Industry


Ads by TechWords

See your link here


Preston Gralla's picture
Preston Gralla

Seeing Through Windows

Apple: Ooops! Macs don't need anti-virus software

A day after the blogosphere noted that Apple has finally admitted Macs need anti-virus software, Apple has pulled a KnowledgeBase article recommending that Mac users install security software. When will Apple finally admit Macs need protection?

 

As I pointed out in a previous post, Apple: We admit it --- Macs need anti-virus software, an Apple KnowledgeBase article recommended that Mac users use anti-virus software. Here's what it had to say:

Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.

It appears that the KnowledgeBase article was, in fact, an old one, and only recently received any publicity. In response, Apple has since pulled the article. Go to it now and you'll get this message:

We're sorry.
We can't find the article you're looking for.

An Apple spokesman, in explaining why the article was pulled, had this to say:

The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box. However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, running antivirus software may offer additional protection.

How's that for being mealy-mouthed? On the one hand, Apple is saying that Macs are secure and don't need additional software. Then in the next sentence, they say anti-virus software can be useful as well.

Apple, once again, is trying to play it too cute when it comes to potential dangers. Any operating system is potentially vulnerable to threats and the sooner Apple admits it, the safer Mac users will be.

What People Are Saying

Mac viruses are rare, but

Mac viruses are rare, but they do exist. It's foolish to not run AV software.

mac virus protection

Why would mac users waste time and money on antivirus software over the past ten years before it is needed. No existing antivirus software is likely to stop the first mac attack. We will wait until the threat exists. When it does, then we can act. Till then, let's stop these annual beat-ups.

AV on the Mac

My company's standard practice (one I agree with) is to install anti-virus software on our Macs. While the official reason is lost to me in a sea of bureaucracy and Sarbox, these are the reasons I give: One day there will be a virulent Mac virus. On that day, I have no intention of being known as Patient Zero. More importantly, viruses can transit from a PC through a Mac system untouched. The fact that we weren't infected will be of no comfort to our clients on PCs that receive viruses passed through our Mac user base.

Apple puts ego over security

I was sorry to read this article. With Apple gaining more market share it is only a matter of time until a Mac targeted attack is launched. There is no totally secure OS. Apple is putting ego ahead of their customers security and best interests. I wrote more on my blog about this here

I'm really surprised that

I'm really surprised that the vast majority of people have never run anti-virus software. I always assume people have the software and just run it every once in a while. I use ClamXAV when I want to scan a file I've downloaded or received via email, but I don't have it set up to continually scan. I read a post today at Mac Guru Lounge on the Top 5 Mac Security Tips for the Holidays, which also talked about running AV software.

Macs don't need Virus Protection

According this article in Computerworld:

Apple's antivirus advice 'big to-do about nothing,' says researcher

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9122120