do I need anti-virus security with an apple mac?

[David-Foster-]

Yes it’s true, almost. If you boot it up in Windows then you have the usual virus nightmares but solely in OS X as an Apple Mac it’s pretty solid. I haven’t had any anti virus software on any of my macs. I have NOD32 on my PC’s.
As Mac’s get more popular 😛 I suppose bored hackers may try and write viruses and the criminal element may target macs soon but with less than 5% of the market why bother. 😀

[Jamie Wood]

I use anti-virus on my Macs. Although they are not targeted often, I feel that
it’s better to be safe. Mac anti-virus will also detect PC viruses, in case you
receive / forward files to PC users.

[Liam Pattison]

I had a mac for about the last 8 years, used it on the Internet almost every day and never had a problem.

I think the anti virus companies make the viruses so that there is a need for their product. There is not enough profit in creating mac viruses yet.

Liam

[David Rowland]

agreeed but i think mac has gained on PC over the last 3-4 years in the home market. For instance, a lot of people have iPhone’s but do they have virus checkers?

[Robert Lambie]

your isp already has antivirus and firewall in it. so does your router does it not?

if you are switched on in the noggin, you should not get a virus. its opening daft random emails and visiting iffy sites that does it. however, as has been said. better being safe than sorry.

[Stephen Ingham]

Okay thanks for the replies

cheers
stephen

[Simon Strom]

You can try ClamXav. It mostly scans for pc viruses, but I believe if there ever was a virus / trojan for the Mac out in the wild, the virus definition updates on it would probably be updated to cover it. It’s free but probably not the most robust anti-virus program out there for the Mac though.

http://www.clamxav.com/

[Phill Fenton]

quote Liam Pattison:

I think the anti virus companies make the viruses so that there is a need for their product.

Kind of what I thought too 😕

[Jan Storgaard]

quote Stephen Ingham:

Hi all, can anyone help me with some computer info please?

I have just got myself a Apple Mac laptop and was told that i wouldn’t need any anti virus security or anything of the sort.

Is this true as it seems a little strange?

Not to worry :o)
Im a Mac for many years now. Never had a problem with virus they r not existing.
BUT there are a few trojans around but they require you to actively install, so thats also minor problem. I think you dont install anything you dont know what is. BTW if you plan to use an antivirus tool dont use norton as it slows down you mac.

Regards
Jan

[Stephen Ingham]

Thanks all for your comments

cheers
stephen