How To Avoid Computer Viruses

[Ymeg]

Use a macintosh

Not this crap again...

Mac's can get infected too, but they are less secure than Unix. But wait! They can get infected too. So I can match your logic and give a even better suggestion; don't use computers.

 

[theartist87]

Not this crap again...

Mac's can get infected too, but they are less secure than Unix. But wait! They can get infected too. So I can match your logic and give a even better suggestion; don't use computers.

The computers are out to kill us! One day they will rule the world, and we will be their slaves!!!

 

[pgp_protector]

The computers are out to kill us! One day they will rule the world, and we will be their slaves!!!

That's what the Cats want you to think.

 

[zoziw]

As for in the'wild' or current active, post 10 suggests that there are current mac virsus that exist and still have some payload.

Name them.

Honestly people, there are no viruses out in the wild for OS X. I don't know why people can't deal with this.

This doesn't mean Macs win any kind of great computer war or that you were stupid for buying something else, it just means you don't have to worry about viruses at the present time (or for the last several years) when using OS X.

In general, I find both Windows XP and Vista to be faster at loading and running applications. IE and Firefox on Windows are both faster on my Windows machines than Safari and Firefox are on my Mac. Microsoft's media player isn't native on Intel Macs and you have to use a Quicktime plug-in called "Flip4Mac" to watch WMV files on a Mac and it doesn't always read those correctly.

OS X has weaknesses as well, just not viruses.

 

[kopilo]

Name them yourself, I said it suggests that macs are still being infected, the poster might be running a non OS X mac or one that has not been updated in some time, there is a wide range of possibilities surrounding any system.

Which brings up another point.. If you want to advoid viruses, keep your OS up to date.

 

[zoziw]

Name them yourself, I said it suggests that macs are still being infected, the poster might be running a non OS X mac or one that has not been updated in some time, there is a wide range of possibilities surrounding any system.

Given that her Windows and Mac computers went down at the same time with similar problems and that Windows viruses can't affect a Mac, and if a Mac virus existed it would not be able to infect a Windows box, it suggests she didn't have a virus on either one.

Also, I can't name something that doesn't exist.

I will re-post this from earlier in this thread:

Back in the days before OS X, the number of viruses which attacked Macintosh users totalled somewhere between about 60 and 80. Today, the number of viruses actively attacking OS X users is...NONE!

ClamXav

 

[kopilo]

Given that her Windows and Mac computers went down at the same time with similar problems and that Windows viruses can't affect a Mac, and if a Mac virus existed it would not be able to infect a Windows box, it suggests she didn't have a virus on either one.

Also, I can't name something that doesn't exist.

Cross platform viruses do exist.
researchers worry over new cross-platform virus

I will re-post this from earlier in this thread:

ClamXav

In either case not having security and recovery measures against malware is irresponsible.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Cross platform viruses do exist.
researchers worry over new cross-platform virus



In either case not having security and recovery measures against malware is irresponsible.

That article is a year old talking about "sample code" of a virus that "could" do something cross platform.

Do we have any proof that virus, or any other, actually affects those platforms?

I've asked for linxs here and in the past, but no one has really shown me much so far.

 

[cobaltburrito]

I don't worry about virii on any of my machines.
My LAN is sitting behind a firewall, windows boxes are kept up to date,
and I have AVG on every one.
If you just use common sense(which isn't really all that common) you should not ever have a serious virus problem.

 

[skylar]

Not all virii are detected most some of them turn them recopy themselfs as somthing else to fool your computer. You can also get a virus from downloading things. So virii can be pretty easy to get.

 

[zoziw]

Cross platform viruses do exist.
researchers worry over new cross-platform virus

No they don't, that article was a proof of concept piece of code. There is nothing in the wild and even the proof of concept doesn't affect a Mac (linux and Windows).

In either case not having security and recovery measures against malware is irresponsible.

First of all, I have Backup 3.0 in case the hard drive fails or the computer gets stolen, so I do have recovery measures in place. Second, I think it is irresponsible to waste money and system resources to protect me from something that doesn't exist.

 

[kopilo]

{Win32,Linux}/Simile.D is a very complex virus that uses entry-point obscuring, metamorphism, and polymorphic decryption. It is the first known polymorphic metamorphic virus to infect under both Windows and Linux.

Source

OS X has had viruses in the past and to claim there won't be any in the future is claiming on ignorance because we do not know the future.
If you are concerned about the pocket of users then why suggest for someone to go and buy a completely new platform (to my knowledge OS X can only run on a mac), which has a higher price tag then some other computer architectures.

Linux to my knowledge is still the cheapest OS to get a hold of as well to protect and using a firewall, antivirus, etc on windows seems a lot cheaper then buying a whole new system.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Source

OS X has had viruses in the past and to claim there won't be any in the future is claiming on ignorance because we do not know the future.
If you are concerned about the pocket of users then why suggest for someone to go and buy a completely new platform (to my knowledge OS X can only run on a mac), which has a higher price tag then some other computer architectures.

Linux to my knowledge is still the cheapest OS to get a hold of as well to protect and using a firewall, antivirus, etc on windows seems a lot cheaper then buying a whole new system.

According to that link, that one doesn't affect OS X. Unless I misread your post.

And I am curious to read about these past Mac viruses. Ones that actually hit someone that is! lol But seriously, I've been asking for linx to *actual* Mac virii for a while, but really haven't seen anything remotely compelling thus far.

 

[theartist87]

grrrraaawwwwhh.. can we please shut up about macs and viruses? find one of the numerous threads already dedicated to it, don't hijack another

 

[WalksWithChrist]

grrrraaawwwwhh.. can we please about macs and viruses? find one of the numerous threads already dedicated to it, don't hijack another

Well, using a Mac is a very good method of avoiding virii!! Tis true and tis on topic.



Never mind the fact that I'm still on a quest for the elusive Mac virus.

 

[kopilo]

Well, using a Mac is a very good method of avoiding virii!! Tis true and tis on topic.



Never mind the fact that I'm still on a quest for the elusive Mac virus.

It could be true all you like but it doesn't mean it is the cheapest or easiest way to advoid viruses (which I believe this whole entire thread is about). Which was made topical in post 31.

http://antivirus.about.com/od/macintoshresource/a/inqtanaa.htm"There are around 40 Mac-specific viruses and related threats." - Source
osx/Inqtana.A

Can files be deleted on a mac? If yes then that action can be automated.

 

[wolfman544]

grrrraaawwwwhh.. can we please [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth] about macs and viruses? find one of the numerous threads already dedicated to it, don't hijack another

I would have to agree with this, I've been noticing some near hostility over macs and virii here.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

It could be true all you like but it doesn't mean it is the cheapest or easiest way to advoid viruses (which I believe this whole entire thread is about). Which was made topical in post 31.

"There are around 40 Mac-specific viruses and related threats." - Source
osx/Inqtana.A

Can files be deleted on a mac? If yes then that action can be automated.

Good link...if a little old and looooong!

I am putting up a thread on this:
http://www.christianforums.com/t5069987-mac-virus-lets-settle-this-thing.html

The OP says nothing about cheapest...unless I missed it. Getting a Mac falls under the "Prevention Methods" of the OP.

I have a Mac (hard drive is currently DOA...ordering a new one soon!) and have never run AV on it. I've never had any sort of virus-related trouble. I had *some* from time to time when I was a pure PC guy. Unless one crashed my drive!! lol Which isn't out of the realm of possibility...

 

[Les Grands Pieds]

yeah, the term "Mac Virus" is pretty much an oxymoron these days.

 

[Ymeg]

I once had a "Virus of the Mind