Anti-virus scam

Anti-virus software is a $4 billion a year industry. Can you believe that? That's a lot of cash.

About a year ago, I was annoyed since my McAfee subscription was about to run out. I remember a day when the software makers didn't charge for updates after a year. But now, you can't avoid it. I was reminded of this because I sold my Dell laptop to a new friend, and she's annoyed that it costs so much to keep it protected.

I say "reminded" because I have a Mac now. I'm one year virus free because Macs don't have virus issues.

Yet another reason I'm glad that I switched.

21 Comments

  • Check out Grisoft's AVG. It's free alright.

    http://free.grisoft.com

    Unless your friend's installed a server OS, it's a freebie for personal use. Yep - updates are free too.

    Ubuntu hasn't given me much hassle with viruses lately either...

  • Aren't you a ray of sunshine... I thought I subscribed to .NET blog...

  • Macs don't have viruses (yeah, right) because it's not worth the time for hackers to create them. I guarrantee you more viruses would be out there if the OS was more popular, making it worth the time. Take the lack of viruses as a sign if insignificance. I can also say this doesn't mean the OS is more secure.

  • McAfee is a really poor choice for anti-virus software. AVG and avast! are free _and_ much better. Your poor choice in software reduces your credibility when you're pushing hardware and operating systems.

  • Being a programmer for Web apps means I'm supposed to be an expert in anti-virus software? What planet are you from?

    The truth stands, I don't need anti-virus software on my Macs. There's nothing to debate there.

  • It doesn't quite sound like a statement coming from a software professional though "The truth stands, I don't need anti-virus software on my Macs."

    Especially since you're admitting you're not an expert in anti-virus software, I think the basis for that particular claim is not fully objective.

    It's as much ignorance as you could expect from any non sofware professional.

  • Seen this?
    http://www.macvirus.org/

    btw, I've never used a MAC but wanted to years ago when those Video Toasters came out.

  • And can someone point me to widespread instances of virus infections on Macs? Note that linked site with "first OS X virus," from last year, and apparently no one has ever been infected by it.

    This isn't about religion. It's not about drinking the Apple KoolAid. The fact is Mac owners don't have to worry about getting a virus.

    If you're gonna call me ignorant, get a Mac, use it for a year, and get back to me first.

  • Macs don't have virus issues because nobody cares enough to write one, except for security professionals who were able to do so rather easily when they decided to do so.

    Security by obscurity is a really dumb reason to not worry about viruses on a Mac.

  • Is that based on your research? Because it seems to me that the reason no one is interested in writing a Mac virus is because you have to be the ultimately stupid user who would enter his or her password to install the virus.

    Confirm or deny, indeed.

  • Ignorance is bliss isn't it?

    http://projects.info-pull.com/moab/

  • Again... show me. I've read through a lot of that junk, and the "proof of concept" doesn't translate into a workable virus.

    And did I mention there are no viruses in the wild that exploit these?

    You guys absolutely refuse to accept the fact staring at you in the face: I don't need virus protection hurting my performance on OS X.

  • I think you've got a valid point. While there have been "proof of concept" viruses for Mac, none have really caused any real problem.

    Jeff Atwood (codinghorror.com) recently did a comparison of Anti-Virus software for Windows and concluded that the established, more expensive products (Symantec, McAfee) are the worst. He said that he's never run Anti-Virus software and thinks it's unnecessary. Especially in the Windows XP SP2 / Vista world, Windows viruses seem to have lost most of their bite.

  • if 'nobody cares enough' is your reason dat nobody has written a virus what about?
    The fame amongst hacker circles?
    the money reward that apple will give
    i could think of more but im too lazy

  • NECESITO INSTALAR EL ANTIVIRUS

  • "He said that he's never run Anti-Virus software and thinks it's unnecessary. Especially in the Windows XP SP2 / Vista world, Windows viruses seem to have lost most of their bite."

    bleh, most of my msn list are people with windows XP SP2 or Vista, and i get to hear about how they've had keyloggers, worms, viruses, etc on a near constant basis. i know some people who have had their computers rendered completely un-usable due to viruses, worms, and all their ilk.

    there's something i used to say (don't say anymore because windows fanboys get hyped up about it), and it's "i have a mac, that means i can be as stupid, irresponsible, and ignorant with viruses without having to worry about repercussions" :3

    What i find ironic though, is that windows has hundreds of thousands of viruses, and they have to spend a great deal of money for virus protection, but mac OSX, which the closest thing it has to viruses are occasional theoretical viruses that never come to fruition, has free antivirus software.

  • I use a Linux box and have for years - No Anti virus
    software, Zero problems. Quite simply malicious code
    cannot execute unless im stupid enough to go on line as Root. Is this not the case with Macs ???

  • i have purchased virus scanners for years now, like an idiot. i say that because every virus ive ever had the virus scanner either didnt find it and i noticed something was wrong with my computer and had to manually find and delete the problem myself....when my virus scanner told me nothing was wrong with my computer yet there was 40 different files that were disabling and sending my information to someone else. OR, the virus scanner FOUND the virus, but simply told me that it could not get rid of it. GEEEE THANKS MOTHER FCUKERS! so now i say goodbye to useless virus scanners that simply just rape you of your money and run down your system resources.

  • even UNIX boxes get hack :)
    Mac, are now UNIX boxes Thanks for your info I might buy a car with it :)
    Ignorance is bliss profit for my pocket I love Mac uses with no protection I never get stopped
    hope you have a good firewall :)

  • Joe's correct. I used my brother's Mac and got a virus, which required no permission form me to "run" it, though I was on some on savory websites. Also it is not out of the question that the web browsers, which run run on most OS can be hacked and the same goes for other multiplatform software too. Most software running for both OS are probably the underneath the hood. So it could be safe to say that the may be vulnerable to similar attacks.

  • My computer is being hit with an XP-anti virus that is not showing up on the Malwarebyte's and AVG scan.

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