Apple updates antivirus version numbers, security savants lose grip on reality

News Type: Event — Seeded on Tue Dec 2, 2008 5:25 PM EST

Article Source: The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

technology, apple, mac, virus, osx, malware, antivirus, symantec, macosx, clamav

When the concepts of "antivirus" and "Mac OS X" approach each other in the blogosphere, the usual outcome is more heat than light. The current example of keyboards outpacing brainwaves has emerged from a storm of posts on various sites, mostly tracing back to security analyst/Washington Post writer Brian Krebs and AppleInsider's Aidan Malley. Both pointed to a "recently published" Apple KB article that listed a trio of AV applications available for Mac OS X.

More shocking to this pair of pundits: the KB article actually went so far as to encourage Mac users to buy, install and use antivirus software -- even "multiple antivirus utilities" to prevent the spread of malware, which was trumpeted by a ZDnet headline. What now? Is Apple's security story on the marketing front now undermined by the quiet truthtelling of the support site? Should Justin Long apologize to John Hodgman? Are cats and dogs now living together? Is the BBC picking up the story (yes, unfortunately, it is)?

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5.8

{"commentId":4264458,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

gecko85

So, to sum up, Apple's recommendations have changed not a whit in 18 months. Everyone who is decrying the sad state of security on the Mac -- or, conversely, crediting Apple for waking up and smelling the coffee -- is chasing his or her cybertail with a great deal of enthusiasm. Malware on the Mac, such as there is, is still almost exclusively delivered via social engineering, so please don't install random video codecs downloaded from porn sites. That said, the commercial and free AV options for the Mac are pretty stable, and they're certainly worth exploring if you want to be a good computing citizen who doesn't relay Windows malware from friend to friend unknowingly.

So, once again a story is misinterpreted and blown out of proportion, and the blogosphere (including mainstream sites like the BBC) run with it instead of getting their facts straight.

The last part of the above quote is, I think, the most important: if you frequently share files with Windows using friends, it's good of you to use some sort of AV software to make sure you're not inadvertently sending them a virus.

ClamX AV is a good free solution.

{"commentId":4264458,"threadId":"432963","contentId":"2170452","authorDomain":"tcervo"}

3 votes

#1 - Tue Dec 2, 2008 5:28 PM EST

{"commentId":4271594,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

lauhal

I downloaded and am using ClamX AV. So far, so good! Thanks for providing that information.

{"commentId":4271594,"threadId":"432963","contentId":"2170452","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

4 votes

#1.1 - Wed Dec 3, 2008 9:52 AM EST

{"commentId":4273729,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

gecko85

Your welcome...

{"commentId":4273729,"threadId":"432963","contentId":"2170452","authorDomain":"tcervo"}

2 votes

#1.2 - Wed Dec 3, 2008 12:04 PM EST

{"commentId":4270871,"authorDomain":"chum"}

Chum

That clarified it. Thanks.

{"commentId":4270871,"threadId":"432963","contentId":"2170452","authorDomain":"chum"}

2 votes

#2 - Wed Dec 3, 2008 8:44 AM EST

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	Apple deletes Mac antivirus suggestion	CNET.com	Tue Dec 2	0
	Apple pushes anti-virus for Macs	BBC News	Tue Dec 2	13

GECKO85

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Apple updates antivirus version numbers, security savants lose grip on reality

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