Mac OS X | Security / Privacy | Antivirus | Symantec Norton AntiVirus | There are no Mac viruses.

Symantec Norton AntiVirus

virus protection

Version: 11.0

[ Views: 1328 ]

There are no Mac viruses.

Feedback Type: Commentary

Contributed by: tuqqer Friday, January 27 2006 @ 09:41 AM PST

Product Platform: MacOSX

Used Product For: Have Not Tried

Recommend Product: NO

There are no Mac viruses. So you don't need this Mac-based "antivirus" software.

You'll hear this argument: "But we can get Windows files, and those could have viruses. If we email those virus-laden docs to a Windows user, they'll then get the virus."

With the exception of Word and Excel docs (both which can contain a Windows-only virus), at what point would you be forwarding a Windows document on to someone? I work in a Windows and Mac environment. In 15 years, there's never been one time when I felt compelled to forward an .exe or .dat doc onto a Windows person. On the times that I do send a Word or Excel doc, they are generally ones created from scratch on my Mac. Those can't contain viruses. On the ones I forward from someone else, every Windows person I know realizes the risks inherent in using that platform, most notably: do not open a Word or Excel doc without checking it for viruses

This has become crazy. I am convinced that the only reason Norton is still capaple of making any money at a Mac antivirus software is from two kinds of people:

1. switchers, who just can't believe that a computer is incapable of getting a virus.

2. People so new at computing (my mom is absolutely paranoid of viruses. She TOUCHED her first computer, a Mac, last December.

5 of 12 users found this helpful.

Rate this Commentary

Was this Commentary helpful? Yes | No

Comments

There are no Mac viruses. - starion

You forgot one type of person...

Those of us who run the servers from which you may get your email.

Norton works just fine in this situation. Yes it IS important for us to screen for viruses on our email server, as we have both Mac and Windows users. It is primarily for our Windows users that we use Norton.

Reply to This

Friday, January 27 2006 @ 12:19 PM PST

There are no Mac viruses. - igamogam

Another reason to have NAV on a (non-server) mac is to stop you passing on any virus in an email that you forward to clients, colleagues, friends or family that have windows PC's.

I'm not worried about my mac- it's other people's computers that I don't want to be infected.

Reply to This

Friday, January 27 2006 @ 11:22 PM PST

There are no Mac viruses. -

Where's the problem ?
PC's owners have to do their job first ! They need an antivirus solution, so…
If we (macusers) send viruses (which ones and how many per year ? Anyone can give any stats ?!), they've got their bigshield.
So, if the problem is out of the mac, why have we to worry about ?
I think the the job of PC's owners is to tell Macusers they sent some craps… !
One more time for the fun : which craps and how many per year ?

Responsiblize it.

Reply to This

Saturday, January 28 2006 @ 01:01 AM PST

There are no Mac viruses. - Jussi_79

That's a nice selfish way of thinking. If I don't have a problem, why should I help the ones who have. That's the way to bild a better world..

Reply to This

Saturday, January 28 2006 @ 03:21 AM PST

There are no Mac viruses. - tuqqer

Starion: point taken! For people who run servers, you need every bit of insurance you can get ahold of. And that would be a good part of NAV's advertising: if you run servers, you absolutely need this.

To most other mac users: if an email does not have an attachment, there can't be a virus. In other words, text can't hold a virus. Only some kind of executable attachment can. And when is the last time you *forwarded* on an PC-only attachment to some PC? If you say "all the time", or "just last week", the question is WHY? Why would a Mac user ever send on an executable/.dat file to anyone? True, you could own NAV, test that .exe file, and then be assured that it's a great .exe to send to anyone. And for those in that situation where their job requires then to send on any and all attachemnts, NAV is for you. But my guess is that many NAV users are using it out of lack of knowledge, not out of any need.

Jussi said: "That's a nice selfish way of thinking..."
Not at all. A Mac user can be absolutely certain that they are never the source of any viruses without NAV, or any anti-virus software. How? *Don't forward executable files.* And if you are forwarding executable files, then yes, you need to purchase NAV.

Reply to This

Saturday, January 28 2006 @ 07:55 AM PST

There are no Mac viruses. - banana_skin

as a mac cannot run a .exe without emulation software (and thats only if it can run in that) just chuck the file in the Trash! any other files dont use Office to open it! (convert it to mac and re-save the file (btw: which is PC compatible)

Didn't you know that the Mac Anti-virus software is the last thing to be updated with new Virus-Definitions... Its your PC's you should be keeping UP TO DATE every Day!!! (if not every couple of Days MINIMUM!!!)

Your Money, You spend it where you see fit!!!

Reply to This

Saturday, January 28 2006 @ 11:24 PM PST