Why don't macs get Viruses?

[wildcon]

Quote:
No-one can be arsed to write them for such a small market.


wildcon wrote:
That's what I thought

Believe what you'd like, but that's a common half assed misconception

I was half joking - although I'm sure there is a lot of truth in that statement.

I will of course do some more research, but don't want to install virus software if it's not really necessary.

I also really didn't want to open up another Mac v PC debate

[SubFunk]

Quote:
No-one can be arsed to write them for such a small market.


wildcon wrote:
That's what I thought

Believe what you'd like, but that's a common half assed misconception

I was half joking - although I'm sure there is a lot of truth in that statement.

I will of course do some more research, but don't want to install virus software if it's not really necessary.

I also really didn't want to open up another Mac v PC debate

if you are real paranoid, clamxav is pretty decent and it's free...

but honestly i think it is more of a placebo 'ease your mind' effect it has...

it works for me, makes me feel good when it scans downloaded stuff or when i unzip, etc...

fact is i did not had a virus since i have computers (apple)

[the_antagonist]

PCs don't get viruses either if you know what you're doing and how to operate a computer and stay away from surfing sites with dubious content (and stay away from Internet Exploder) and don't open e-mail from dodgy unknowns with attachments. Mac users, while not suffering the effects of viruses, can help spread viruses indirectly to PC users, which happens frequently on a workplace level.

Viruses are bad ... mmmkay. Stay away from the porn ... mmmkay.

this!

i havnt had a virus in years. I almost fell for the pop up...

ATTENTION YOU HAVE A POP UP DOWNLOAD THIS VIRUS TO GET RID OF IT.

[fishmonkey]

not sure if it its true, but a friendd of mine told me that virus are executable files, osx doesn't recognize executable files, .dmg or .pkg are image files so theres no way for the virus to execute and go thru the system like in windows

i have to believe whatever, as i don't know IT stuff well... but fact is that i never had a virus since i own computers (which was always apple)

well, of course Macs can't run Windows executables, so no ".exe" file is a problem for a Mac.

the big difference is that nothing you download can get administrator privileges over your Mac without the system popping up a window asking you for an administrator's user name and password.

[Rave]

Tis like an automated message from this ol' chap.

Ah tis the forum liar with the chip on his shoulder after i owned him ages ago lol.
Councelling not helping fella? Mummy not hugging you enough?

Awwwww let's all feel sorry for miserable u.

We'll settle this on facebook, damnit

Hehe, take a deep breath and chill fella. I am one of the good guys

[andydes]

Mac users, while not suffering the effects of viruses, can help spread viruses indirectly to PC users, which happens frequently on a workplace level.

This is the part I wonder about. So a PC virus is downloaded on Macs just the same but it just sits there domant? Does this mean that you'd have to transfer the actual file containing the virus to a PC for it to become active, or could it end up on a Live set somehow ready to wreck havock on your PC?

I've certainly heard of iphone/ipad security problems. Is this from virus or something else?

As for Mac vs PC arguments. Did no one else get bored of this after NES vs Sega Mastersystem?

I have a Bosch Fridge Freezer. Hotpoint can kiss my arse.

[Rave]

I have a Bosch Fridge Freezer. Hotpoint can kiss my arse.

Sorry but you are so wrong! Zanussi FTW

[fishmonkey]

you'd have to transfer the actual file containing the virus to a PC for it to become active

kiss my arse.

[leedsquietman]

The file isn't even really dormant because the kind of files (.exe, .dll, even .jpegs etc) which can trigger viruses in PCs are not executable at any level in a Mac - However, for example, the love worm/trojan/virus whatever, Mac users forwarded that file onto Windows users (mostly at a workplace/office level) and because Mac users didn't get hit by the virus they didn't forewarn windows users they may have passed it on to and in many offices up and down the country the gossip loving doofuses who couldn't resist open an email attachment from a 'secret admirer' got burned and this worm then e-mailed itself to up to 100 people in your email lists for good measure.

Almost everyone who worked at the schoolboard I worked at got this in their work e-mail, which at elementary level was 100% mac (high school uses PC and Mac, but mostly PC), so quite a few people in the board office and high school on PC got this spread through the elementary department and the whole email server which served everyone went to sh*t.

[SubFunk]

I have a Bosch Fridge Freezer. Hotpoint can kiss my arse.

Sorry but you are so wrong! Zanussi FTW

just to heat the discussion a bit up, LIEBHERR

[leedsquietman]

We have none of these things in North America.

Try Maytag, Kenmore (Sears own label) or GE. Or Samsung or LG which are common imports here too, along with Whirlpool.

Or actually, don't ....

[ChiDJ]

the big difference is that nothing you download can get administrator privileges over your Mac without the system popping up a window asking you for an administrator's user name and password.

T
H
I
S

Had Mac's, (Apple's) since 1982. Never had a virus.

[leedsquietman]

I've only ever had one virus on PC, after my wife went downloading and installing stupid cute little icons and cursors. That was in 2000.

I've had a couple of times when I was alerted at a virus or trojan by security software, which was probably over zealous false positives and scanned it with about 7 different products to get the all clear and I see e-mail on a regular basis which if I opened the attachment in administrator mode would be a problem, but anything advertising penis enlargement, buying opiate pain pills via Mexico and e-mails from people with bizarre random names like Charles V. Poopenschute and Darius Killswitch (2 names which appeared in my junk mail for the redundant yahoo mail recently) telling me I've won an Ipad and I've won a 50" Plasma TV both conveniently with executable attachments means you gotta be vigilant.

I use Mozilla Thunderbird for email, which never runs any executable files upon opening, or cannot be exploited via the preview pane as Outlook has in the past and which never downloads pictures or offline content unless you make it do so manually, I've started using Opera for web browsing because firefox is too popular now and being attacked and exploited more frequently.

[djsynchro]

Blame it on your wife that's lame. Windows is about as advanced as a hairdryer.
You need a Mac and you know it.

[mojofunk]

Betamax kicks VHS's ass!