Can Macs be exploited by spyware or viruses?

I am in a discussion on a private forum about PC security software. Someone has just suggested that if you run a business and use a Mac there is no need to have any security software like antivirus, firewall, or antispyware.

I am not that familiar with Macs or the OS, although I have read there are some proof of concept viruses for Macs about, and I was wondering what the general opinion is on here...

Is personal data and customer data secure on a Mac without any additional security software?

 

mac's have less security holes and hardly any malware because not many people use them.
you dont need much secuirirty on a mac for now at least.
who knows if tons of people buy macs then they will be exploited to
lodore

 

F-Secure´s blog

 

Hello,

I don't buy the - few people use it so it's not being exploited. *NIX and all possible derivatives are safer by default, 4.3 orders of magnitude, than Windows.

As to spyware / adware / malware - anything is possible when a user deliberately installs software. But the chances of that happening without user's consent during a simple session of chat / browsing / p2p etc are less than remote. PoC, nice to have, but so it cold fusion.

With *NIX systems, all you need is a firewall.

Mrk