are macs getting viruses now?

Question

Are people making viruses for macs now, is there any free virus protection for macs?

Answer 1

yes...they have viruses for macs ...they have videos that show hackers cracking mac's in 18 minutes and taking over whole pc
more ppl are using macs now so they will be targeted more...it was said they are easier to crack the windows
but that is just what was said
google it and u will see

Answer 2

Not Really... There are some proof of concept but it is a bit more difficult to spread a Mac Virus, for one since there aren't as many infected machines to actually spread to and the overall system and the OS has certain built in barrieres.

Our office has 180 PC and 120 Macs every day we get at least 1 virus on our pc or a trojan, we have never in the last 2 years have ever had a virus on the mac. Since we don't even have to install Virus software on the Mac we saved over $5000 on software and an additional $15,000 on support. By next summer we will be an all mac office, though we will still be using some Windows based software using a product called CROSSOVER that allows us to run Windows programs without having to actully have Windows OS in place.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Hello radesign2323,

Nope there are no computer viruses for the Macintosh. Not one single Mac user has gotten a computer virus in the last 6 years of the Mac OS X. Windows guys can't say that, can they. They've already got viruses for Vista.

There are some cases where some anti-virus software developers have come up with a "proof-of-concept" virus, but, in many cases, you still need to type in your administrative password to install it.

Needless to say, it's not like there will never be a virus for the Macintosh. There is a free anti-virus program available. Check out VersionTracker and do a search there for the correct one:

http://www.versiontracker.com/osx/

Best of luck to you.

--Rick

Answer 5

No real virus problem exists for Mac's at this moment, or spyware or malware.

There have been several cases of downloaded trojans and viruses but they were individual cases and I've never seen any verification of these reports.

I know many many Mac users and not one runs any anti(anything) software as Windows users MUST!

As the Macs get more popular and now that you can run windows on a Mac I expect that to change in a year or two.......but I would not be at all surprised if the Apple people haven't got a solution in the wings just waiting for the time it is needed.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

well, i dont think you have a virus. It is proven that there are atleast 2 million viruses discovered for PC but NONE for Mac.
there might be something wrong with your computer, and not a virus. I have never heard of a virus for a MAC.
But to be safe you can go to google and type in 'free mac protection'. Have fun and i hope your comp gets fixed.

Answer 8

You can make a virus for any operating system. The main Idea is to do something bad to a computer by taking up lots of space or something like that. Just be careful what you open or what websites you go to. By the way macs are not bad. They are actually good for viruses, not a lot of them exist.

Answer 9

Don't let the PC fanboys scare you, Macs are still safe. There are anti-virus applications for the Mac, but they're not really necessary. I've been using Mac for three years without anti-virus, and I haven't had any problems whatsoever. To this day, there has never been a Mac virus in the wild.

Answer 10

1) Keep Things Up to Date
Make it a point to check for Apple software updates once a month to keep your system running optimally. From the Apple menu, choose Software Update while your computer is connected to the Internet. Software Update will assess the Apple software on your computer and check our servers for new versions. If it finds any, the updates will appear in the Software Update window. Select the checkbox for the software you want and then click the Install button to download and install the software. You can configure Software Update to automatically check for updates either daily, weekly, or monthly.

2) Put Your Files Away
Put your files away where you can easily find them. This can help prevent accidental file deletion and help you find things much more efficiently. You can get organized by creating new folders (in the Finder, press Shift-Command-N) and arranging them into a workable hierarchy for your files at hand, or you can move your files into existing folders.

3) Name Your Files
Go through your generically-named files and folders and give them more descriptive names so you can find what you need fast. This can help you get organized and makes it easier for Spotlight to search and find what you're looking for, especially one file amongst your digital photo collection with names like DSC_0431.jpg and so on.

Note: If you use iPhoto to manage your photos, don't use the Finder to rename the files.

4) Prune Through Your Files
To reduce the amount of clutter on your hard drive, free up some disk space by archiving large, seldom used files (learn how here), and be sure to name the resulting archive file appropriately too, so you know what's in it. Delete any unnecessary or outdated personal files whenever possible and anything that you no longer want or need—just drag them all into the Trash and don't forget to empty it.

5) Back Up Your Files
To prevent losing your prized or important files, make it a point to back up on a regular basis. You can back up files onto a CD, DVD, external hard drive, iPod, iDisk, or other storage medium and then delete the copies on your hard drive to free up some space. To learn how to back up files, choose Mac Help from the Help menu in the Finder and do a search for “back up files.” To get some ideas of what and what not to back up, see this page.

6) Check for Viruses
Macs are far more less likely to get a computer virus like Windows PCs are prone to but that doesn't mean it's impossible. If you don't already have antivirus software, you may want to consider making a purchase. If you have the software installed, be sure to keep your virus definitions up to date—you can find the latest updates on your software manufacturer's website.

7) Clean the Outside
Dust and other debris can harm your computer's innards if you allow the stuff to build up around your workspace. Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, feather duster, or canned air to clean your Mac's outside as well as the surface areas around it. You can use a slightly water-dampened cloth to clean the screen. Do not use any type of liquid cleaner to clean your Mac.