Is security needed on a Mac?

AllyBabe

Hi,

I've been told that I don't need any security for my MacBook, is this right? Just wondered if there was any free security I could download if needed?

Thanks

Ally

fiddiwebb

Have a look here..............

http://www.securemac.com/

AllyBabe

Thanks, will take a look.

Ally

millypede

No, simply, there are no need to have anything on a Mac, we dont sell any we dont use any and its a lot better, Just keep your head screwed on, and a password on the main admin account and you will be fine. In 13 years of selling and using macs I have never needed it and have never sold it to a customer who has moved on to a Mac.

http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-os/

23n1th

You should always have a firewall, software or hardware no matter what OS you're using. And whilst on the internet common sense must prevail, the false assumption that macs are invulnerable will get you into trouble.

millypede

The fire wall in Mac OS is on by default so thats one less thing to worry about, and I have yet to find one credible virus/malware/spyware that is as free roaming and will self install and infect a mac in 13 years.
Im sorry but its just not there.

23n1th

That doesn't mean you dont need protection. If someone really wanted to break into your mac computer they would ask Charlie Miller.

As far as I know mac users are just as susceptible to phishing attempts etc as windows users and if you follow the link above to Macintosch Security you'd find:

4.16.10 News
Trojan Horse Alert: Intego recently alerted users to the presence of a new variant of the HellRaiser Trojan Horse, which they identify as OSX/HellRTS.D. SecureMac has analyzed this new variant and it is detected in the latest MacScan spyware definitions update (Spyware Definitions Version 2010006) as HellRaiser Trojan Horse 4.2. MacScan has detected previous variants of this trojan horse since 2005.
HellRaiser is a trojan horse that allows complete control of a computer by a remote attacker, giving the attacker the ability to transfer files to and from the infected computer, pop up chat messages on the infected system, display pictures, speak messages, and even remotely restart or shut down the infected machine.
The attacker can search through the files on the infected computer, choosing exactly what they want to steal, view the contents of the clipboard, or even watch the user's actions on the infected computer.
In order to become infected, a user must run the server component of the trojan horse, which can be disguised as an innocent file. The attacker then uses the client component of the trojan horse to take control of the infected system.

Before you even need to scroll down. Maybe you should look harder for that spyware that doesn't exist.

rhythmsoup

No operating system is immune from attack. To think so is a fatal mistake. A lot of vulnerabilities are not just in the OS but in the browsers you use, or the browser plugins, or the applications. Adobe reader and the flash plugin are among two which have seen a lot of press lately for having been exploited.

Im a linux user for example, I dont use AV tools but also I dont use Adobe reader, but I dont download and run scripts without trying to verify the source first and install only from known repositories, this doesnt mean im immune, just a little safer.

I have seen a AVG client for Mac Books and I would definitely do some research of your own. Have a look at this article here talking about the percentage of malware

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/13/malware_threat_lanscape/

As 23n1th says check out the link below

http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/gone-in-2-minutes-mac-gets-hacked-first-in-contest-676

SneakyP_2

I've used a Mac all my life and have never needed any for of security software, but it's better to be safe than sorry so I would suggest doing a bit more research and seeing what's available on the market. Me ...!? Well I'm just a rebel!

Hammyman

There are vulnerabilities in the wild for Mac OS X and I've posted them on here. However, keep it updated and use common sense and you'll be OK. You're most likely to have any attacks done from infected websites and they're targetted at Windows exploits. As rythmsoup has rightly said, its not usually the OS that is vulnerable but the applications. Firefox on the Mac is still as susceptible to website based attacks as its Windows counterpart. Safari has had its own share of vulnerabilities too.

23n1th

Safari seems to be the number hole in OSX security!