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Symantec: Mac OS X is Virus Free

Symantec: Mac OS X is Virus Free

by , 9:25 AM EDT, July 14th, 2006

Symantec's Todd Woodward says that there are no viruses for Mac OS X, and that news reports from earlier this year claiming the first Mac OS X viruses had been found were inaccurate. He says "Simply put, at the time of writing this article, there are no file-infecting viruses that can infect Mac OS X."

Many news outlets erroneously claimed that the infamous OSX.Leap.A was a virus when it was actually a worm.

Mr. Woodward goes on to say that although the Mac is virus free today, that doesn't mean it will always be that way. It's a good idea, he says, to take measures to protect your computer from potential security threats.

Even if you choose not to install and use virus protection software, you can still add an extra layer of protection to your Mac by enabling it's built-in firewall. Check this Quick Tip from earlier this year to learn how.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Tiger Posts: 1018 Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:31 am Subject: Trolling for sales

Although what he says is true, it still comes across as a bit disengenuous...sort of like a sales pitch.


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Close Name:Actual Reality Posts: 44 Joined: 16 Aug 2005
Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:35 pm Subject: maybe....

i think they might be taking a different route...

more like a call to action.

think of it, YOU could write the FIRST virus for OSX... you'll be a legend!!

ok maybe not... but sounds dramatic.


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Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:13 am Subject: English

From the article:

Quote
... you can still add an extra layer of protection to your Mac by enabling it's built-in firewall.


It's "its," not "it's." "It's" is the contraction for "it is" or "it has." The possessive form of "it" is "its." For a layperson to make the mistake is one thing, for a professional writer is another.


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Close Name:LaurieF -   TMO Forum Mod Posts: 3547 Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:45 am Subject:

Quote
gslusher wrote:
It's "its," not "it's." "It's" is the contraction for "it is" or "it has." The possessive form of "it" is "its." For a layperson to make the mistake is one thing, for a professional writer is another.


With all due disrespect, get a life. Professional writers make that mistake all the time. And when people politely point it out to them, most of them cringe. But not when they're told that they've done it the way you did.


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Close Name:EagerDragon Posts: 12 Joined: 23 May 2005
Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:17 pm Subject: They just trying to sell their software

However, I personaly think it is a big turn off. After their earlier "the sky is falling", I willl make it a point not to purchase their products if there is ever a need. I will use something else.

Besides on PC's it slows the machine to a crawl.

Nice have come to their senses to some degree.


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Close Name:brett_x Posts: 322 Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:47 am Subject:

Quote
Actual Reality wrote:
i think they might be taking a different route...

more like a call to action.

think of it, YOU could write the FIRST virus for OSX... you'll be a legend!!

ok maybe not... but sounds dramatic.


I agree with you, I think the more that viruses (and the lack thereof) on the OS X platform are talked about makes it more likely for them to be written-
If you put a spotlight on the lack of something, there's already a stage to show the first of something.

I was so surprised (and a bit disappointed) to see Apple talk about viruses in their recent commercial.
On the other hand, I am not surprised at all to see an Antivirus company making headlines about it. Although, I do think that Mr. Woodward did a pretty good job writing the article. He didn't seem to be taunting virus writers as much as he could have [gotten away with].

And eagerdragon- of course they're trying to sell their product. What would you do? Tell people not to buy it?


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