Do Macs need protection?

Archive
1

Hi Guys
Just thought I’d start a little discussion please feel free to post any info on this!
I would be thinking of getting a MacBook because I’d like to use the program Logic that you can buy on there.
So bottom line my question is can a MacBook get infected with viruses or any dodgy malware? I have about 5 friends with MacBook laptops and they don’t run any antivirus software on them. Maybe they’re all lucky or something? I know you can get Norton or MacBooks but my friends haven’t run into any problems yet (touch wood!)

Any comments you can chip in would be great!
Regards

2

" So bottom line my question is can a MacBook get infected with viruses or any dodgy malware"

 

Hi AA1,

 

Of course they can be infected.

Also there is a Norton for Mac products:  http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-for-Mac/bd-p/norton_mac  which would have no purpose of existence if MAC's were immune to infections.

 

Best regards,

3

Hi Apostolos!
Thanks a lot i think I may have to tell my friends to get Norton on macs! Just one more question at our college we have about 30 MacBooks without running AV how come they aren’t infected with anything?

Thanks a lot

4

"   how come they aren't infected with anything?"

 

And how would you know it, are you using them and testing constantly??

Are they running in a sort of "sandboxed" mode???

The purpose of a sophisticated malware is to do it's job in stealth mode whenever possible, this is where Norton is coming to fill the gap.

 

Regards,

5

AA1,

 

I must say however that MACs are not as heavily attacked as Microsoft Windows OS's.

 

Regards,

6

Hi Apostolos
They seem fine to me when I’ve used them but you could be right sometimes they’re quite slow and they take a while to boot up but maybe that’s just computer weirdness. So why do some people not choose to run AV programs on macs? Or is it just personal preference for it? But I know if I ever get a Mac now that getting Norton Mac will be my thing to do! :slight_smile:

Regards

7

Almost certainly they access the internet via the college network which will be protected?

8

Hello huwyngr
They access a network which is the internet for the whole college there is a filter on what websites you are allowed to go on for example FaceBook is blocked and YouTube is blocked in certain places in the college. Maybe there filter has something to do with them not getting any nasties? To my knowledge I’m aware that the college have KasperKey AV on the PC’s and laptops that run Windows. It might not be called that I can’t actually remember the name of the AV, and they also have Microsoft defender or smart essentials running with that!

Thanks a lot :slight_smile:

9

Not everyone catches a cold every winter and some get sicker than others. Without a trip to the doctor you don't know if what you have is an overnight discomfort or a trip to the hospital to cure.

All computers should be protected at all times. This goes double when they are connected to the Internet. Network firewalls and AV protection is good but problems still get in. My wowrk computer is protected twice by the city IT and by our department IT. I still have an AV program installed and run an antimalware scan weekly. I may see a week when nothing is found.

Stay well and surf safe

10

Hi dickevans
Very good explanation I didn’t really think of it like that! I think now if I choose to get a mac I will run it with Norton

Thanks a lot for everyone’s input :slight_smile:
Take care

11
AudiA1 wrote:
Hi dickevans
Very good explanation I didn't really think of it like that! I think now if I choose to get a mac I will run it with Norton

Thanks a lot for everyone's input :)
Take care

Hi,
Sometimes it helps to step outside the box and look at the situation. It is easier to see the forest when yoou are not surrounded by trees :smileywink:

12

Hi dickevans
Another nice little explanation!
I couldn’t agree anymore :slight_smile:

Take care!
Regards

13

Hi, AudiA1.

 

I have always wondered why you'd rather post on here from the iPhone with its itty-bitty screen instead of from your Norton secured Windows 8 laptop that has a keyboard, especially since the latter is, well, secured. :smileyhappy:

14

Hi Inquirer
Good point!
I use my phone because I find getting around the website is a lot easier!
I know this sounds bad but I don’t know how to reply to people on the website!
But my I miss the smiley faces that you can’t get on the computer which I can’t get on here!
I will have to learn how to use it on my computer sharpish!

Thanks a lot :slight_smile:

15
AudiA1 wrote:
I don't know how to reply to people on the website!

But I see you reply on here all the time--just now, for example. :smileyhappy:

 

Do you mean you don't know how to reply from your computer? The interface appears to be the same on both my desktop computer and my tablet.  Maybe it's different on a smartphone.  I've never posted or even visited this site from a smartphone, so I wouldn't know. :smileyhappy:

16

Hi Inquirer
The website is fairly different on iPhone then it is to using it on the computer but if I’m on my computer I’ll normally check the site out there but if my computer isn’t on I just check it from my phone!
I suppose it’s all personal preference but it is a lot easier to type while using a normal computer keyboard instead of a phone!

Thanks a lot
Regards

17
AudiA1 wrote:

The website is fairly different on iPhone then it is to using it on the computer

I see. :smileyhappy: