Apple MacBook on BT Broadband - Virus Protection?

jmt

Hi,

I have just bought an Apple Macbook (going away from PC due to running very slowly and also 4 years old). My question is with BT Broadband option 3 you get Norton Utilities as virus protection, but will this work with the Apple. I have heard from my colleagues who work on Apples that each time they have put Norton on an Apple it has caused them problems.

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I cannot find anything

Browntoa

Bt's package is now McAfee but only seems to be for windows

jmt

#2, thanks for your reply. It must me new users who get the McAfee as our old laptop was doing a scan last night and it definately had the Norton logo in the tray.

isofa

There are a few commercial virus scanners for Macs (Intego Virus Barrier is a popular one), but essentially they are just ensuring you don't pass on PC viruses (i.e. receive a PC infected file/attachment, it stays on you Mac, and you might resend it to another PC user), as other than a couple of tiny issues if you are incredibly stupid or unsafe on the web, the Mac has very little in the way of real viruses or threats.

I'd suggest you install and use the excellent and free ClamXAV if you are worried.

Marty_J

Or iAntiVirus.

You could probably not bother though. Just stay away from pirated software and dodgy websites.

patflanel

I have installed ClamXAV and have used it for ages. I tried iAntivirus and wondered why my mac was slowing and the fans getting faster. After investigating I found that an iantivirus process was running at 100% on one cpu. Ditched it and back to ClamXAV. Set it up to check everything you download and that's all you need (if anything).
As Marty J and isofa said it is really only to stop passing on PC viruses.
Enjoy the mac experience

Marty_J

patflanel wrote: »

I tried iAntivirus and wondered why my mac was slowing and the fans getting faster. After investigating I found that an iantivirus process was running at 100% on one cpu.

That's strange you should say that. iAntiVirus is running at 0% CPU usage and 12 MB of RAM ATM.

I always thought it was pretty light on resources.

patflanel

Yes I thought it strange too. But when I googled the process (can't remember the name of it as it was a few weeks ago) others were having the same problem. This was on both my PPC and MAcBookPro.

Found a thread here which explains the problem

http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55829

thescouselander

Why do you want to put virus protection on your Mac? Its more trouble than its worth in my opinion. There are currently no viruses for Mac in the wild (on the internet) so for the time being there is no need for antivirus IMHO.

On the other hand there are plenty of stories of how anti-virus programmes can have an adverse effect on a Mac.

jmt

Hi, many thanks for all your replies.

#9, I think that I have got into the "need antivirus" mode with my laptop and don't want to get any damage or threat of downloads looking for my banking details etc.

I basically use my computer for on-line banking, booking flights/hotels, eBay, my rental accounts and MSE of course. I'm not sure that I go on any dodgy sites but my 12 year old does like to look at facebook and xbox/gamer sites (are these considered dodgy?) I only ever put my own memeory stick in for transferring data between office and home.

Pssst

If you dont do dodgy stuff then its unlikely you will have problems,even less so using a Mac.