“ClamXav is a free virus checker for Mac OS X. It uses the very popular ClamAV open source antivirus engine to scan mail and attachments. As a testament to its effectiveness, Apple now bundles ClamAV with Mac OS X Server 10.4. Unfortunately for those who are not system administrators, ClamAV is a command line tool, so it isn’t user-friendly for the average Mac owner. That’s why Mark Allan developed ClamXav. It uses the powerful ClamAV engine and definitions, but adds a more accessible user interface,” François Joseph de Kermadec writes for MacDevCenter. The article by de Kermadec explains how to use ClamXav and also touches on whether or not Mac OS X users need antivirus software.
Full article here.
What a waste of time….
Playing with my computer just isn’t as pleasurable with protection.
I do hope something is out there/comes along for Virus checking for Tiger. Our corporate infastructure requires that all machines, virus vulnerable or not, be protected by a current and updatable anti-virus package. If there is not something that we can centrally manage and update, we can’t roll out Tiger. Which of course means, we can’t roll out new hardware that ships with Tiger.
Anyone have any knowlege of something for tiger that works and is updatable (easily updatable)?
MDN asks: “Do Apple Mac OS X users need antivirus software?”
Nope.
tilted,
naughty, naughty.
Installing anti-virus software on a Mac OS X computer is like installing anti-virus software on your Toyota pickup truck.
I agree that at this point we don’t have a need for Anti-Virus software. I know it is MUCH more difficult to gain access to the OS under X. However, nothing is impossible. I don’t doubt that someone out there is working on something and knowing that all the Macs are stitting out there unprotected…. well, it is a recepie for disaster and a major black eye for Apple if and when it happens. Hopefully it won’t be soon but I think we all know that it won’t go on this way forever. People are mean and vindictive. Someone out there wants us to remain complacent….
Just waiting for the right time…
“Installing anti-virus software on a Mac OS X computer is like installing anti-virus software on your Toyota pickup truck.”
Well dont laugh, but if MS has their way, they’ll have their bugg-ridden virus-attracting OS embedded within the systems of cars sooner rather than later.
Of course that means that at any given moment your car will suddenly and without your permission drive you to a bad part of town where you will be held at gunpoint. And somehow people will just be accepting of it just like they are with their PC’s.
No Viruses…Please,
Your company doesn’t need new software, just System/Network Administrators that know something other than windows.
My ISP scans e-mail attachments for viruses, so that’s good enough for me. Since OS X is immune to all existing viruses out there, I’m not going to waste money or time with anti-virus software. And with my ISP scanning my e-mail attachments, I’ll know that I’m not passing any on to any Windows users either.
You could get an infected file that doesn’t harm your Mac, but then pass it to someone else who could be affected. Using AV software is not necessary, but is the right thing to do as long as most people are using or are connected to Windows PC’s & Networks.
Including this software on a server makes sense – not every client is going to be a Mac in an xServe environment. For individual Mac users, it’s probably not such a big deal.
It’s nice to have antivirus software if you share files with Windows users. Their viruses won’t affect a Mac, but you can still spread viruses via Mac. And believe me, I have several friends who use Windows and have no clue what they’re doing when it comes to security software.
Wait until people have to start buying AV software for the xBox 360. They will be vulnerable to many things, running a version of Windows. Since most will be online, they could be attacked. Just more ‘Trustworthy Computing’ from Micro$oftopoly. You heard it here first.
Nick wrote: “Installing anti-virus software on a Mac OS X computer is like installing anti-virus software on your Toyota pickup truck.”
Actually, you might have to install Antivirus software on your Toyota.
http://windowsfordevices.com/news/NS7943097446.html
This is one example of how Windows is being embedded into everyday items. Don’t forget NEC is also using Windows in their next gen ATM machines.
i agree that an OS X virus *could possibly* come in the future. Like ‘No Virues, Please’ said, anything is possible…
HOWEVER, all virus protection must rely on previously known viruses. That’s why you always have to update these applications. So running virus checking software on OS X, which is looking solely for Windows-based and possibly pre-OSX virii is pretty much useless to most/all OSX users.
“Just waiting for the right time…”
Well, using your logic, they’ve been waiting for 5+ years so far already, so what’s been holding them back? You’re going to tell us that nobody at all has ever tried now for 5 long years? Please. That’s an eternity in the internet/cyber world. I’d say that the security of OS X pretty much speaks for itself by this point since it’s had zero viruses now in over 5 years on the market…
It’s usefull for identifying Word and Excel Macro viruses. If there is a utility that just does that, some drag and drop thing, then no, don’t install an anti-virus.
“virii” is not a word. Viruses is the plural form of the word virus. Thank you.
” The answer is yes”:
Viruses are a Windows issue, and other platforms should not have to waste time and energy helping clean up Windows messes.
“Viruses are a Windows issue, and other platforms should not have to waste time and energy helping clean up Windows messes.”
Agreed. It’s absolutely not the responsibility of others. After all of these years, Windows users should be well aware by now of what they need to do to protect themselves should they decide to continue to use that flawed operating system. And if they don’t want to do what’s necessary, they either need to switch to OS X or Linux, or suffer the consequences then.
No viruses.. Please,
check out Sophos Anti-virus. It is centrally managed and works with Macs and Windows.
An evil side of me says we should do everything we can to help bring these viruses to the attention of misguided Windows users… So let’s keep shovelling them around!
RE Compulsory virus software: My son’s have this compulsory virus requirement on their school Windoze network. Solved by having the school subscribe to Sophus for Mac (as well as for Microsoft) and setting the software up on the Mac to subscribe to the Sophus database via the school on connection to the Active Directory network. A pain, but it was the only way they’d allow their laptops to connect to the network.
From: Nick (Aug 22, 05 – 12:39 pm)
“Installing anti-virus software on a Mac OS X computer is like installing anti-virus software on your Toyota pickup truck.”
Not quite as far-fetched as you might think, as others have written. MS is trying to get automakers to run their cars with a version of MS Windows. This is something I definitely would not ever consider buying.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2139686/windows-automotive