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Andy · 18-01-2006, 05:12

I'm on my new Mac, and was wondering if there's any good, free antivirus software for Macs out there.
I've tried searching google but you get years of useless links.
Thanks

d*d · 18-01-2006, 07:05

I only know of the Symantec Norton antivirus sytem, but I've never had to use it - and I don't know anyone who has had a virus on a mac although I'm sure that there a few out there, but since macs account for 2-3% of users your wasting your time and effort writing a virus for em

pgo · 18-01-2006, 07:24

If you have a Mac, running OSX, don't bother with anti-virus.

PC Users - check out NOD32. It kicks ass compared to Norton or McAfee. Still costs money, but I'm on the trial right now.

It's using 2MB of RAM. Norton used 30-40MB.

pat · 18-01-2006, 07:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by d*d

since macs account for 2-3% of users your wasting your time and effort writing a virus for em

Surely if you knew your stuff you could fuck over so much of the design industry

pgo · 18-01-2006, 07:27

Virus writers don't care about the design industry. They're going for maximum exposure and distribution, so writing viruses for Macs is stupid and self-defeating.

emil · 18-01-2006, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgo

PC Users - check out NOD32. It kicks ass compared to Norton or McAfee. Still costs money, but I'm on the trial right now.

It's using 2MB of RAM. Norton used 30-40MB.

PC-Cillin does a great job, too. I haven't had a single virus at home in the past year.
It updates itself once a day. Even twice, and is gentle on the memory.
http://www.trendmicro.com/en/product...e/overview.htm

Before that I used Norton. The biggest piece of crap ever.

pgo · 18-01-2006, 07:47

Yeah Norton sucks. PC-Cillin's OK, too. I think there's still a free version of AVG, but...they hide it so well. NOD32 is where it's at for me.

weldo · 18-01-2006, 08:22

AVG works ok for PC - it seems to do a better job than McAfee anyway.

mx · 18-01-2006, 08:55

I wonder what that keeper of the internet Bill Thompson has to say on the matter?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4609968.stm

and how he defends himself when he gets flamed?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4620548.stm

pgo · 18-01-2006, 10:39

Yawn. Except he's right, basically. Macs aren't immune to viruses - and I'm willing to bet there are plenty of malicious pieces of software just not viruses in the traditional sense. Malicious programmers focus on Windows because not only does it have security holes, it's used on 95% of personal computers.

Of course, the Mac users' "if everyone switched to MacOS, we wouldn't have to worry about viruses" is utter nonsense. If that somehow happened, virus writers would - you guessed it - start writing Mac viruses and looking for security holes in OSX.

Then there's Linux and other OSes that are traditionally used on servers and the like. Those aren't targeted with as much voracity because, basically, they can rest assured that a sysadmin is probably in control of that box, so they stand less of a chance of finding holes.

It's simple economics, really.

hlulu · 18-01-2006, 11:01

Stay away from pr0n browsing and britneytits.exe e-mails and you should be fine without an antivirus.

Andy · 18-01-2006, 11:46

okay cheers guys,
still trying to get the hang of it all.
only thing worrying at the moment is the brightness of the screen isnt really helping the hangover.

roto · 18-01-2006, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgo

If you have a Mac, running OSX, don't bother with anti-virus.

PC Users - check out NOD32. It kicks ass compared to Norton or McAfee. Still costs money, but I'm on the trial right now.

It's using 2MB of RAM. Norton used 30-40MB.

You're the man with the software links. Any idea how much RAM is used by McAfee? Also, how often does NOD32 update?

pgo · 18-01-2006, 12:39

NOD32 automatically updates itself - very regularly. In the first 24 hours I had it, it updated twice. It pops up a little "NOD32 has updated its virus definitions" info bubble in the system tray.

18-01-2006, 05:12	#1 (permalink)
Andy liquid cosh Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: leeds/brighton Posts: 2,814	Antivirus I'm on my new Mac, and was wondering if there's any good, free antivirus software for Macs out there. I've tried searching google but you get years of useless links. Thanks

18-01-2006, 08:22	#8 (permalink)
weldo now with added beard Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liverpool Posts: 5,440	AVG works ok for PC - it seems to do a better job than McAfee anyway. __________________ fuck signatures

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18-01-2006, 07:05	#2 (permalink)
d*d Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,305	I only know of the Symantec Norton antivirus sytem, but I've never had to use it - and I don't know anyone who has had a virus on a mac although I'm sure that there a few out there, but since macs account for 2-3% of users your wasting your time and effort writing a virus for em

18-01-2006, 07:24	#3 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	If you have a Mac, running OSX, don't bother with anti-virus. PC Users - check out NOD32. It kicks ass compared to Norton or McAfee. Still costs money, but I'm on the trial right now. It's using 2MB of RAM. Norton used 30-40MB.

18-01-2006, 07:27	#5 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Virus writers don't care about the design industry. They're going for maximum exposure and distribution, so writing viruses for Macs is stupid and self-defeating.

18-01-2006, 07:47	#7 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Yeah Norton sucks. PC-Cillin's OK, too. I think there's still a free version of AVG, but...they hide it so well. NOD32 is where it's at for me.

18-01-2006, 08:55	#9 (permalink)
mx fucksocks™ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: in the boosh Posts: 1,623	I wonder what that keeper of the internet Bill Thompson has to say on the matter? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4609968.stm and how he defends himself when he gets flamed? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4620548.stm

18-01-2006, 10:39	#10 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Yawn. Except he's right, basically. Macs aren't immune to viruses - and I'm willing to bet there are plenty of malicious pieces of software just not viruses in the traditional sense. Malicious programmers focus on Windows because not only does it have security holes, it's used on 95% of personal computers. Of course, the Mac users' "if everyone switched to MacOS, we wouldn't have to worry about viruses" is utter nonsense. If that somehow happened, virus writers would - you guessed it - start writing Mac viruses and looking for security holes in OSX. Then there's Linux and other OSes that are traditionally used on servers and the like. Those aren't targeted with as much voracity because, basically, they can rest assured that a sysadmin is probably in control of that box, so they stand less of a chance of finding holes. It's simple economics, really.

18-01-2006, 11:01	#11 (permalink)
hlulu wyh prooffread? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ananindeua Posts: 50	Stay away from pr0n browsing and britneytits.exe e-mails and you should be fine without an antivirus.

18-01-2006, 11:46	#12 (permalink)
Andy liquid cosh Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: leeds/brighton Posts: 2,814	okay cheers guys, still trying to get the hang of it all. only thing worrying at the moment is the brightness of the screen isnt really helping the hangover.

18-01-2006, 12:39	#14 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	NOD32 automatically updates itself - very regularly. In the first 24 hours I had it, it updated twice. It pops up a little "NOD32 has updated its virus definitions" info bubble in the system tray.

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