OS X Questions Anyone Please?

Ok I know this is a PC forum, but Wilders is great!

I figured if anyone knows some stuff it will be here and that's why I wanted to ask to see if, one anyone knows, or what other great forum like Wilders I can go to.

I'd like to know if with the latest versions of OS X you need to run an AV application?

THANKS

 

Questions like that are somewhat difficult to answer. It depends. But I'll give it a go...

You never "need" an AV, if by "need" we mean something that is absolutely required, or otherwise disaster will befall you. Sometimes an AV can be useful, and sometimes recommended.

You would be wise to use an AV if you want to be click-happy and execute anything and everything you see without any consideration or care as to the origins and trustworthiness of the file. But if you do this, the AV will only help a little, and you'll still be at some risk. So, don't do that (act carelessly, I mean).

On the other hand, if you use your head, an AV will only get in the way and slow your system down for no good reason. Just think about what you're doing on the system - if you don't know that a file is safe, don't execute it. If something asks for your password in order to install itself, just say no - unless you're absolutely sure that the program is good and trusted. And that's it. There is very little malware for OS X, and that probably won't dramatically change soon. That's not to say that OS X has any technology that makes it immune. On the contrary, it is not immune. It's just that it's not a very good target: there are far more Windows systems out there, and unlike in OS X, most of those Windows systems are running with everyone logged in as admin, so they are an easier target.

If you have Windows systems in your network, or do a lot of stuff with people who use Windows, you might consider an AV so as to avoid sending Windows malware to any of them, accidentally (such as by forwarding email that has an infected attachment). But if you know what you're doing, then that is not needed at all.

 

There are threads on the subject in the forums here.http://www.macrumors.com/

 

I did some searching on this exact topic when I switched to OS X. The general consensus for an AV on OS X was "none needed". The only reason I can think of using one is for the reason that Windchild stated at the end of his post but, since all of my Windows machines have an AV, I didn't install one on my mini or Macbook.

Here are a few Mac forums that I frequent

http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/macdsl

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/

http://www.123macmini.com/

http://forums.macnn.com/