Anti-virus Protection for MAC computers

TheMercenary · 08-11-2008, 09:05 AM

Anyone have one? Any recommendations? I am taking my son to college on Wed. He got a brand new Mac computer for school and the school recommended AVG software. Well guess what, the majority of all the puters they sold at the school (where bought ours on orientation day) were Mac's. And AVG does not have software for Mac's, only for Windows based puters. So looking on line there was not alot of stuff out there.

Given this: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

I would like to get something befoe he leaves to protect the puter. He is not real puter savy.

Help me out.

bluecuracao · 08-11-2008, 10:23 AM

Norton is an old standby.

But I believe Apple says that OSX is secure enough not to need antivirus software. Personally, I don't have it installed on any of the 3 Macs (one is on a PC network) that I use, and I haven't experienced or been alerted to any virus-related problems.

Clodfobble · 08-11-2008, 10:33 AM

In ten years of using Macs for audio work, I've never needed any antivirus software, ever. After having to completely reinstall my mother's Windows OS for the third time due to viruses and spyware, I strongly encouraged her to get a Mac instead, and she hasn't had a problem since.

TheMercenary · 08-11-2008, 10:50 AM

Thanks. When we bought our oldest Dau her Mac Laptop (they all get one for HS graduation) we just assumed that she got anti-virus software. She is now a senior in college. She just told me that in 4 years she has never has antivirus software and never had a problem.

mbpark · 08-11-2008, 01:49 PM

The problem is people sending infected documents to others via non-Windows machines, either through e-mail (forwarding or Sendmail) or file transfer (either sending files or hosting a file server).

That's why OS X Server comes with ClamAV (Open source AV) built in which integrates with Sendmail. That's why McAfee, Symantec, and other vendors make Mac OS X versions of their product

.

I prefer McAfee's solution: http://www.mcafee.com/us/small/produ...ops/virex.html

smoothmoniker · 08-17-2008, 09:27 AM

ditto the experiences listed here - I've had a half-dozen macs in the past 4 year or so, even one being used by my 3-year-old who will click on anything. No viruses, none. Zip. Zero.

It's not just an issue of hacker focus. That's the old line that we kept being fed, but it's not true. There's incredible notoriety to be had for the first person to write an honest-to-Steve full blown mac virus, but so far, nobody has done it.

It's just inherently, from the ground up, a more secure system.

08-11-2008, 09:05 AM	#1
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Anti-virus Protection for MAC computers Anyone have one? Any recommendations? I am taking my son to college on Wed. He got a brand new Mac computer for school and the school recommended AVG software. Well guess what, the majority of all the puters they sold at the school (where bought ours on orientation day) were Mac's. And AVG does not have software for Mac's, only for Windows based puters. So looking on line there was not alot of stuff out there. Given this: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1 I would like to get something befoe he leaves to protect the puter. He is not real puter savy. Help me out. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

08-11-2008, 10:33 AM	#3
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	In ten years of using Macs for audio work, I've never needed any antivirus software, ever. After having to completely reinstall my mother's Windows OS for the third time due to viruses and spyware, I strongly encouraged her to get a Mac instead, and she hasn't had a problem since. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

08-11-2008, 10:50 AM	#4
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Thanks. When we bought our oldest Dau her Mac Laptop (they all get one for HS graduation) we just assumed that she got anti-virus software. She is now a senior in college. She just told me that in 4 years she has never has antivirus software and never had a problem. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

08-11-2008, 01:49 PM	#5
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	The problem isn't viruses on Mac OS X The problem is people sending infected documents to others via non-Windows machines, either through e-mail (forwarding or Sendmail) or file transfer (either sending files or hosting a file server). That's why OS X Server comes with ClamAV (Open source AV) built in which integrates with Sendmail. That's why McAfee, Symantec, and other vendors make Mac OS X versions of their product . I prefer McAfee's solution: http://www.mcafee.com/us/small/produ...ops/virex.html

08-17-2008, 09:27 AM	#6
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	ditto the experiences listed here - I've had a half-dozen macs in the past 4 year or so, even one being used by my 3-year-old who will click on anything. No viruses, none. Zip. Zero. It's not just an issue of hacker focus. That's the old line that we kept being fed, but it's not true. There's incredible notoriety to be had for the first person to write an honest-to-Steve full blown mac virus, but so far, nobody has done it. It's just inherently, from the ground up, a more secure system. __________________ to live and die in LA

08-11-2008, 10:23 AM	#2
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Norton is an old standby. But I believe Apple says that OSX is secure enough not to need antivirus software. Personally, I don't have it installed on any of the 3 Macs (one is on a PC network) that I use, and I haven't experienced or been alerted to any virus-related problems.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)