As they did in June 2007, Apple again encourages Mac users to use multiple antivirus utilities

56 Comments

On November 21 2008, Apple posted an updated support article regarding use of antivirus utilities for “Mac OS” which is getting widespread coverage from axe-grinders worldwide. Instead of quoting ignorance and/or ulterior motives disguised as “news,” here is Apple’s article verbatim along with the original article from June 2007 which proves that Apple’s position is nothing new:

Mac OS: Antivirus utilities

Last Modified: November 21, 2008
Article: HT2550
Old Article: 4454

Summary
Learn about antivirus utilities available for the Mac OS.

Products Affected
Consumer Software, Mac OS

Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult. Here are some available antivirus utilities:

Intego VirusBarrier X5, available from the Apple Online Store
License: commercial

Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11 for Macintosh, available from the Apple Online Store
License: commercial

McAfee VirusScan for Mac
License: commercial

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Note: The text of Apple’s “Old Article: 4454” verbatim:

Mac OS: Antivirus Utilities

Last Modified on: June 08, 2007
Article: 4454

This article describes the antivirus utilities that are available for the Mac OS.

Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one program to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult. Here are some of the available antivirus utilities:

Intego VirusBarrier X4
Publisher: Intego
License: commercial

Norton Anti-Virus for Macintosh (formerly SAM)
Publisher: Symantec
License: commercial

Virex
Publisher: McAfee
License: commercial

This article provides information about a non-Apple product. Apple, Inc. is not responsible for its content. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Doug S.” for the heads up.]

MacDailyNews Take: Contrary to The Mothership’s reiterated and updated encouragement, we’re keeping our processor cycles to ourselves. As evidenced by our ongoing poll — “Do you run antivirus app(s) on your Mac?” — we’re not alone, with 91% answering “no.” Currently, outside of the lab (in the wild), examples of Mac malware are few and far between, so this updated, year-and-a-half old article by Apple strikes us as a preemptive move to cover some legal bases, a “just in case” article designed for today’s litigious environment. Trojans (designed to fool the user into granting permission to run) and Website-based exploits that use applications, not Mac OS X itself, as the attack vectors are the issues of which Mac users should be most mindful

Regardless of what we’re doing with our Macs, for piece of mind, and especially for users who are risk averse and/or do not want or know how to clone drives, restore from Time Machine, and/or other rebuilding techniques, by all means, follow Apple’s advice and “use multiple antivirus utilities.” As always, everyone should backup routinely and do not visit or download files from untrusted Websites.

[UPDATED: The original article was published at 9:40am ET. Updated at 11:35am ET with text and link to Article 4454.]

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56 Comments

  1. Definitions to clarify the discussion:

    Virus: self-replicating code, requires no user interaction to replicate. Macs don’t have these, so by definition “antivirus” software for the Mac is rather useless.

    Trojan: program which presents a false front to the user, while stealthily doing other unwanted activity in the background. Requires user interaction to download and launch. On OS X, access to protected system locations (such as to install a keylogger) require the user to further enter an administrator password.

    Now, if these “antivirus” vendors offered “anti-trojan” software, I might actually listen. At present, however, they’re doing little more than fear-mongering, and exploiting the general public’s lack of knowledge about the difference between a virus and a trojan.

    And only the technologically ignorant can think that OS X will “inevitably” fall to the same scourge of viruses and malware that Windows has fallen to. Windows is an easy target, not simply because it’s more widespread, but because it has the security of a wet paper bag in a downpour. OS X is built in a more secure foundation, which leaves fewer loopholes to exploit. That’s not platform evangelism, that’s a simple statement of fact.

    I’m certainly keeping my eyes and ears open for any indication that a real, credible threat for OS X has been found in the wild, but so far I’m only hearing the same old FUD. That’s not “sticking my head in the sand”, that’s simply being reasonably cautious. I’m not about to rush out in a panic and install airlocks on all the doors to my house, if the air outside isn’t contaminated to the point where that would be necessary.

    Reply

  3. I use Virus Barrier & Net Barrier. Someday, I’ll fail to read MDN and will miss the announcement of a real virus out in the wild causing untold devastation among Macs and Users. But VB will tell me about some update and, poof! I’ll be safe!

    …or not.

    Reply

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