Sssshhhhh...don't tell Mac users this

[Tuffdisc]

They might get upset......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTeSYmQS820&feature=player_embedded#at=12

 

[HK]

Mac users don't believe there are no viruses for macs, there are just far, far fewer mac viruses than there are windows ones. It's hardly 'upsetting' to see a video about one virus out there.

 

[Tuffdisc]

Mac users don't believe there are no viruses for macs, there are just far, far fewer mac viruses than there are windows ones. It's hardly 'upsetting' to see a video about one virus out there.

From what I have heard, they believe their system is safe from attack, contrary to what you are saying

 

[HK]

From what I have heard, they believe their system is safe from attack, contrary to what you are saying

Well to be fair when you say 'attack', you have to download something to get a virus, or click something that allows a download. It's not like a virus can just infect your computer if you're safe about things like not clicking links in spam mail and so on.

I can tell you that I've had my mac for nigh on three years and never had a single virus. I've got no firewalls or antivirus. That doesn't mean I'm impervious to viruses, but there's obviously far less threat to macs, we all know that's true, so you can get away with far less protection.

So I would say - I am far safer from 'attack' than a windows user. Not entirely safe, but definitely safer.

 

[Zorak]

Well to be fair when you say 'attack', you have to download something to get a virus, or click something that allows a download. It's not like a virus can just infect your computer if you're safe about things like not clicking links in spam mail and so on.

I can tell you that I've had my mac for nigh on three years and never had a single virus. I've got no firewalls or antivirus. That doesn't mean I'm impervious to viruses, but there's obviously far less threat to macs, we all know that's true, so you can get away with far less protection.

So I would say - I am far safer from 'attack' than a windows user. Not entirely safe, but definitely safer.

If you don't have firewalls or antivirus, how do you know you don't have some sort of malicious software?

Every time you log onto online banking you could be transmitting those details to anyone.

 

[HK]

If you don't have firewalls or antivirus, how do you know you don't have some sort of malicious software?

Every time you log onto online banking you could be transmitting those details to anyone.

To be fair, I don't download a whole lot anyway, and the stuff I do is normally off legit sites, so perhaps I'm not a good example

All I'm saying is, we know there are mac viruses out there. They're not some kind of upsetting secret, but until whoever makes the damn things starts targeting macs a lot harder, they're also not a huge worry.

 

[edgray]

yeah a guy who codes virus protection for a living giving an unbiased view of a security threat :24:

Mac has a Firewall, btw everyone, just who bothers turning it on?

 

[HK]

Mac has a Firewall, btw everyone, just who bothers turning it on?

Good lord, I should try and find it

 

[edgray]

Good lord, I should try and find it

System Prefs > Security > FireWall

Not much point I don't think. I'm not the world's biggest downloader, but I have plenty of downloaded apps on my computer, and never had a problem from viruses or malware or spyware or anything of the sort.

At the end of the day, you've always got to enter your admin credentials for anything bad to happen - best thing to do is always click the "more details" drop down in the admin request box and double check it doesn't look suspicious.

This kind of video used to be much more common around the time Apple switched over to Mac OSX. Norton were the worst for it: they knew they were going to lose a large portion of their business thanks to OS X so they used to push this "Macs get viruses" propaganda. The worst thing was, I used to have some customers who fell for it and installed Norton, and the security system did more damage to their machines than any virus ever could.

Just be careful and vet everything you download. As it stands, there haven't been any credible threats to mac security, but it's not impossible... just be wary about what is asking for your admin credentials.

 

[Tuffdisc]

Plenty of youtube videos on it ed, not just one

 

[purpledove]

Well to be fair when you say 'attack', you have to download something to get a virus, or click something that allows a download. It's not like a virus can just infect your computer if you're safe about things like not clicking links in spam mail and so on.

I can tell you that I've had my mac for nigh on three years and never had a single virus. I've got no firewalls or antivirus. That doesn't mean I'm impervious to viruses, but there's obviously far less threat to macs, we all know that's true, so you can get away with far less protection.

So I would say - I am far safer from 'attack' than a windows user. Not entirely safe, but definitely safer.

:homo: 100 %

You did mention b4 that you inherited your Mac from you ex-BF...so he must have had it for a few years and add the 3 years you had it- IT means, your Mac had been doing well with NO PROBLEMS for more than 3 years, right? :nod: :thumbup

Mac users don't believe there are no viruses for macs, there are just far, far fewer mac viruses than there are windows ones.e It's hardly 'upsetting' to sea video about one virus out there.

Yup, it's hardly upsetting for Mac users to see even hundreds or thousands of videos out there about virus etc for Macs. We're basing our witnessing here based from years of experience with complete satisfaction and not to worry about virus etc. Like HK, had my Mac for 3 years now and NO PROBLEMS at all. Can PC users say that within that length of time- they've not had any problem at all? :willy_nilly:

It doesn't stop to amaze me how PC users try so hard to deface Macs and it's users. Fow some reason- i don't understand why :ninja :eek

System Prefs > Security > FireWall

Not much point I don't think. I'm not the world's biggest downloader, but I have plenty of downloaded apps on my computer, and never had a problem from viruses or malware or spyware or anything of the sort.

