Thread: Can Apple Computers get viruses?

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Any computer can get a virus. The Mac OS is a UNIX based system and in basic terms is far less able to pickup a virus from web browsing or email scripts due to the security model.

The other thing is most viruses target Windows systems.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

It is a bit of a stretch to say that Apple Computers cannot get viruses.

But in practical terms it is pretty accurate. Along with other unix-like systems (linux, BSD, solaris etc) it is inherently a lot more resistant to viruses than Windows. Add to that the fact that in combination with this the relatively small number of Apples makes it almost impossible for a virus infection to spread. A telling fact is that as far as I know all Apple anti-virus programs are intended, not to protect the Apple, but to prevent them from passing on Windows viruses.

While it is extremely unlikely that your Apple will ever get a virus that affects it, a Windows virus may well arrive on an email you get or something you download, and although it does not infect your computer, may well be stored unchanged and sent on to someone with a Windows computer, for example as an email attachment.

Without exception, viruses that are circulating "in the wild" affect only Windows computers, and this is likely, but not absolutely certain, to continue in the future.

Note however, that your Apple can be infected by other things that are not strictly viruses, but can affect programs that run above the O/S, such as Word macro viruses, but this only affects the particular program (and the documents it produces!)

John

Just so no-one has to back track in this thread. What I said in post #2 and what John said in post #4.

There is only one answer to this, if someone with enough knowledge of how to circumvent security flaws in a given OS wants to write a viral application for a given OS, regardless of the platform, it can be done. Regardless of whether its an Apple, Windows, VMS, RSTS, CP/M, OS2, MUMPS, PICK, UNIX, WICAT, DOS or some thing else I never worked with (like IBM stuff).

End of story!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I refer again to my post #4 in this thread. After reading the entire thread, I think that post was an accurate statement of the situation.

And please note, I do not use a Mac, nor am I a particular fan of them.

John

I agree John.. you did put it well and I appreciate your objectivity. I thanked you for it at the time too.

Maybe we should simplify this to fairly indisputable facts.

Can macs get viruses - YES

Do macs get viruses - NO

Are there any known viruses for current versions of OS X - NO

Does that make the PC only crowd happy?

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Can macs get viruses - YES

Do macs get viruses - NO

Are there any known viruses for current versions of OS X - NO

They have Malware/Trojan problems
BBC NEWS | Technology | Experts warn of porn Mac attacks

any operating system can get trojans/malware of the type that require

Users logging on to these sites are asked to download a "missing Video ActiveX Object" but are sent a virus payload instead.

because you are actually install a script or program that doesnt do what they conned you into believing it did...

that is vastly different to it happening without user intervention.. which is what is being discussed

so to simplify this type of event we could ask

can apple users be conned in to installing programs that steal your information the same as windows users can be - YES

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I'm sorry, but as downloading and installing a pirated copy of iWork does NOT constitute a virus.

A definition from Wiki.

"A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the owner. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability."

They neglected to say that a computer virus was where a user illegally downloads a program, extracts it, installs it by using it's system password. The infected computer is not able to spread and infect others. That's just stupid and not a virus.

I could put my computer under my landrover and drive over it. That is just stupid and not a virus either.

Anyway, to Auscerts. I get the list at work too. I can't remember the counts but I think it was roughly 23 pages of windows viruses and vulnerabilities, and then 4/5 that affected other systems. Occasionally there would be a mac one that Apple would patch. These are technical vulnerabilities that are found by people and companies who profit from finding vulnerabilities. These are not necessarily a virus.

Sorry, try again

I work on a pc all day and the stupid virus checker absolutely nobbles the thing. I move large files around and in windows defence it can handle that and do other things.. then the virus checker starts and the pc is history until it's finished. Because it's so easy to inadvertently infect the things it's locked on by group policy so sometimes I loose hours...

And then I come home and use a computer that has no virus checker and just the factory firewall and it flies. It is only ever rebooted at patch time.

So virus' are not exploits of vulnerabilities then? Exploits are only found by people paid to find them?

Good call.

Don't be so naive about Apples security patching either.

Apple Java Exploit - Not patched or addressed for 5 Months

Thinking your impervious to virus, trojan, or any other kind of malware is a dangerous thing.

Originally Posted by Delta_Farce

So virus' are not exploits of vulnerabilities then? Exploits are only found by people paid to find them?

Good call.

Don't be so naive about Apples security patching either.

Apple Java Exploit - Not patched or addressed for 5 Months

Thinking your impervious to virus, trojan, or any other kind of malware is a dangerous thing.

The fact remains that millions of people round the world continue to use Macs with no virus checker - and yet they continue to do so without the viruses that you could almost guarantee to get within hours using Windows. As I said above - they are not impervious to viruses, just that for practical purposes you are very unlikely to have problems from them. Just because there are vulnerabilities that have not been patched does not mean they are a probable problem - just a possible one.

Other types of malware - yes. But almost all of them require you to do something at least a little silly to have problems. And no technical solution will stop people from being silly, no matter what sort of computer they have.

John

Originally Posted by Delta_Farce

So virus' are not exploits of vulnerabilities then? Exploits are only found by people paid to find them?

Good call.

Don't be so naive about Apples security patching either.

Apple Java Exploit - Not patched or addressed for 5 Months

Thinking your impervious to virus, trojan, or any other kind of malware is a dangerous thing.

AusCerts and the likes are mostly found by [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_hat"]Grey Hats[/ame]. That's the whole idea of these things.. the grey hats advise manufacturers and they usually patch them and then the manufacturers advise the likes of Auscerts.

There most certainly can be a known vulnerability without a virus or any other form of exploit taking place. As you've pointed out that vulnerability was released to pressure Sun (and Apple to fix it).

Most vulnerabilities (including Windows) problems are notified and fixed before any harm comes.

Well i went from dealing with virus,trojans - removing and protecting against them on a windows system for years---- to not one problem (NOT 1) in 4 years on my beautiful looking and performing mac.
No more headaches with virus' or patches or crashes or drivers or rebooting or re-installing or registering or activation or annoying messages.