Internet security for a Mac...

[greennick]

What is the best internet security package for a Mac? I have heard some people say it is not necessary for a Mac (no viruses, limited attention from hackers, etc). Is it really a good idea to run a Mac with no security?

 

[TigerCleavage]

Buy a router and use that as your firewall instead of the built in one, a phyisical firewall is much better than a software one.
If you're on a wireless network make sure you setup on the right channels and are password protected. Also, if wireless make your network hidden. These things can always be hacked you're at least not lifting your skirt inviting them in for lunch.

Unlike Windows, you can't simply download a virus and have it install itself on your system. It needs to be authorised just like installing an application. As it stands there is only one known Mac virus in the wild and technically it's not a virus since you have to physically download and install it just like you would an application.

 

[greennick]

Cheers TC.

I have a router set up and have a fair amount of protection on that end.

You think that is all I need? Everyone I know with a Mac runs them with no protection on their actual computers, but this just seems so wrong coming from a PC environment!

 

[TigerCleavage]

As far as system clogging antivirus software like Norton and those other ones, I use none and never have.
You'll be fine, enjoy your mac.

A side note though, I use both windows and osx on my macs and one trick you should use if you enjoy using the windows side is this: Install vmware or parallels and install your copy of windows to this and set it up exactly how you like with all your software etc. Then before doing anything else, create a duplicate of that virtual disk and copy it to an external hard drive or somewhere out of the way.
Then, when you're surfing round on all the dodgy back alley websites and you manage to catch an STD, it'll only be confined to the virtual windows side.

All you have to do then is go back to the Mac side, delete the virtual windows image and replace it with the fresh one you have on your backup drive. Butta bing butta boom, back surfing the net in under 45 seconds rather than having to reformat your whole system like you would on a PC.
It's amazing how many windows users suffer when this simple technique will keep them safe and secure.

 

[greennick]

Once again, cheers for the advice.

I need to set up a windows environment. Will need to dl a dodgy copy of windows first.