There is a cross-question on Answers posted nearly a year ago but I be wondering have within be any alien incidents indicating that Mac users want anti-virus programs to protect their computers or is the certainty that few virus creators choose to write for Mac systems ample of a principle to close the eyes to an anti-virus program?
People who own have virus, please write of your experience have have a virus and please how you get rid of it!
Thanks surrounded by finance.
Answers:
I'm not impressed by Gabriel and Andrew's responses. Gabriel is right, here are virus for the Mac, they're in the region of 15-20 years matured and artificial a completely different contemporaries (OS 9 and earlier). Mac OS X 'virus' are not truly virus and most Mac OS collateral holes require root access to be exploited, even the remote exploits are not really worth worrying give or take a few. Mac OS X have be out for over 5 years near regaular updates and the number of virus are negligable.
Most PC users don't use Symantec, Mac users incontestably shouldn't. There be over 100,000 virus for Windows ultimate year alone (don't ask me if that includes other kind of malware e.g. Trojans, rootkits, etc).
When relations crossover from a PC environment they must expect systems to be insecure, Macs are simply more secure than Windows and don't require tonnes of third event warranty software to net the system not dangerous.
you dont have need of one but i recomend that you do go and get one
No, you don't inevitability AV software. There are still no Mac virus contained by the delirious, and despite the hard work of hackers around the world, it doesn't appear here will be any for some time to come. Even if somebody does develop one, a software update will expected close the hole it uses, so AV software will still be unnecessary.
Some ethnic group will speak about you to use AV software to protect PC users (you could ratify one on to them even though it won't affect you) but they should hold their own AV software.
******** ASK ANYONE WHO SAYS THERE ARE MAC VIRUSES TO PROVE IT!!
If they can't point to a reliable source that have a verified catalogue of one or more virus, next THEY are lying. Lots of Windows apologists similar to to claim that at hand are Mac virus, but so far not one can show you a true Mac virus.
Caution: They might claim a Trojan that can't propagate counts, but it can't affect any computer unless you download and install it manually. That equates to this anyone a virus: Manually delete your thorny drive, consequently slip away these instructions on to another user!
A lot of race will update you nearby are no virus for Mac. That is a tale. There are exceedingly few virus for Mac. If you are punctilious, I seriously doubt you will ever find one of those few virus. Because within are so few virus for Mac, within are few anti virus programs. I tried ClamXav. Its a free anti virus, and works ok, considering its free. I own not tried delete a record next to this.
My Dad have Systematic Anti virus for his Mac. It works economically, considering it is NOT free. It does run a bit slow, even beside right RAM. If you own the restraint, you go and get constant updates, and its unforced plenty to delete doomed to failure files.
The Apple company, while not bogged down beside constant virus threats, as Windows is, is competent to preserve resting on up to date threats. You can find Security Updates in Software Update for more protection.
Hope that help.
Short answer: It is almost for sure unnecessary.
Long answer: Mac computers are base on an underlying system call FreeBSD, which is similar surrounded by oodles respects to linux. This type of system is designed to be slightly immobilize, and is amazingly specific just about permissions (which is why the computer asks you for an administrator password back varying confident system settings, installing software, etc.).
In broad, the worst that a Mac virus could do minus the user entering their administrator password is that it could delete that dedicated user's documents, files, pictures, etc. The core system should remain unmoved.
There may be exceptions to this, as expected, but here are effectively no Mac virus contained by the natural. There are thousands (tens of thousands?) of Windows virus contained by the mad.
Running anti-virus software incurs a bit of overhead (system resources must be reserved for scan files next to the anti-virus program), and considering the tremendously low risk of Mac virus, I would recommend that it's surplus to requirements to incur the cost of such software.