Digital Trends

Because Microsoft Office is the undisputed standard for business and personal productivity, and since Apple doesn't offer an Excel-compatible spreadsheet application, most Mac users will install MS Office. Using Office on Mac systems seems to be universally acceptable, and even Steve Jobs has repeatedly made a point of of mentioning how well Office integrates with OS X. The truth is that MS Office works quite well with OS X, and when using Office on the Mac, you'll get the same features and functionality as if you were using Office on a PC.

However, MS Office applications (and Windows itself) are commonly threatened by Word, Excel, and PowerPoint viruses, macros, and trojans. Just search Google for Microsoft Word macro viruses and you'll find thousands of detailed references, warnings, patches, etc. Though not brand new, Symantec found yet another PowerPoint-triggered virus and aptly named it "Trojan.PPDropper.B". (Trojan pee pee dropper. Yech. I know PP stands for PowerPoint, but come on; it sounds like something you'd go to a urologist to fix.) Other Microsoft Office-related viruses install keyloggers to secretly record everything you type on your computer. Macro viruses seem to be a part of life when using Microsoft Office. It's one reason why users or system administrators need to keep their Office suites and operating systems fully updated, patched, and protected.

You'll find that OS X won't suffer the sting of malware that can infect Windows systems. It is true that dangerous Word macros can be transmitted from PCs to Macs, and even from PC to PC via a Mac. Just move a virus-infected file onto a Mac from any CD or flash drive and that Mac will technically have a virus on it. But like an experienced and competent doctor working in an infectious diseases or quarantine ward, the Mac is simply immune to those Windows-centric bugs and will not suffer any malevolent effect.

As a matter of disclosure, there has been only one known trojan written for the OS X system (back in early 2006). But, because it required uncompressing, double-clicking to open, and then granting the system administrator's password to install, it was a very, very limited threat. Only the truly clueless or inebriated user would manage to fall prey. Historically speaking, a funky Word macro was reported to have caused some Mac users minor annoyances in an older version of Office for Mac years ago. The Mac community found it ironic that this unique annoyance was tied directly and solely to Microsoft Office. While this was an issue with Word itself, it's well known that OS X was completely safe.

So again, why use antivirus for Mac if OS X is so resistant and occasions for use are so rare or nonexistent? For brotherly love; for a public service; out of the kindness of your hearts. If a Mac user receives a virus-infected e-mail or document, it won't harm his or her computer. But when the Mac user then unwittingly forwards the infected e-mail or document to another PC user, the PC user's computer — if not thoroughly protected — will receive the erstwhile dormant virus and could succumb to whatever nasty intentions the virus has. The Mac user, thanks to the protection of OS X, would probably never be aware that a virus ever existed. But the poor Windows user receiving the file probably won't be so lucky.

Why doesn't Symantec make this situation clear? Why does McAfee spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt about OS X security with "scary" press releases like, "Is OS X the new Windows?" To make sales, of course!

As for Norton AntiVirus and McAfee's Virex, they're known throughout the Mac community as dangerous processor hogs that can do more harm than good. These programs have been plagued for years by highly critical flaws, false positives (which means that the antivirus program was attacking and sometimes ruining valid system files and non-infected files), and a number of other issues that resulted in slow system performance and worse. Even McAfee's newest Universal Binary version of Virex (quietly renamed VirusScan) admittedly catches false positives once in a while. Of course, their PR department puts a positive spin on it, like, "Now with fewer false positives!" In short, it seems very ill advised to use Norton AntiVirus or McAfee Virex on a Mac. The iatrogenic troubles appear to far outweigh the potential value.

McAfee Screenshot

Just because OS X has remained secure, Mac owners shouldn't use their computers in a stupid or haphazard manner. Stay away from potentially harmful websites, always be cautious about downloading or opening files from unknown sources — especially when opening such a file results in a request for your system password, make sure file extensions (.pdf, .jpg, .doc, etc.) are turned on, keep your OS X security updates current, engage the firewall built into OS X, use a router with firewall settings, keep your wireless network encrypted, maintain timely and proper backups of your system and/or critical files, and for goodness’ sake — be discreet with your system password.

Also worth mentioning are the growing number of Office alternatives that have been growing in popularity with both OS X and Windows users. Free and open source apps like NeoOffice, OpenOffice, ThinkFree, and Google Docs & Spreadsheets are easy to find and use. The newest entry to Word replacements is the free Universal Binary app called "Bean".

Open Office Screenshot

For those who still need to wear the tinfoil hat, or for Mac users who would like to help prevent the spread of viruses to their Windows-using friends and colleagues, there are some antivirus applications available for download via trusted sites like versiontracker.com and macupdate.com. The most popular and trusted (and least buggy) application is ClamXav. It's fast, easy, and protects OS X against threats that may never materialize. It also catches bugs that hurt Windows machines. Your Windows friends may thank you, but the likelihood is they'll never know you helped them.

Whether you choose to run ClamXav or not, you'll at least know that OS X is safe and sound in its native form.

ClamXav Screenshot