In a few months (got to save up the money), I'll be getting my first Mac. I keep hearing about how, while nothing is absolute, no-one seems to run any kind of antivirus softwear on apple products. The local Apple Store (MacMan, cute name) has been around since the mid 90's, and they say in all that time, their BUSINESS computers have never had any. They claim never to have had a problem. Not that I don't believe them, but I'm looking for some (read many) second opinions. Antivirus, firewalls, maitenance software? None? Really?

On my Win7 machine, I'm running Norton 360. I've always run Norton, always hated it bogging things down and interfering with various processes, but always trusted it. However, if I can loose all or most of this stuff, on a Mac, that would almost be worth switching, all by itself.

Is being this nervous about not having any web security stuff installed a normal thing for those who switch OS's, or am I just being a wuss?

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Permalink Reply by Gibson on February 13, 2012 at 7:13pm

Wuss? Nope not at all.

No computer is safe, In Fact If hackers actually wanted to attack Mac's they'd have alot more problems then windows at this point, because Apple is very inexperienced with this, and they Mis lead their "Cult loyal subjects" very highly. Never the less for whatever reasons you are switching from a great OS like windows 7, Your not a wuss for still thinking about your personal information and all that, i mean after all It's still a computer, it's connected to the internet! Your vulnerable no matter what anyway! and no OS is safe, and No Computer or software maker Provider Can gurantee you that 100%.

Anti virus software/Firewalls do exist for the mac, Discontinue using Norton 360, On ur windows 7 and Get Microsoft's Security Essentials suite, I promise you myself 100% satisfaction.

This right here is also a great one for the Mac and pc.

http://www.avast.com/mac-edition

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Permalink Reply by Michael Epson on February 13, 2012 at 10:14pm

Thanks, Gibson.

I think I'd have put some sort of security suit on my Mac, no matter what anyone should say. I do appreciate opinions from experienced users. Not sure how to tell who is or isn't such, with any certainty, on the boards. But, as for Win7, I've certainly got nothing specific against it, and will continue to both use and follow Microsoft products, in future. I'm 43, and busier every day, with other things than keeping my households many computers and mobile devices up and running. And while Win7 is a breath of fresh air, after XP and Vista (MS could've at least kissed us first, before Vista), I've been looking at Apple for around a year now, and have just really gotten to like the style, cleanliness, and minimalistic design approach they take. And, I must admit, the fit and finish of their hardware is just plane sexy. So, to put it simply, I've been wooed. I'll still have 3 Windows machines, in-house. But for day to day, I think I'll be getting a 13" Mac Book Air. When I get the urge to tinker, I'll be back on the Windows Machines.

Thanks, again, for the reply. And for the link.

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Permalink Reply by Gibson on February 14, 2012 at 6:25pm

No problem. You should keep in mind though it's not apple that's making the so called "sexy machines' lol.

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Permalink Reply by DTM on February 23, 2012 at 9:43pm

Apple is all cookie cutter machine. No imagination... one size fits all, gaudy eye candy. 20 years of Mac experience here in the graphics industry. I'll never own one, too may problems. Win 7 is the ultimate OS to date. Apple only THINKS they are the best OS, and they get you to think it too. persuasive advertising, but to me it's just kid stuff. And their back compatibility is horrible. : /

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Permalink Reply by Wandering I on February 17, 2012 at 9:40pm

I second Gibson on this one. Doesn't matter what OS your using, as long as you have a line to the outside world theirs always the chance something can get in. No don't get me wrong, on a mac thats solely used for a small business, the odds of getting a virus are probably pretty nill as long as your not doing anything personal on it. On the home side though, its free reign. Just like Gibson said, Apple likes to promote the fact that they are safer than a windows machine, which isn't the case at all. If there was a flaw that gets exploited on osx, and a massive virus gets sent out, how well is apple really suited to stop it? The thing is that they've never really been tested by something like that. So my answer to the question of if you should have a security suite on a mac? is simply this.....do you wanna be their guinea pig when it happens? Because it will evenutally....lol

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Permalink Reply by Gibson on February 19, 2012 at 7:37pm

he said it better then me lol.

I think the chances of getting a virus on any computer even as far back as windows xp is pretty low for businesses, That are only using it for office work. The amount of security software and measures that some businesses have one would have to be purposely wanting to hack and upload a virus via usb or what not in order to do it, or be a very skilled hacker, Witch would also be do able on a mac with the same measures, and sadly witch computer would be more capable of fighting it off, The Pc. Never the less He is right, Soley for small business use, I'm 100% doubtful of any security risks however, Still wise to consider a software, and if i might recommend more, don't get any software from Apple themselves, they are not experienced enough, Do some Google work, Programs like Avast, Nod32, AVG, Make Mac security softwares. Anything else like "MAC ANTI VIRUS" MACFIREWALL, Avoid those actually, alot of them are mac related malware themselves.

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Permalink Reply by MV3 on February 21, 2012 at 5:56pm

That's just not true, I removed a virus form a brand new MacBook Pro 2011 just two weeks after it was purchased. If you want to pay three times what something is worth , go for it! You could buy a lap and desk for that price, and they will exceed the Mac in performance and quality. Windows is also compatible with 90% or more of the software out there.Another thing, Windows boxes are easier to fix. I agree with Gibby, get Norton off your machine and put something that works, like, ESET NOD32 or Kaspersky, they are both cheaper than a Mac. http://usa.kaspersky.com/products-services/home-computer-security/a...

http://www.eset.com/us/

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Permalink Reply by Michael Epson on February 22, 2012 at 12:04am

Well, guys, it's a moot point now. Just pulled the trigger on a fully decked 13" Macbook Air. The multi-month time table turned into a few hours of making the final decision when I was approved for Apple's 12 month, no interest financing. So it's on it's way. Now that I've actually done this, I actually feel a little weird about buying a Mac, after a lifetime of using Windows. It's almost a type of guilty feeling. Not the, "My God, I just did something unforgivable!", kind; but more like you feel after you've done something that's undeniably fun, but just a little naughty. Kind of like I just 'should' feel guilty, but just can't seem to work up to it. But that's just background. The rest of me just wants to get my hands on all of that pretty, milled aluminum goodness. Feel like a kid, what with getting ready to delve into this new O.S. Wish me luck, and thank you for taking the time to give advice on this. I'll be getting some sort of protective software. Just don't know which, yet.