viruses

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Level 1

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viruses

I have always been told you can't get a virus on a Mac. But today, I have been trying to search something on google and everytime I try I get... http://scanner.win-antivir-2008.com/?aff=1050
It's the Win Antivir 2008 website telling me I have: Backdoor.sdBot and TrojenDropper along with a few other problems. I assume it is bull and they are just trying to sell me something. So, I figure I'd ask about viruses on the mac here. Anyone know anything?

G4, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jul 28, 2008 8:45 AM

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Answer 1

Ed Kraus

Level 1

96 points

Jul 28, 2008 8:50 AM in response to peterjudi

Mac Can get viruses. For some reason the jerks that make the viruses, usually don't make the viruses for mac. My mom has gotten a virus but it's very uncommon. All i could say is get virus protection for mac. I'm not sure if norton still has virus protection for mac, but i know mcafee does.

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Answer 2

peterjudi Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 28, 2008 8:53 AM in response to Ed Kraus

thanks for your help!

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Answer 3

Camelot

Level 9

54,339 points

Jul 28, 2008 9:00 AM in response to peterjudi

That site is completely bogus. It tries to tell me I'm infected with 6 different viruses, including 2 critical ones.

I don't discount the value of running anti-virus software but I do object to the sleazy approach used by this company (they don't even offer Mac-based solutions).

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Answer 4

peterjudi Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 28, 2008 9:14 AM in response to Camelot

I agree. But I have noticed the internet and email on my computer has been running very slow for the past few days. I'm conected to a server and the other computer's are working fine so it made me think. I'm buying a anti-virus software anyway. I figure it's worth checking into.

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Answer 5

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Jul 28, 2008 9:28 AM in response to peterjudi

NEVER believe any messages like the one you are getting from this website. as mentioned this site is utterly bogus. there are plenty of sites like this one out there and you should not take any one of them seriously. this one is pretty laughable actually. when it supposedly scans your system you can see that it designed for windows as a bunch of .exe and .dll file whiz by (those are windows files and you don't have any of them on your mac). windows viruses can't infect a mac, period.

Also, the number of Mac viruses out there is ZERO. there are some trojans but very few and if you take minimal precautions about what you download and install you should be fine. Most mac users don't use any AV software and are completely fine. Of course, this might change in the future.

Certainly, don't spend your money on paid AV software. It's completely not worth it. If you must have something try [ClamXAV|http://www.clamxav.com> which is free and unobtrusive. whatever problems you've got, they have nothing to do with viruses.

Message was edited by: V.K.

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