Do Macs get viruses?

Question

Tell the truth people!

I've had some saying that there is, and that there isn't.

So what's the real truth? I've heard many accusations on both sides:

Macs do get viruses, it's just that their users fail to accept it.

Macs don't! PC fanboy lies!

Macs can, but just by a small chance.

There are, but they don't hurt Macs as much.

You don't get viruses at all, on any OS, if you just have a good Anti-virus, and are careful what you do on the internet.

NO way! Macs don't get them at all. PC users are just jealous! Hmmph!



So what is it people? What do you think? Do Macs get viruses, or is it just a myth?

Answer 1

Quite the conspiracy.

Macs do get viruses, but not as much as pc.
If the mac didn't have viruses everyone would get one.

Still i prefer the Pc because it can run more programs, it's cheaper, Mac has a stupid mouse etc etc.

Remember the Mac ad stating that Pcs were filled with un-useful programs? The programs aren't that large, and if we didn't want it we would delete/uninstall it.

Answer 2

The sales lady did not know what she was talking about. No Macs are not "virus proof" A firewall is not anti-virus software. Some security software includes both but they are not the same. As for a Mac actually catching, it is a lot less likely. The current flavors of Mac were based off Linux which in turn was based off of Unix. All of which had a multi-user environment in mind write from the first design. Windows, on the other hand gradually added multiuser functionality. In designing a system in this way the system naturally had well defined parameters for different classifications of users and different types of programs. If you know you are going to have multiple users and you don't want them tweaking with the OS then you make it so they can't mess with the core components of the OS. In Linux if the program does not have proper read write or execute flags then it can not do certain tasks. And like I said this was thought of at the beginning. Windows came up a different ladder from dos. Which was designed for a single user. If you only have one user on your computer that will not be connected to a network you really don't need to worry about who can or can not access what. Hence MS programs did not behave well when Microsoft initially started migrating to a multi-user environment. Without well defined permissions that work well with the OS and allow the user to carry out common computing needs, it is very easy to write programs that will steal the show. Hence we have all the PC viruses that have taken over for such a long time.

Answer 3

Yes. ANY os can get a virus so there will never be an 'immune' os BUT Macs and Linux' are WAY less likely to get 1 than a pc. Since pretty much 8/10 are MADE for pc and the other 2/10 for mac. Just use a simple AV that protects mac malware and you'll be fine.

Answer 4

Let's put is this way:
Is it POSSIBLE that a Mac can get a virus? Yes, any computer, regardless of its operating system can have malicious code.
Is it PROBABLE that a Mac will get a virus? Not nearly as probable as any of the Windows but the fact that Macs are increasing in popularity does in fact mean that there are more viruses being made specifically for Macs.
What's the BEST thing to do? Get good firewall, anti-spyware/adware/virus programs and surf the web smartly. If all you do is surf pedestrian websites, then that should be more than enough.

Answer 5

The best way is to enumerate what are those viruses that infected Mac so we can believe it, right? (first link).

In Symantec's site, it stated:
"...According to researchers at the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC) there are a total of 35-40 Mac-specific (i.e. non-Macro) viruses depending on how the strains are counted. The last new Macintosh virus was HC 9603 (a HyperCard virus) recorded in March of 1996...."

In my third link:
"...Although some of the most well known and damaging viruses will not damage or infect a Macintosh computer, they are STILL SUSCEPTIBLE to certain viruses. Cross-platform viruses, referred to as macro viruses, affect your Microsoft Office documents regardless of platform. Also, Macintoshes RUNNING a DOS/Windows partition are open to any/all Windows based viruses on that partition..."

Answer 6

A virus attaches itself to a system file. There is a complete separation between system files and user files on Linux and Mac machines. Therefore, these operating systems are completely immune to viruses. It has nothing to do with popularity.

Worms and trojans are a different matter.

Answer 7

well yes they do but most viruses are not effective on the mac
however some can damage ur mac
on the other hand nearly all viruses are targeted for pc's not macs
so don't worry
i highly doubt u will get a virus

Answer 8

macs are less of a target for virus's etc... as most people have windows.
so in that respect macs are less prone for virus's.
there are virus's that effect macs.

Answer 9

Let me keep this simple. There are around 40 known viruses for Mac and 700,000+ for Windows. I've been using my Mac for years without AV software and haven't had a single virus infection. Can PC fools say the same?

Answer 10

No one uses Mac -- unless you're handicapped or in elementary school. Hackers are interested in screwing up a lot of computers -- not less than 5% of the populations.