Best Virus Protection Software?

[Karen]

Best virus protection? Owning a Macintosh. Most viruses are Windows-based, and cannot touch me.

[Blue_Frog]

Thats true for the most part, but now that apple has gone in with Intel, and Apples are going more mainstream you may start running across more and more viruses targeted at Mac users

i.e.
http://www.symantec.com/security_res...006-99&tabid=2


But in all reality, theres more viruses targeted specifically at AOL users than Mac users ... and even some targeted at Cell Phones now too ...

http://www.symantec.com/security_res...030809-4208-99


(edit: same link pasted twice! d'oh!)

[Karen]

Thats true for the most part, but now that apple has gone in with Intel, and Apples are going more mainstream you may start running across more and more viruses targeted at Mac users

Not until I succomb and buy an Intel-based machine. Right now, there are a few viruses that target Unix- on which Mac OS X is based, but very few. I also do not - and will not - use Outlook or Internet Explorer, which are notoriously porous and vulnerable.

[Lady's Human]

Viruses affect the OS, not the chip. Until Mac becomes a less robust system, it will continue to have the virus immunity afforded by the OS.

When a popup shows up on your screen telling you that you have a virus, more often than not it is a popup ad from the browser, not an actual virus.

system security advice? Turn OFF windows messenger. As a default it is on, but leaving it on opens up a direct path to the OS. To turn it off, go to the start taskbar, settings, control panel, admin tools, then double click on services. Find messenger in the task list, double click on it, and disable it. This will not affect the computer, unless you are on an administered LAN, in which case check with your admin people.

Set up your virus scan to scan all downloaded files on download. This varies between a/v services.

AVG is excellent a/v protection, you most likely have autoscan on d/l turned off, which opens a hole for a virus to get in.

I would also reccomend downloading the free lavasoft ad aware s/w, and spybot S+D. these will give additional protection, as there are viruses which get into your system through adware.

[Blue_Frog]

yep ... the intel tie in was that theoretically, with intel chips being a more mass-produced chip than the earlier propriatery mac/apple hardware, the price of a mac may come down enough that more people may be interested in purchasing one, therefore making the system more interesting to virus writers / hackers / etc. (horray for run-on sentences ) Unfortunatly, Macs aren't completely safe from other problems tho (OS exploits, etc), but still by far better than windows.

priv kill (evil_virus_process)

If you're interested in a free Linux-based OS, the Ubuntu OS seems to work pretty well --- http://www.ubuntu.com/

[RedHedd]

Norton does provide a removal tool for their software. It does a pretty good job of removing everything. I've had McAfee and Norton and am sticking with Norton Internet Security. It locks my PC down so no baddies get in.

if it's a Trojan, also install, update and run AdAware and/or Spybot Search & Destroy (both free).