At the end of the day, you've always got to enter your admin credentials for anything bad to happen - best thing to do is always click the "more details" drop down in the admin request box and double check it doesn't look suspicious.

This kind of video used to be much more common around the time Apple switched over to Mac OSX. Norton were the worst for it: they knew they were going to lose a large portion of their business thanks to OS X so they used to push this "Macs get viruses" propaganda. The worst thing was, I used to have some customers who fell for it and installed Norton, and the security system did more damage to their machines than any virus ever could.

Just be careful and vet everything you download. As it stands, there haven't been any credible threats to mac security, but it's not impossible... just be wary about what is asking for your admin credentials.

Thanks for the info Edgay :thumbup

My laptop, I ordered directly from Apple factory here in Cali. Before they sent it to me- I've asked them to make the Mac as safe as possible with whatever was needed for protection hence maybe non-knowledge of the firewall Edgay did mention. Mind you, i did not pay additional for such protection unlike PCs everything added for protection, you need to pay.

The way my Mac is though- when there is an upcoming maybe spyware,malware etc- it lags down sort of my signal that something's wrong. So I shut down my sites and the update or an error comes about to report to Apple. After a few minutes an update comes through then my Mac works like new again. I however, don't pay a yearly or a monthly protection for the updates/ anti-spyware whatev that Apple sends which definitely is a plus :nod:

 

[Tuffdisc]

Well to be fair when you say 'attack', you have to download something to get a virus, or click something that allows a download. It's not like a virus can just infect your computer if you're safe about things like not clicking links in spam mail and so on.

I can tell you that I've had my mac for nigh on three years and never had a single virus. I've got no firewalls or antivirus. That doesn't mean I'm impervious to viruses, but there's obviously far less threat to macs, we all know that's true, so you can get away with far less protection.

So I would say - I am far safer from 'attack' than a windows user. Not entirely safe, but definitely safer.

Most viruses don't warn you if they install on your computer, if you don't have a virus scanner you are not going to be notified that a virus is being downloaded

 

[Xeno]

Gotta love the "funky" music.​

 

[HK]

But then, I've never had one. Until there's some evidence to show that Mac users are being targeted to the extent that antivirus software is now the necessity it is with a Windows computer, I won't be paying for additional software to sit there and do nothing.

Bearing in mind, although the number of people buying Macs for personal use is on the rise, most businesses still use Windows, and a lot of people use the internet in the workplace. So Mac's still aren't anywhere near worth making viruses specifically for compared to Windows computers.

 

[Tuffdisc]

I'm aware it's an advert of sorts but the amount of times I've seen the old 'you can't catch any viruses on a Mac' in the Mac forum is ridiculous.

It's like a rent boy or prossie saying they don't need to wear a johnny because they've never caught AIDS yet..

I'm only quoting this, because I fine it somehow true in some ways (ED are you reading this?)

 

[Tuffdisc]

But then, I've never had one. Until there's some evidence to show that Mac users are being targeted to the extent that antivirus software is now the necessity it is with a Windows computer, I won't be paying for additional software to sit there and do nothing.

Bearing in mind, although the number of people buying Macs for personal use is on the rise, most businesses still use Windows, and a lot of people use the internet in the workplace. So Mac's still aren't anywhere near worth making viruses specifically for compared to Windows computers.

Because you have never had one, doesn't mean to let your guard down and view Mac as 100% safe like Ed does :24:

 

[HK]

Because you have never had one, doesn't mean to let your guard down and view Mac as 100% safe like Ed does :24:

I haven't said I view it as 100% safe. In fact I've said several times that I know Mac viruses are out there.

But since they are nowhere near as threatening as they would be if I was on a Windows computer, and I've never had one in three years, like I said I'm not going to fill up my machine with antivirus crap that won't have any purpose.

If I get a virus, so be it. It's statistically pretty unlikely, especially for me because as I said before, I rarely download from any site that I don't know is 100% legit, if ever.

 

[Tuffdisc]

I haven't said I view it as 100% safe. In fact I've said several times that I know Mac viruses are out there.

But since they are nowhere near as threatening as they would be if I was on a Windows computer, and I've never had one in three years, like I said I'm not going to fill up my machine with antivirus crap that won't have any purpose.

If I get a virus, so be it. It's statistically pretty unlikely, especially for me because as I said before, I rarely download from any site that I don't know is 100% legit, if ever.

I haven't had a virus attack at all with windows, yes my virus scanner has warned me but that is about all

 

[HK]

I haven't had a virus attack at all with windows, yes my virus scanner has warned me but that is about all

Surely that just means you would have gotten viruses, but you have a scanner installed so you didn't.

A real comparison test would have to be a Mac and a Windows computer running in similar environments over time, neither with any protection.

 

[Springsteen]

I havent had any problems with Vista, I must say. I do use Avira which is pretty good. Though this said I don't go to that many websites (here, The Board~, youtube, the Caf, Facebook, few football websites) so it's less of a risk. If you claim though to know a lot about computers or you are of that age, then it serves yuo right if you do get a virus. Or Malware.