Digital Trends

Are Apple systems really prone to viruses? Well, Antivirus software companies will have you believe so. We investigate whether there is a real threat, or if it's just Snake Oil.

Snip:

"While shopping at one of my local Apple stores the other day, I overheard an earnest conversation about safeguarding Mac computers against things like viruses and trojans. The customer and companion were new to Mac life and were convinced that they should be very worried about viruses. The Apple salesperson on the floor repeatedly assured them that they would not need extra antivirus protection for their Mac. The customer then argued that Symantec makes an antivirus program for Macs, therefore, it must truly be a credible threat, otherwise there would be no such products. Some antivirus products are even sold in Apple stores.

I've heard similar arguments before: if companies like Symantec or McAfee make antivirus applications for the Mac, then Macs must truly be vulnerable somehow, somewhere. Steve Jobs and the rest of the Apple cronies must be lying.

I wondered why the Apple salesperson left the Norton AntiVirus argument alone. I've spoken with a number of Apple reps over the years and there seem to be two concrete answers to the Mac antivirus conundrum: 1) Mac-based antivirus programs are "snake oil" baloneyware, completely unnecessary for OS X users, and 2) programs like Norton AntiVirus are primarily effective as protection for non-Mac users, making Mac computers a sort of immunized filtration point or prophylaxis against Windows bugs."

Read the full featured article: Antivirus Programs for Mac, Snake Oil or Public Service?