Spyware / Virus programs for Apple

widgeon13 · 05-21-2009, 04:11 AM

Are there any free spyware or virus programs for Apple computers? I am having some eratic performance issues w/ my G4 and was wondering if there is something I can run that will give me any indication of any problems.

Thanks

stomachmonkey · 05-21-2009, 05:11 AM

ClamAV is open source.

http://www.clamav.net/

Here's a link for a gui for it.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/networking_security/clamxav.html

Doubt you have a virus

widgeon13 · 05-21-2009, 05:15 AM

Thanks very much.

Moses · 05-21-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Doubt you have a virus

20 years of running Mac's at home and at work. Never had a virus. Don't know anyone who has.

126coupe · 126coupe's Garage

Just brought my Mac Book to the Apple Store thinking I had a virus. The tech guy told there are no virus that attack apple computers.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Download and run Maintenance. I run it every month or so. http://downloads.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=889939
Also max out RAM while memory is cheap.
I, too, quite doubt you have a virus.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 126coupe

Just brought my Mac Book to the Apple Store thinking I had a virus. The tech guy told there are no virus that attack apple computers.

That is Apple hype.

http://antivirus.about.com/od/macintoshresource/Macintosh_Viruses_and_Mac_Virus_Resources.htm

People don't attack the Macs, because they make up something like 4% of computers out there.

legion · 05-21-2009, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

That is Apple hype.

http://antivirus.about.com/od/macintoshresource/Macintosh_Viruses_and_Mac_Virus_Resources.htm

People don't attack the Macs, because they make up something like 4% of computers out there.

Yep, but the increasing hubris of Mac users is making them an increasingly attractive ego target for hackers. Most virus writers/hackers go for the biggest bang (the 90% of the PC market that Windows enjoys). Some like the challenge of knocking a small, arrogant user group off of their perch.

varmint · 05-21-2009, 06:39 AM

a lot of the nastier viruses are coming out of china and russia. from people who have never even seen a mac up close.

but who the gods would destroy they first make proud. there is nothing inherently invulnerable about these machines.

dad911 · 05-21-2009, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varmint

....... there is nothing inherently invulnerable about these machines.

other than the operating system?

legion · 05-21-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

other than the operating system?

Obscurity is not invulnerability.

jeffgrant · 05-21-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Obscurity is not invulnerability.

No, but a "properly" designed OS with a strong basis in security engineering is a good start.

Without meaning to start a flame or religious war, OS X is a much better designed OS from a security point of view than any win32 OS.

stomachmonkey · 05-21-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Obscurity is not invulnerability.

That's a tired and frankly lame argument. Always has been.

Apple sells 5 million boxes a year. That's a pretty small target.

Explain to me why there were a few hundred viruses for OS 9, (OS X's immediate non.nix predecessor) and none in the 10 years OS X has been around with a vastly higher installed base.

widgeon13 · 05-21-2009, 11:33 AM

Thanks guys, scanned a few things and nothing has shown up. I appreciate the guidance.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Thanks guys, scanned a few things and nothing has shown up. I appreciate the guidance.

Nothing will show up. At this point, there are no viruses or worms that attack OSX. OSX is build on FreeBSD, which has been hammered endlessly for over a decade.

The only threat 'in the wild' came in some pirated software, and required an approval to install -- as does every program on the Mac.

widgeon13 · 05-21-2009, 12:54 PM

i'm not a student of the Apple operating system, I use it and enjoy the convenience. At my age I find more enjoyment in a few other endeavors as well so OSX is a low priority. I appreciate any guidance that was offered in response to my question.

Ronbo · 05-21-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I am having some eratic performance issues

If you haven't already, try repairing your permissions from the Disk Utility program located in your Utilities folder.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronbo

If you haven't already, try repairing your permissions from the Disk Utility program located in your Utilities folder.

+1

I should have mentioned that. Probably should do it once every 3-4 months.

widgeon13 · 05-21-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronbo

If you haven't already, try repairing your permissions from the Disk Utility program located in your Utilities folder.

Done, says all OK so I will presume no problems.

jyl · jyl's Garage

If still acting weird, try resetting PRAM. Google it, you'll find lots of info. When you bring a misbehaving Mac into the Apple Store, this is one of the first things they do. You will have to reset various preferences and system time afterwards.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379