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Mac Malware

I’ve recently re-watched your video “Do Macs need Anti-Virus software?”, and I’ve been reading up on malware for the Mac.

Basically, malware that exists for OS X can only be installed by the user – by entering the admin account name and password, right?

An example of this: there was a trojan a couple years ago called OompaLoompa (Leap A – I believe) that looked like a JPEG on the outside, but when opened it would prompt the user for the Admin account name and password.

Now, I do recommend people to install ClamXav – not to scan for Mac Malware, but for Windows Malware (so that people don’t accidentally give their friends a nasty surprise).

Btw: You mentioned Norton A/V in the video… It’s crap on Windows, no doubt that it was and still is crap on OS X. Norton cripples any PC it’s installed on.

Cheers

— Tommy

Comments: 2 Responses to “Mac Malware”

    14 years ago

    Right. There are trojans out there, but they would require that you download software and install it yourself. Always trust the source of anything you download.
    As for ClamXav, I haven't tried it. But I don't like the idea of running system software on your Mac for the sole purpose of preventing Windows viruses. Simply follow good common sense security practices and use anti-virus on Windows.

    Tommy
    14 years ago

    ClamXav only runs when you want it to run. If it always ran, I wouldn't use it.

    I run Microsoft's Security Essentials on my Windows machine. But most people I know only have trials installed of Anti-Virus software, or they don't keep their software up-to-date. I know that isn't my problem... but hey... :p

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