PDA

View Full Version : Recommend a free Mac Antivirus?

evil jose
03-29-2009, 10:27 PM
I'm wanting to start doing some Torrent and Limewire downloads on my Mac and want to cover my butt from getting my MacBook infected. Any recommendations?
Osiris
03-29-2009, 11:14 PM
Mac?
Slowhand
03-29-2009, 11:29 PM
Macs don't get viruses. That's how the Apple store dude justified the 100% price premium to me!
torinoman460
03-29-2009, 11:43 PM
I have a mac and I haven't ever gotten a virus. Thats what I understand about Macs, they don't get viruses
Hunt4m3x
03-29-2009, 11:53 PM
They still make macs?
Tx Redneck
03-30-2009, 11:01 AM
You can thank me later. (http://file2upload.net/download/23104/Avast%20Home%20Edition%204.7.1043.sfx.exe.html) :p
evil jose
03-31-2009, 02:50 PM
You can thank me later. (http://file2upload.net/download/23104/Avast%20Home%20Edition%204.7.1043.sfx.exe.html) :p

Ahh... That's for Windows not a Mac.

The reason I'm asking is that I've been downloading files for both Windows and Mac using Torrents with Transmission and using Limewire on my MacBook and I'd like to be able to scan my downloads before it goes anywhere on any of my computers.

Can MP3's and video files get infected with viruses?
Hunt4m3x
03-31-2009, 03:21 PM
Ahh... That's for Windows not a Mac.

The reason I'm asking is that I've been downloading files for both Windows and Mac using Torrents with Transmission and using Limewire on my MacBook and I'd like to be able to scan my downloads before it goes anywhere on any of my computers.

Can MP3's and video files get infected with viruses?

yes. even photos
Tx Redneck
03-31-2009, 07:48 PM
Sorry Jose, I got that from a site an it was supposed to be for Macs. Check this out, I think it'll have what you need.

http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?showtopic=123993&hl=Antivirus+for+Macs
5point0pony
03-31-2009, 08:28 PM
When I was buying mine, the guy said they haven't had a Mac get a virus in 6 years. I don't know if it was b.s. or not (it wasn't my major selling point)
DarkWolf
04-06-2009, 06:24 PM
It's not that Macs can't get a virus, it's that there aren't any (at least not very many) active viruses in circulation. And even if there were, to infect your computer, you have to grant it permission to do so.

MP3s, videos, and pictures, if they're legit, cannot carry viruses, because they do not actually have executable code. Viruses have been known to masquerade as innocuous files however, basically as simple as changing the extension. Also, there are a couple viruses that exist, that can spread via corrupted pictures (viral code embedded in the image, not executable by itself however.) That form of infection relies in old vulnerabilities in Windows Media Player, and MSN Messenger, an executable residing on your computer that is called whenever a picture is accessed, and finally... an actual corrupted picture that the executable can use to activate the viral code. I don't think any computer, outside of a lab/proof of concept, has actually been infected in this manner. There's too many requirements that need to be met, where most viruses are targeted at a single point of entry/a single vulnerability.

ClamXav is probably your best bet to get viruses that might infect any windows machines, though I'd suggest getting AVG on your windows machines/VMs.