great way of trying Linux without installing anything. You'll be amazed at how slick and easy to use it is. openSUSE 11 is perhaps even more impressive. Either way, safe surf as best you can and avoid porn sites. A windows user in 2008 is not a comfortable thing to be. That said, if you have a great deal of time to waste on things other than focusing on what you want to actually do with your computer, windows is the way to go. Pest control on windows computers seems to be a full time hobby, for some. I suspect that those of my friends who have had their credit card details lifted by a key logger, possibly were careless about where their software came from or where they surfed. I do want to get into the habit of reimaging my hard drives, periodically, but no, I don't use antivirus software, though for a time I ran Clam on my Mac Mini. It never found anything. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-822897 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Espionage724 Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I use no antivirus protection at all. If something were to "happen" to my OS X install, I would just restore a disc image or use Time Machine. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-823235 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevan Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I use no antivirus protection at all. If something were to "happen" to my OS X install, I would just restore a disc image or use Time Machine. Indeed. Macs generally don't get viruses, doesn't mean there are some out there. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-823301 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ale666 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 last year we develope DEVOTIONEX it is a remote admin tool, (hidden), can infect Win,mac, and Linux ( the same version ) is not three different releases. can be embedded in a web, with any flash movie to distract, it is made in java we never release it to public ... it was an experiment. is now ( 14 month later) undetected, and don't need interaction with the user, just a java sign. so, it is posible, and your brain, your common sense, is not a realy good answer... we can use tunneling to made the reverse connection under any open port in your PC including 80 so, we are all nude. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-827242 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Felstead Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 last year we develope DEVOTIONEXit is a remote admin tool, (hidden), can infect Win,mac, and Linux ( the same version ) is not three different releases. can be embedded in a web, with any flash movie to distract, it is made in java we never release it to public ... it was an experiment. is now ( 14 month later) undetected, and don't need interaction with the user, just a java sign. so, it is posible, and your brain, your common sense, is not a realy good answer... we can use tunneling to made the reverse connection under any open port in your PC including 80 so, we are all nude. Even if it's embedded unless you're giving java and flash permission to access pretty much everything and trust any java certificate I doubt it would infect a system, personally I don't give any Java applet permission to run without authorization. As long as you keep your system secure you can avoid things like this without the need for security software. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/105936-do-macs-get-viruses/#findComment-827248 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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