Mac Anti Virus: Yes No and which ones.

[kilroy]

I saw another posters pc AV questions so Im copying him only on the mac side; and thanks to my lovely wife I had my first run in today with a mac malware. She was prompted to download and she did and away we went! It was easy to get rid of, but this led me to this.

Do Mac really need AV software? (I havent yet, except for above)

Do you have one installed?

Is there a good one and which ones? (free?)

Thanks clones.

[acoustimac]

I've been a Mac user practically since they were invented. There have been times when I've had AV software available, but more often than not it hasn't been on my machine. There are several rules of thumb (that apply to Windows users as well) that I follow:
1. never, ever download anything that you don't absolutely have faith in knowing what it is.
2. Extension of #1 - don't ever purchase anything from a site that you don't trust.
3. See #1 and #2
4. Make sure that you back up your files regularly and that you have layers of them. It doesn't help to have a backup if it contains a virus. You need to use something like Time Machine that lets you go back to before the virus and restore.

In all the years I've worked on Macs I've been hit by a total of 3, yes 3, pieces of malware. One was my fault. I downloaded something I shouldn't have. The other two were actual viruses.

Does that make the purchase of AV software cost effective? In my opinion, no. Every Windows computer at work has AV software on them and they don't catch all of the malware out there. None of the Macs have it and we've yet to see any problems.

[Cy4Patriots]

I've been a Mac user practically since they were invented. There have been times when I've had AV software available, but more often than not it hasn't been on my machine. There are several rules of thumb (that apply to Windows users as well) that I follow:
1. never, ever download anything that you don't absolutely have faith in knowing what it is.
2. Extension of #1 - don't ever purchase anything from a site that you don't trust.
3. See #1 and #2
4. Make sure that you back up your files regularly and that you have layers of them. It doesn't help to have a backup if it contains a virus. You need to use something like Time Machine that lets you go back to before the virus and restore.

In all the years I've worked on Macs I've been hit by a total of 3, yes 3, pieces of malware. One was my fault. I downloaded something I shouldn't have. The other two were actual viruses.

Does that make the purchase of AV software cost effective? In my opinion, no. Every Windows computer at work has AV software on them and they don't catch all of the malware out there. None of the Macs have it and we've yet to see any problems.

I bet that stopped you dead in your tracks as far was porn watching goes.

[kilroy]

In all the years I've worked on Macs I've been hit by a total of 3, yes 3, pieces of malware. One was my fault. I downloaded something I shouldn't have.

In two years I ve never had a problem but my wife was on hotmail and clicked an ad that told her she had virus. It then gave her the virus. SO yes I agree with you; her errrr I mean our fault. Why she did this I dont know. But I was glad no more damage (that I know of) was done.

I have to laugh though as it was trying to get people to buy something off of it! Who does that, I suppose someone or they wouldnt keep trying.

[Clonegrad07]

I wouldn't waste your money... VERY few viruses out there that affect Macs.