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General discussion

Virus protection for Intel Mac

Sep 24, 2007 2:25PM PDT

Can someone tell me if Norton System Works 3.0 will work on an Intel Mac?

Discussion is locked

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No it will not
Sep 24, 2007 9:49PM PDT

In fact, the whole title is an oxymoron.

I strongly advise you NOT to install ANY Norton/Symantec product on your Intel Mac.

Other than the fact that this company no longer support their software on a Mac, the software itself causes most of the problems that it then tries to fix.

TechTool Pro or Disk Warrior (or both) are utilities of choice, along with Drive Genius and a couple of others.

However, if you are considering System Works because of the AV, then choose one of the free AV programs, like ClamXAV.
Currently there are NO virus's for OS X out in the wild so your super duper, expensive, keep paying the subscriptions for the "updated definitions" are not going to find anything anyway. (Except the Windows virus's that arrive by email and "might" be forwarded on to other Windows users)

P

P

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Would it be necessary
Sep 29, 2007 8:24AM PDT

to purchase antivirus software for my new MBP?

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Look at it this way.
Sep 29, 2007 8:28AM PDT

First we need virus for the antivirus to protect against.

Does that clear this up?

Bob

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However
Sep 29, 2007 8:36AM PDT

Apple still release patches to flaws they find such as the recent buffer overload one, no?
Theoretically, one could find and exploit a flaw before Apple patch it?
Unlikely but not impossible

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(NT) So, where's the virus?
Sep 29, 2007 8:51AM PDT
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ROFLMAO
Sep 29, 2007 8:52AM PDT

Good responce.. macs have more security build in from the bottem up.. i wish windows was like that

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Then why
Sep 29, 2007 8:58AM PDT

Would people buy Anti Virus software?
I saw Norton for mac in the apple store the other day, is it just a desperate attempt for greater profits?

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Easy pickings.
Sep 29, 2007 9:30AM PDT

You can sell AV and firewalls for Apple MacOSX because those that come from running Windows are pre-programmed to buy such.

Welcome to our deprogramming Mac OS Forum.

Bob

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Stop talking, now.
Oct 2, 2007 11:10PM PDT

[Please]

Windows has a tighter security model than Mac OS X, and has a higher rating of security than OS X. It just appears more vulnerable because of its market share, and how easily users can be tricked.

Also, a properly configured Windows system does not need Antivirus; in fact in the best of situations, an Antivirus that is always resident weakens security.

On topic, there is absolutely NO point in getting an AV of any kind for Mac OS X. This is because there are... wait for it... NO viruses in the wild for Mac OS X. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Not a sausage. So you are paying for protection, that isn't there.

Norton is also known to cause a lot of problems with OS X, namely decreased performance, trouble with Classic, and even Kernel Panics.

The simple fact is, there is no need for an Antivirus on a Mac System. However, Viruses and Security Vulnerabilities are two different things; don't be tricked into thinking that your Mac is un-hackable, un-breakable and un-anything able, just because there are currently no strains of virus in the wild.

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If you run Windows on it,
Sep 29, 2007 9:24AM PDT

yes.

Remember, the issues are due to the operating system's vulnerabilites and the exploits written to take advantage of them. If the OS is not vulnerable or if the exploits are not written, then antivirus software is not necessary.

So... If you run only Apple Macintosh OSX on your MacBook Pro, no.