With BSD underpinnings, it makes me wonder what this means for FreeBSD and the like.

I suppose we should note that Apple's commercials seem to finally (blessedly!) be leaving the I'm a Mac/I'm a PC stuff behind. The new Macbook commercial (just saw it on ESPN) is a nice change of pace. Says nothing about its competitor, but still differentiates itself with its environmental impact (or lack thereof).

*sigh*

And here's TR acting like sheep as well and picking up a "news" article that actually ISN'T. Apple have been recommending AV software use for both OS 9 AND OS X.

Hell, OS X Server even SHIPS with an anti virus BUILT IN !

Here's an article that tells you how to use it on OS X 10.5 Server :

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=ServerAdmin/10.5/en/c1...

And here's one from the OS 9 era :

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50569

Adi

This is one easy method to remove the need for AV:
http://thinkgos.com/index.php

Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.

I'm surprised to see this in print. Actually, it isn't true. The problem is that AV programs approach the system in different ways and if you install "multiple AV programs" then the most likely result is that in some way they are going to conflict with each other and cause the user a whole new set of problems that have nothing to do with malicious software. IIRC, most AV software programs expressly state that you should *not* run multiple AV programs at the same time for that reason.

Now that this news has leaked, Apple has changed its mind!....;)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10111958-83.html

Apple removed an old item from its support site late Tuesday that urged Mac customers to use multiple antivirus utilities and now says the Mac is safe "out of the box."

"We have removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was old and inaccurate," Apple spokesperson Bill Evans said.

"The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box," he said. "However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, running antivirus software may offer additional protection."

Sort of changed its mind, I guess...;) Few things are more entertaining than Apple marketing. Note that in the original AV advice Apple recommends Norton AV 11, which just so happens to support OSX 10.4/5, but in this newer, watered-down AV advice Apple now claims that Norton AV 11 is part of "old and inaccurate" advice. Looking at Apple stumble and fumble is always such fun...;)

Are there many good free AV programs for MacOS? There are a few good ones for Windows

Amazing... It's old news...

http://gizmodo.com/5100996/false-alarm-apple-mac-os-x-anti+virus-re...

They made themselves a big target with their smug advertising. They should've known there are people who have nothing better to do than make viruses/maleware.

They don't even make good, free AV software for PC's anymore, I can't imagine that a good free alternative exists on the Mac. Avast's interface blows, AVG is terribly broken, and to be honest, I'm not using anything now.

"Krebs writes that Mac malware generally "tricks the user into agreeing to download and install it"

Most infections that I deal with are a result of 2 things. User error (agreeing and installing it) and non patched boxes and I deal primarly with windows machines...

Maybe it's cause I'm a grown up I don't get this animosity between Mac & PCs.

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/apple-says-cust.html

Apple: Our Ads Don't Lie, But You're a Fool if You Believe Them

http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200849/2543/Simpsons-parod...

Timing couldn't be better. (He posts from his first gen Macbook Pro...)

It would be much more interesting if even one of you even realized that Apple has always recommended that their customers use anti virus software on their support boards. But then this board seems to be populated by (or posted to by) people who strongly support Mac haters.

Additionally, while implying that Macs don't get viruses, if you listen to the ad you will realize that the ad does not say Macs don't get viruses.

Finally, to date, there has been zero. Yes, zero, viruses specifically targeting Mac OS X that are in the wild. Yes, there have been trojans and other pieces of software attacking the Mac, but no viruses in the wild.

So for well over a hundred million user years of Mac OS X there have been no viruses. The same cannot be said for Vista as there have been Vista specific viruses in existence since before it even officially shipped. Other versions of Windows have had targeted viruses before their user years have even reached one million.

Is Mac OS X truly secure? Obviously not -- and anyone who thinks it is most certainly is a complete fool. The only truly secure OS is the one that is on a computer that is turned off and locked inside your safe deposit box. Specific exploits of any OS will continue to be found.

Is Mac OS X more secure than Windows? It's track record over the past several years would imply this is true, but that is by absolutely no means any statement of fact.

I have no idea why people have to defend their favourite company every single time.

I guess the real question here is whether this (apparently venerable) recommendation conflicts with their ads.

If I remember the ad correctly, MS bring sick and Mac not personally concerned, the ad is still valid, based on the number of OSX infections.

I'm actually surprised to see such counter, reactionary MS support. Maybe I'm the only XP/Vista/OSX/Linux Linuxite posting...

DrCR

________________
My thought of the day: If it's supposed to be called a cmb btn, and not apple btn, why is there a apple logo on it?

This is the beggining of the end for Mac's claim of virus-less operation systems. I hope it continues =D Not because I hate macs, but because they need a kick in the nuts.

I think virus writers (whoever they happen to be) don't bother with viruses for OS X too much because they know Macs are so lame to begin with.

As Macs become somewhat less lame--switching to Intel processors, actually having market share measured in full percentage points--virus writers see something worth actually screwing up and will go after them, as they're doing now.

;-) Go TR Mac-bashing!

what I can't figure out is, are they suggesting people run multiple AV apps on one machine, or recommending they pick one item from their list?

Mac AV apps (at least, as long as I've known about them) have generally scanned for Windows viruses as well, so this can help your Windows/Boot Camp install.

I read on Low End Mac that at one point there were something like 75 viruses for the classic Mac OS, but like the current OS X virii, you have to work to get them.

Apple is the starbucks type pointy nose lifestyle I do not like one bit.

On Windows however, there are HUNDREDS that do exactly that. Hell i experienced that eons ago when i installed WinXP SP0 on a PC and connected to the internet to get my updates without being behind a router. My fresh install got pwned before i was even able to load Windows Update.

I, and any other experienced admin, would concede this point.

Show of hands here; who has installed an image of WinXP SP0 circa 2001 in the last five years? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

The problem with this example is one of a temporal nature; Windows has become more resilient against attacks (particularly with Vista) and OS X has become popular enough for malware-coding m0therfkers to notice. The whole Windozes-pwned-by-attaching-to-the-internet myth propagated by a thousand Macolyte websites is no longer valid.

I had McAfee on 10.3. But it was not compatible with tiger, so I ditched it.

http://blog.sofasurfer.ch/DasBlog/content/binary/We_love_Macs.jpg

There was only one virus for OSX and that was fixed. OS9 and previous MacOS's had more virus's than OSX, yet had less market share.

OSX is in no way immune to virus's, however it is more acceptable to Malware. Phishing has no boundary in what OS is used and Safari browser doesn't have the Phishing protection that IE7 has now.

As the gain in OSX grows, so does the use in Malware, since Malware is about making money and generally Malware is targeted toward Windows. Security has do more with the person behind the keyboard than any piece of security software out there or OS.

You can have the best OS possible and Security Software, but it's the user who usually screws it up.

Eh... anything else besides Norton or McAfee? Intego looks okay but I'm not willing to shell $70.00 for AV ware.

Least they're doing the right thing, rather than being stubborn about it and potentially endangering their users. Oh, wait, apparently they've "always" recommended anti-virus software, so never mind.

The only virus Macs have is Justin Long.

ALL IS WELL!!!!

yeah i dont get how its hard for AV to deal with users downloading and running apps. scan the file as its written to disk or scan it as its loaded......PC AV apps can do this so why not mac AV apps?