[antwolf]

I scanned your forums and unless I missed it, I didn't find anything concerning Anti Virus Programs for macs. (Must mean something.) Do any of you use AV programs on your mac? I see that they have Norton for macs, but my experience with Norton for Windows is not a good one. If I use Norton on my mac, will it slow down my system like it did Windows, and are there any other programs out there besides Norton that your using.

I think you get the picture. Do I need to run an Anti Virus Program on this amazing operating system? Thank you so much in advance.

[Bowshi]

Well, I don't CURRENTLY have a Mac, but was planning to get one in the VERY near future. After a good look on Google, it appears Norton is the only one. Or at least must be the only decent one. I think you'll have to stick with Norton or nothing I'm afraid!

- Bowshi -

[antwolf]

Originally Posted by Bowshi

Well, I don't CURRENTLY have a Mac, but was planning to get one in the VERY near future. After a good look on Google, it appears Norton is the only one. Or at least must be the only decent one. I think you'll have to stick with Norton or nothing I'm afraid!

- Bowshi -

Thank you for replying. Its just that alot of mac users don't have any protection at all. Just what the mac OS has to offer with no problems whatsoever. I just don't understand that considering the problems I had with Windows as far as security is concerned. Heck, I can buy a new computer with all the money I'd save with all the security programs that Windows needs just to stay secure. Even then your not 100 percent secure. All I know is that I'm loving this baby: iMac20, Intel Core Duo, 2GHz, 1GB of RAM and I want to keep it secure. Thanx again!

[Bowshi]

Hehe. How much did that cost? I'm a bit tight of money at the moment so I was gonna get the Mac Mini for £300... I've heard good things!
The Mac is also far superior cos of it's lack of viruses etc. Mac pwns Windows in every way. Just a pity not as many games and applications are made for Mac... Such a waste of its power and capability...

[VegasACF]

I would go with this, personally. It's what I use, it's what is available if you have a .Mac account, and it's not Norton.

Originally Posted by Bowshi

Just a pity not as many games and applications are made for Mac... Such a waste of its power and capability...

And such an antiquated point of view!

An Intel-based Mac can not only run all the MacOS X-compatible software in the world, but also pretty much every piece of software for Windows as well (so long as one has BootCamp and Windows XP SP2 installed on the machine). There may be some software that is not compatible, but I'm running everything from Microsoft Word 2003 to Oblivion on my MacBook Pro's Windows partition.

[Bowshi]

O RLY!?
Sounds cool. Last time I heard all the people I knew ere complaining Macs ran nothing. Now I just want one cos they are secure. And sexy.

- Bowshi -

[antwolf]

Thanx VegasACF! I do have a .Mac account, and is it free for me? It seems the problem I'm having is when I enter 1 license it tells me I need 3. Why, and what am I doing wrong? Also, does this particular one scan emails too? Thank you for your knowledge.

[Jones]

Originally Posted by Bowshi

Last time I heard all the people I knew ere complaining Macs ran nothing.

That must've been a while ago. Ever since the new intel-based Macs were launched, there's no reason not to get one. I have both OSX and WinXP loaded on mine, and it works great.

[Bowshi]

Sweet. Now I can have the sexiness of a Mac with the performance of a PC. Without crashes. xD
*Is uber-happy!!*

- Bowshi -

[VegasACF]

Originally Posted by antwolf

Thanx VegasACF! I do have a .Mac account, and is it free for me? It seems the problem I'm having is when I enter 1 license it tells me I need 3. Why, and what am I doing wrong? Also, does this particular one scan emails too? Thank you for your knowledge.

When last I had access to a .Mac account it was in the downloads folder that was available online. But it's been a while since my account has lapsed (it really didn't offer me my money's worth, I felt, so I just let it go--that's not to say others won't find it worthwhile, just that it seemed a bit like a Visitor's Center when you first cross over a state line to me, who has been using Macs since 1984). Apple may have moved or removed it since then. But it was what Apple offered, so it's probably among the best available for the (pretty much nonexistant, but always conceivable) problem.

I have never had the Virex/McAfee software even give a hint that I was in any danger (on the Mac side of my Macintosh--meanwhile, Norton Antivirus on the Windows side has found questionable or infected files on at least 20 occasions since I set up the Windows partition). But it's better safe than sorry, methinks.

Originally Posted by Bowshi

Sweet. Now I can have the sexiness of a Mac with the performance of a PC. Without crashes. xD
*Is uber-happy!!*

- Bowshi -

I'm not sure I'd go that far. It's still a Microsoft OS we're talking about. You'll still get some "program not responding" errors, and every now and then you'll find Windows does not completely boot up... you'll end up with a blank, black screen and have to force the computer to restart--c'est la guerre--that's what happens when you work with Windows. Still, nice to have the opportunity to run things like Oblivion--probably the coolest RPG-mixed-with-FPS game I've ever played.

[Bowshi]

True... But they do crash and generally bugger up less than Windows PCs.

- Bowshi -

[drummerbull]

Another free anti virus program you can look into is ClamXav. It isn't an all-time running program so you have to do scans yourself, but with that means it isn't a huge system hog. Honestly i have been using Macs for almost 18 years now and i have only ever gotten one virus. I had Norton on the computer at the time and it instantly caught the virus and quarantined it. Norton used to work great for macs, but ever since OS X came out, Norton has sucked balls.

[Nameisnobody]

In terms of Mac anti virus programs, I saw one being sold at Future Shop, a Symantec version for Mac, but i was told by the FS employee that the reviews that the thing has gotten were not very good. So far thats the only Mac antivirus program I saw being sold commercially. I could find other Mac AV programs at other electronic stores if I look deeper right? Or is Symantec's the only one?
That McAfee Virex looks good, but will it slow down my Mac?
Does anyone know any well known sites that has a list of Mac antivirus program reviews?

[MSM Hobbes]

From all that I have researched, would say that when/if I am to buy a anti-virus product it would be Intego Virusbarrier x4. Supposedly has a small footprint, is not intrusive, has easy installation, and is friendly interface.

As to reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Intego-Virusba.../dp/B000C55AMQ

Overall tho', I still am on the fence as to what the true cost:benefit of a/v program for a Mac, even an Intel powered Apple actually is. Best pro that I can see at this time is that it would potentially minimize the transfer of such from a PC to a Mac to a PC. Or, if running Boot Camp or Parallels, from its evil side...