Sophos Anti-Virus For MAC Home Edition [Free]

[Arthur]

Windows didn't have viruses at one point.

At one point the Greek's didn't have wooden horses sneaking past the gates at Troy.

 

User education is the key here. It doesn't matter what operating system you have - don't download random apps from random websites!

[ZeroHour]

It doesn't always have to be pirated; you could just be unfortunate enough to download, what looks to be, legitimate software:

YouTube - Apple Mac malware: caught on camera

 

Also Sophos lists several pages of Mac malware (stuff you probably don't want on your Apple computer):

Sophos website search

 

I think Anti-Virus (OK, Anti-Trojan - for the present, who really knows what's round the corner?) software for Mac should just be seen as an increased level of protection that a lot of people do want (for the peace of mind) so they feel safe, especially in a mixed operating system environment.

 

Personally, if I was in charge of a network, I would like the choice (sort of take it or leave it) of a security product for every operating system on that network. I would welcome a vendor who recognises the potential for a security weakness (however slight, even if it is just a Mac user copying files to a Windows server's share) and takes the responsibility to provide a comprehensive, multi-tiered security solution that I can pick and choose from.

 

The way I see it: Windows didn't have viruses at one point. Firefox didn't have the same number of issues that Internet Explorer was having at the same time. As their respective popularity grew the profiteers moved in. The Mac's popularity is growing and will most likely attract the attention of the wrong sort of people when they know they'll get a return on any "investment" they decide to make.

 

TTFN.

 

 

P.S. Written on a Mac )

 

Thank you, rep++

[ZeroHour]

I think the point of the video was to show that a site to the noob would look legit and professional. We are all mostly IT professionals, we know the risks etc, where AV for mac comes in to its own is for the less knowledgable user that may download innocently where we wouldnt. The bad malicious software exists for all OS's and having protection for those less aware is not a bad thing even if you feel it wouldnt be a problem for yourself, they simply find it harder to recognise the signs.

So basically yes I think some level of automated protection is good for those who dont have a keen interest in following the latest evil tricks of the net, these problems exist for both windows and mac osx and thats what the video tries to highlight. Lets face it its free for home users too so its not like it has a real cost either.

[HodgeHi]

I don't understand the market share argument. Most IT people tend to think the of the mac as a premium brand of laptops. This usually goes hand in hand with people with lots of money. If this is the case and Apple take an age to release updates for exploits (and I know they do, far too long if you ask me) then why would Virus creators not want to exploit those?

 

Think about it for a sec before dismissing what I just wrote.

 

You have a potentially vulnerable machine (with no AV detection and the idea of non required) for what could be a lengthy period unless the user is savvy enough to detect something fishy. This could allow your virus or other malicious software to do it's dirty work for quite a while.

 

And if it's a virus or something that steals ID or whatever then if you are thinking of the type of user using the machine, you could potentially have a disabled cash cow just stranded waiting to be milked for all its worth.

 

As a virus writer why wouldn't you want to at least try?

 

Discuss.