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    Antivirus needed for Apple Mac Book?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by katematt, Aug 20, 2009.

  1. katematt

    katematt Newbie

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    My son is headed off to college and we bought an Apple Mac Book, do you need antivirus protection the same as you would for a desk top computer?
     
    katematt, Aug 20, 2009
    #1
  2. SPEEDwithJJ

    SPEEDwithJJ NBR Super Idiot

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    SPEEDwithJJ, Aug 20, 2009
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  3. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Tinderbox (UK), Aug 20, 2009
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  4. ThisOneIsForPosting

    ThisOneIsForPosting Notebook Consultant

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    From personal use, as well as from friends and family use, none of us have ever gotten a virus on a mac before. now I know they're out there, and it all depends on the websites you visit and what you download. However, none of us have had a virus scanner for our Mac's and haven't ever needed one. I would still suggest reading the threads that SPEEDwithJJ supplied, in order to get a better understanding.

    Here's a link to a short review on some pf the popular mac antivirus out there:
    http://www.macworld.com/article/51438/2006/06/antivirussw.html
     
    ThisOneIsForPosting, Aug 21, 2009
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  5. sirmetman

    sirmetman Notebook Virtuoso

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    I've run Windows machines without AV too. As long as you are careful, you won't get hit.
     
    sirmetman, Aug 21, 2009
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  6. KimoT

    KimoT Are we not men?

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    I would get one if you plan on connecting to a University network. The threat level is still very low for Macs, but universities tend to get slammed at the start of every semester when thousands of unpatched computers get plugged into the network.
     
    KimoT, Aug 21, 2009
    #6
  7. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Never assume you are safe. Getting AV is a good thing to do, regardless of what OS you have.

    One of the reasons OS X doesn't have as many viruses is because hackers like to focus on the hacks that will attack more people...OS X is not as good of a target as Windows because of simple market share. But it does not mean that OS X is invincible.
     
    Greg, Aug 21, 2009
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  8. DarkSilver

    DarkSilver MSI Afterburner

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    Totally agreed with you.
    If you don't have AV in your OS, it might be dangerous, especially those(including me) with Windows.
    It can be say as "if you know and clever, you won't got infected". This is not very true(I used to not using any AVs last time). Some viruses still can get through. However, those virus would not be BIG or STRONG. They won't completely kill or lower down your System performance. Still, they are considered as VIRUS. LOL.
    Now, I am on Avira Antivir Personal 9. I am very happy with it because it is FREE and POWERFUL(basically strongest FREE antivirus out there). Moreover, I got more security tools such as SpywareBlaster, MBAM and SAS.

    To OP, I don't know about OS X AVs, sorry. But it was not 100% VITAL to have it on OS X. Use the FREE 1 if you want. Now a day, freeware has been develop nicely and some of them are superior or on par with PAID version software.
     
    DarkSilver, Aug 21, 2009
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  9. sirmetman

    sirmetman Notebook Virtuoso

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    It's good to have AV, my point is just that you no more OMFGBBQ!!!!!NEED AV for Windows than you OMFGBBQ!!!!DON'TNEED AV for Mac. Everything has vulnerabilities, and everything can be kept clean with care. If MAC ever gets to even 1/10 as popular as Windows, I will guarantee there will be plenty of viruses out there for it. Hell, if the stereotypes for Windows virus getters are the old lady with the copy of Windows she never updates and the horny teenager trying to find free , what do you think a stupid hipster with his trendy Macbook in a coffee shop looks like to a hacker?
     
    sirmetman, Aug 21, 2009
    #9