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There is no anti-virus software for the Mac worth running, because there are no viruses for OS X. This story is about a security flaw in Safari where the brows

There is no anti-virus software for the Mac worth running, because there are no viruses for OS X. This story is about a security flaw in Safari where the browser can be tricked into executing code.

Jem 18y ago
Ouch. A tad naive. http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/macosxleap.html http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/maco... http://louisgray.com/live/2008/08/i-got-mac-os-x-virus-and-infected.html http://louisgray.com/live/2008/08/i-got-mac-os-x-virus-and-i... Just 2 from a quick google search: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mac+os+x+virus http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mac+os+x+virus
- tvon 18y ago
  While I largely agree with your response, the second link is a trojan, not a virus.
  - Jem 18y ago
    Yeah, perhaps I should have read the links instead of just relying on the title. Oops!
- inklesspen 18y ago
  Second one's a trojan. First one's a worm; it doesn't actually infect files or disks the way viruses did "back in the day". It relies on tricking the user into executing a program when the user is not expecting to be executing a program. Compare to Windows worms that run automatically, or viruses for Microsoft platforms that infect files that are commonly shared. I repeat my statement that you don't need anti-virus on the Mac. You simply need to have common sense. I don't think it's too naive of a viewpoint. There are legitimate security concerns on the Mac, just as there are on other operating systems. My point was that you don't need cpu-cycle-sucking memory-resident antivirus programs the way you do on Windows.
  - Jem 18y ago
    Worm, trojan, whatever - I didn't read the links, I left that for you to do :) > You simply need to have common sense. I ran Windows ME (of all things) for several years with no AV, using just common sense. So, you don't "need" AV in Windows, but I would definitely recommend it. Although I agree with what you're getting at, both your original comment and this one seems to be relying heavily on stereotypes more than actual fact. That's what I think is naive.
    - wallflower 18y ago
      Microsoft is getting better when it comes to default lockdown modes (Vista) but I believe Administrator by default is the reason why Conficker et al and botnets exist. I can't think of any good reason why the average home user needs to run as Administrative user, other than convenience. I have to "administer" my dad's old computer and I gave him a Limited User account. Yes, he complains about not being to install some software his friends email but no viruses, no spyware. Cuts down on support calls and unnecessary trips home.

There is no anti-virus software for the Mac worth running, because there are no viruses for OS X. This story is about a security flaw in Safari where the browser can be tricked into executing code.

Jem 18y ago

Ouch. A tad naive. http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/macosxleap.html http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/maco... http://louisgray.com/live/2008/08/i-got-mac-os-x-virus-and-infected.html http://louisgray.com/live/2008/08/i-got-mac-os-x-virus-and-i... Just 2 from a quick google search: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mac+os+x+virus http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mac+os+x+virus

tvon 18y ago
While I largely agree with your response, the second link is a trojan, not a virus.
- Jem 18y ago
  Yeah, perhaps I should have read the links instead of just relying on the title. Oops!
inklesspen 18y ago
Second one's a trojan. First one's a worm; it doesn't actually infect files or disks the way viruses did "back in the day". It relies on tricking the user into executing a program when the user is not expecting to be executing a program. Compare to Windows worms that run automatically, or viruses for Microsoft platforms that infect files that are commonly shared. I repeat my statement that you don't need anti-virus on the Mac. You simply need to have common sense. I don't think it's too naive of a viewpoint. There are legitimate security concerns on the Mac, just as there are on other operating systems. My point was that you don't need cpu-cycle-sucking memory-resident antivirus programs the way you do on Windows.
- Jem 18y ago
  Worm, trojan, whatever - I didn't read the links, I left that for you to do :) > You simply need to have common sense. I ran Windows ME (of all things) for several years with no AV, using just common sense. So, you don't "need" AV in Windows, but I would definitely recommend it. Although I agree with what you're getting at, both your original comment and this one seems to be relying heavily on stereotypes more than actual fact. That's what I think is naive.
  - wallflower 18y ago
    Microsoft is getting better when it comes to default lockdown modes (Vista) but I believe Administrator by default is the reason why Conficker et al and botnets exist. I can't think of any good reason why the average home user needs to run as Administrative user, other than convenience. I have to "administer" my dad's old computer and I gave him a Limited User account. Yes, he complains about not being to install some software his friends email but no viruses, no spyware. Cuts down on support calls and unnecessary trips home.