is it true that macintosh computers cant get viruses and if it is why?

Question

and spyware and stuff

Answer 1

They can technically get viruses and that but it's not as likely or as prevalent as with Windows machines because Macs don't have the security flaws that Microsoft does so they're harder to write viruses for.

Answer 2

Mac is UNIX based and the security is damn good.
Windows get viruses more often because Internet Explorer, the browser for surfing , is integrated so well into the core system that its practically impossible to uninstall it.Add to this teh fact that IE is a very buggy software while compared to its opensource competitors[like firefox].
So , if a hacker can exploit a vulnerability in IE, he can easily get control over the Operating Sysyem.
Thts exactly why there are more Virus in Windows than any other platform.
Use firefox with Windows and your Windows box becomes far more superb!

The fact tht less hackers target Mac is not a reason at all. Even if they hack into Safari/Firefox, all they could get is the browser info.Not the OS things.

As a matter of fact, its always safe to use Opensource sytems for serious business, as a proprietory Windows sytem can have anything coded into it by Microsoft itself.[or a bored employee].

But for home surfing/gaming Windows is pretty okay[never great]

Answer 3

This is not necessarily true. But, however, there is substantially less viruses and spyware and stuff for Macs. That is beside the point though, you should always be cautious when surfing the web. This is true that there is less because only a handful of Mac users compared to PC users, which makes a virus author want to make less viruses for Macs.

Answer 4

They can get viruses and spyware its just most people don't want to target macs because they are like 3% of the market while microsoft is 93% of the market. now if you wanted to make viruses would you make it for 3% of the computers out there or 93%?

Answer 5

Sure, any computer can get viruses. Macs are safer because its operating system is more robust than Windows, which has lots of security flaws. Also, there are quite fewer Macs in the market, and Bill Gates is unpopular among hackers/crackers, hence Windows has become the most attractive for attacks.

Answer 6

Sure they can, but since the majority of people use PC's to surf the internet, most spyware/viruses, etc. are directed towards PCs.

Answer 7

pretty much true..

it's partly the architecture and flaws of the Microsoft OS that leaves it vulnerable - its partly the assumption that Windows users are more likely to download suspect softwares (due to the prevelance of softwares avail to them) - and its partly the economics of scale - there are many more non mac users, so it makes more sense to tailor viruses to that demographic.

Macintosh has always taken security very seriously

Answer 8

mac can get viruses. but it usually doesn't because no one is angry at apple like they with microsoft

search for mac virus scanner and mac spyware remover