Gwynn Aaron Peabody ([info]gwynn_aaron) wrote in [info]macosx,
@ 2002-09-25 09:52:00
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Virus protection for Mac OS X
For all of the years that I worked in Mac OS 7 - 9, I was always very careful about keeping my virus software up to date. With Mac OS X, though, I didn't do this because (a) there wasn't any software available, and (b) I never heard anything about viruses for X. Well now there is starting to be some software available, but I still haven't heard anything about OS X viruses.

So what I'm wondering is whether or not I should worry about getting any sort of virus software for OS X. The program I would buy is Virus Barrier from Intego (that being what I used in 9). What do you all think? Is virus protection a necessity? What about M$ Office macro viruses? Any danger there?

Related to this question is that of firewalls. Currently I use Brickhouse to configure my built-in firewall, but I was wondering if something stronger might be in order. Has anybody had any experience using Net Barrier from Intego? Any other programs? Thanks for this information and suggestions.

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[info]xmutex
2002-09-25 07:14 am UTC (link)
OSX is based on BSD, and BSD is Unix. Due to the way Unix enforces file permissions, it's generally rather hard for a virus to propagate.

The only thing people need to worry about as OSX grows are root exploits, I would think. This is where outside users can exploit security holes in programs to gain root access and therefore everything within the system..

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[info]symphin
2002-09-25 08:32 am UTC (link)
This isn't a problem if you don't enable root, correct? Root isn't enabled on an OS X install by default, I think.

Dennis

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[info]symphin
2002-09-25 11:13 am UTC (link)
Does this cause problems in running any programs of import you're aware of? I may just go do this...

Dennis

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[info]liquidcross
2002-09-25 07:27 am UTC (link)
If you're running 10.2, there's built-in firewall controls in System Preferences. Otherwise, just use Brickhouse. :D

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[info]confidential
2002-09-25 07:55 am UTC (link)
I second that. Just because you pay for it does not make it a better product. The Built-in firewall (ipfw?) is tried and true and should there be an attack against it, there will most likely be a patch within the hour (OpenSource/Unix-ey geeks tend to be better at plugging holes because there are so many of them available at one time, whereas with "Other" OSs you have to wait for one entity to provide the patch, slowing down response time)

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[info]symphin
2002-09-25 08:32 am UTC (link)
On the other hand, if you don't want a conflict with Software Update and you don't want to try to compile upgrades yourself, you *do* have to wait a week for Apple to apply the patch internally, test it for issues in OS X, and then provide it through Software Update.

Not that it's a bad thing.

Dennis

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[info]giles
2002-09-25 07:27 am UTC (link)
Apple's .Mac service includes Virex, of course...

I think I read somewhere that the logic is that you can detect and remove virii that will affect OTHER OS's as well, as a bit of a public service so you don't go infecting the poor heathen's who aren't using OS X. :)

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[info]arakasi
2002-09-25 08:28 am UTC (link)
It ain't much but here's my two cents: I've been administering a 10-mac office for two years and we've never had a virus. I've had more problems with interference from the norton extension that I have with any virus. To paraphrase Kensington's ad campaign: "Who writes a virus for 5% of the market?"

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[info]symphin
2002-09-25 08:29 am UTC (link)
Programs such as Entourage and IE from Microsoft *may* still be susceptible to virii/worms/etc. It doesn't hurt to have a virus protection product (unless it breaks in Jaugar, grr).

The firewall in OS X should be fine, though I've used NetBarrier for the last six months and been satisfied as well.

Dennis

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[info]symphin
2002-09-25 11:18 am UTC (link)
Thank you; I know it's wrong, but it's hard to retrain myself from typing it the other way in this context since I type it out so infrequently. Bad habits and all that.

OT: I was in a bookstore-to-remain-nameless a couple weeks ago and was staring blankly at a shelf when a woman came up to a young employee standing behind me and asked where the thesauruses are. "This way," she said, "and it's thesauri."

I giggled quite a bit about that.

Dennis

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[info]mc17
2002-09-25 09:54 am UTC (link)
as far as i know, the largest concern you should have is MS macros.

in all honesty, the ONLY viruses i've run into on X are things dealing with MS.

i'm not sure what good Virus protection software would do for you... unnless you download and run a lot of iffy files... which there's no reason to do anyway.

the other advice offered thus far in comments are good pieces of advice.

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