Mac computers don't get viruses: rumour or truth please?

Question

Mac computers don't get viruses: rumour or truth please?

Answer 1

If you were a virus writer, would you write viruses for the OS that has 90% of the market or the one that has 5%?

That's the main reason that fewer viruses are written for Macs than for Windows. And there are many times more users of Windows-based pc's than there are of Macs, so of course you're going to hear more about viruses with Windows pc's. The fact is that Macs can and do get viruses, and anyway XP with SP3 and Vista with SP1 are both now virtually as secure as any Mac.

Answer 2

depends what you download,so you can

Answer 3

It's true because no'one bothers to make viruses for Macs since no'one buys that trash anyway.

Answer 4

macs are rare stuff in many countries pretty expensive

Answer 5

Try doing a google search of "Mac antivirus" and you will see that there are plenty of antivirus products for Macs.

Answer 6

Mac's can get virus' but it's not likely we had someone here looking to get rid of a virus the other day with a mac

Answer 7

Rumor.

Macs get viruses just like PCs do.  Most of the major AntiVirus software companies have packages for the Macs.

Less viruses are written to target Macs because there are less Macs but that doesn't mean there aren't any.

Info on Mac viruses:  http://www.smallblue-greenworld.co.uk/pa...

Answer 8

Major myth, the reason: PCs account for 19 out of 20 computers. Virus writers therefore target the majority of people by writing viruses compatible with windows. With many young people believing Macs can't contract a virus they will become more popular (they already are). Then virus writers will begin to write more viruses targeting the Mac era. It's just a matter of time, although there are already viruses written for Macs. Did you know pop-ups are a low form of a virus? Have you ever seen a pop-up on a Mac? I have!

Answer 9

It's pretty simple to understand why there are more viruses on Windows than on OS X: more people use Windows than OS X. Hackers generally target the biggest nail in order to reach a much larger audience.

There is no such thing as a "perfect" operating system. As more people move to mac computers, so do more hackeres exposing the security flaws. Every piece of software is going to have some kind of exploit, but there are several things you can do in order to keep yourself safe no matter what PC or operating system you use.

1. Be careful what type of sites you visit. There are many unscrupulous websites out there that will readily infect your machine with a virus or adware.

2. Instead of downloading music, go to the store and buy the CD. Not only will you avoid any financially difficult legal situation, you'll also avoid any website that promises free MP3 downloads but only delivers viruses and adware.

3. Instead of looking for software cracks or serials online, look for coupons. The "crackz" scene is filled to the brim with malicious websites. You're not safe when you're visiting these "seedier" websites.

4. Do not run in Administrator mode. You should only run in Administrator mode when you're installing hardware or software, but running in a lower security mode you'll avoid a lot of the more invasive attacks.

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/compute...

Answer 10

Rumor

Answer 11

That is the truth.  It's very unlikely for Mac's to get virus's but never impossible.

Answer 12

Rumor.All Computer can be hackecked or get a virus.only if you have the best antivirus then again it may catch.One of my friends had a computer with nod32 premium and he told me to hack it so he can see how good is it.it just makes you more dufficlt.EVERY CONSOLE CAN BE hackecked or get a virus

Answer 13

Like all computers, you can get hacked and get viruses. But on Mac's there are only about 10 viruses and they are extremley hard to come by on the web, and when you do, it needs to ask your permission to install, so you can just deny it. You dont really need anti-virus programs on a mac but if you want one then there is no harm.

Answer 14

I've been on a mac for 12 years and never had a virus.