My desktop computer is an Apple iMac running OS 9.2 - I know, ancient, but I can't comfortably upgrade to OSX (takes too much memory and hard drive space). I also can't afford a new Mac, so instead, I bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop with Windows XP. I needed at least one PC anyway (for biz reasons), so that's ok.
I know NO ONE makes viruses anymore that infect old Macs, because probably less than 1% of the Mac users out there (already a small number compared to PC users) are running the "ancient" 9.2 OS. My question is: if I accidentally downloaded a file on my Mac with a virus or worm designed to attack Windows PCs, even though it can't infect my Mac, could my Mac pass it on to my PC?
At times I email myself files from my Mac to PC. It doesn't seem like my Mac could send an infected file, because to be "contagious", you have to first become "sick". Since my Mac is "immune" to the viruses and can't even recognize their code, it couldn't be "contagious" in the 1st place, could it?
2006-07-11 10:00:16 · 4 answers · asked by scary shari 5 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
I forgot to add: I run PC-Cillin Internet Security 2006 on my Windows laptop. It checks every single day for viruses, worms, spyware, malware, data miners, etc. Plus it automatically checks online for updates every day as well, so my PC is very secure.
However, I'd still rather not "test" the program with viruses, if I can avoid it! Hence, my concern about whether my old 9.2 Mac can become "contagious" or not.
2006-07-11 10:05:01 · update #1
Wrong on the "contagious" part of it. Your old Mac didn't have to get infected by the virus. It only need so pass on the file. Play it safe. After moving any files from the Mac to the PC, to a virus scan. Even after that, if you see any files you don't recognize in your PC, don't open them. Just delete them right away. If you didn't recognize it and aren't missing it, its better to toss a file than to possible get a virus.
Think about it. Viruses written for PCs get sent out as attachements to emails. Your Mac got the email, you mistakenly downloaded the atachment and nothing happened. The file is still on your Mac. You later move the file to a PC and open it. Bam!
Play it safe.
2006-07-11 10:10:31 · answer #1 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-08-27 15:27:25 · answer #2 · answered by Jimmy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure mac osx can get virus's the are at the moment a lot less for mac os than for living house windows regardless of the indisputable fact that the numbers are transforming into each and each and every of the time dont make the blunders of wondering you'll get by employing without anti virus software on your mac
2016-11-06 05:37:22 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have already answered you're own question. If you access an e-mail from Yahoo Mail on your PC or forward one from say a "verizon.net" account to your work account that you access with your PC, and that e-mail has a worm attached, then your PC will be infected unless your AV on the PC catches it.
2006-07-11 10:07:38 · answer #4 · answered by cptdrinian 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