A couple of days ago, I got an email from PR of Symantec Corp. about the availability of Norton Internet Security for Mac which includes a firewall and anti-virus.
While there’s been some word from Apple that Mac users are recommended to use anti-virus, this has been downplayed because Macs have been marketed as free from any sort of virus.
I guess the need for anti-virus for the Mac has become more important now that the newer Intel machines are able to run Windows (via BootCamp, etc). Besides, most exploits seems to be targeted towards the Safari browser.
Even Mac owners are susceptible to online threats, and when it comes to phishing, it doesn’t matter what platform you’re using,†said Rowan Trollope, senior vice president, Consumer Business Unit, Symantec. “The data we are seeing from Symantec’s Security Response is showing that Macs can be a target for viruses and malware. Norton Internet Security for Mac now helps safeguard users from phishing threats, malware and hackers, without compromising system performance.
The suggested retail price for Norton Internet Security for Mac is PHP4,890, which includes a one-year subscription to Symantec protection updates. The suggested retail price for Norton Internet Security for Mac Dual Protection is PHP5,510, which includes a one-year subscription to Symantec protection updates.
@rolly, at least we now both agree that there’s that “opportunity” where an anti-virus is needed. =) Likewise, the McAfee solution was a package deal for all three (phishing, malware and antivirus).
and I just realized, the email you got is for Norton Internet security which I believe is for phishing and firewall protection only. It isn’t for Antivirus (which is what your title say). I would have agreed on this article had it had a proper title and context to phishing and firewall only – since they are not dependent on OS but the user. That’s why it’s alarming why you leverage antivirus on a phishing and firewall app.
well, that’s where this post is loose. Antivirus would have been needed for Windows and not for Mac (for discussion sake only) based on the hardware premise.
As for antivirus companies, they are capitalist companies. They create the market, so take anything they say with a grain of salt. If you actually check the Mac community news, there has yet to be a worldwide outbreak of at least one virus that infects a Mac. As of now, there are only phishing, and botnet (from iWork/Photoshop) – which isn’t a virus and needs user interaction (push a button or install the app).
I use both systems, and a common courtesy amongst Mac users would actually use antivirus apps just to check files they’d get from Windows users to clean it, before sending it back. That’s how Mac users would need the antivirus – as courtesy, and not for protection.
yuga, first there is convoluting phishing and viruses (they are entirely two different things, the latter only exists in Windows and has to have a public appearance in a Mac – the botnet from iWork is from pirated copies, and needs user intervention, they deserve it – stupid ***)
Second, you said it yourself that viruses are needed because Macs run Windows. What is the root cause again?
I’d always take all posts here with a grain of salt since I’m not entirely sure if these are not FUD. my 2 cents.
Exactly, that’s why the hardware (i.e. Mac, Macbook, iMac) is not safe anymore from viruses because it no longer just runs on OSX but Windows as well. I would have agreed with you about FUD had the title said “Anti-virus for OSX” (as in if you run OSX on a Dell machine, you don’t need anti-virus for it).
Then again, it points to the core of the question — why have vendors like McAfee been selling antivirus for the Mac for years now if there’s nothing to defend against? If they are able to continue development and sell these anti-virus, would that mean Mac users are continuously buying softwares they don’t need at all? Or is it all for the “preparation/defense” of an upcoming public virus?
mac can’t recognize .exe files..
As the market for Macs increases so does the viruses, malwares.
Scammers, spammers, hackers and cyber terrorist will always find a way.
Macs will never be virus free. Period.
mac is based from BSD OS. So there is no need for anti-virus for mac. have you heard that there is a visus for BSD? I dont think so.
BSD is a hardcore OS even compare to linux.
People who needs for antivirus are the one who uses windows
“Macs are virus free”
NOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!
lol
Yuga, oks na link bait ah. Welcome back dvorak!
hehe
jomar
macs rule!
There’s a conspiracy theory on that.
Just a though, does anyone think that anti-virus companies make viruses themselves? You think thats possible?
the future has arrived.. good for anti virus makers and virus makers too
there goes the so-called virus-free Mac! hehe
I hope symantec offering their price more reasonable cause I’m considering buying a iMac. LOL
I agree. With the increasing market share of Apple, we’ll see more attempts from malicious coders unleashing viruses on the Mac. I hope Apple takes these virus and malware threats more seriously.