Best Antivirus Program Mac OS Becomes

As the Mac OS becomes more popular, hackers and malware developers will undoubtedly begin to target the platform more and more.

A true computer virus is defined by having the ability to self-replicate and infect specific programs or files with little or no direct input from the user.

When the files are read, the virus continues to spread throughout the system and over networks or physical media to other systems.

Similar to viruses, computer worms have the same replicating behavior as viruses with the exception that they exist as standalone applications instead of tagging along embedded in files.

Trojan horses have the potential to be just as malicious as viruses by deleting files, breaking down security measures, and stealing personal information, but unlike viruses and worms they require the user to first install or otherwise enable them so they can run.

While most attempts at this appear to be unsuccessful, hackers are continually trying.

In recent years, malware targeted for OS X has included OSX.RSPlug.A (aka, DNSChanger), which caused systems DNS servers to switch to malicious ones that could make legitimate URLs point to servers run by hackers, and Leap-A (aka, Oompa Loompa), which was distributed in pirated versions of iWork and spread itself to users contacts via iChat without them knowing.

The more you accept and open files from people online (especially from anonymous users), the more you will need to be prepared against potential threats.

Just having an e-mail address set up in a mail client may eventually have that address spammed with solicitations and malware, and if your e-mail client is set up to automatically download attachments then malware can be easily put on your system.

Forget the notion that Macs cant get viruses and attacks; they absolutely can, even though the numbers of threats are low, and its better to be safe than sorry.

However, there currently is a limit as to what is practical for Mac users.

Some utilities support and promote advanced features like on-access scanning and full system security to filter and detect all incoming data, but in my experiences this has been a rather impractical feature that can sometimes lead to performance problems.

Schedule the scanner to run once a week or once a month, and provided you do not visit software pirating Web sites, pornographic sites, or other underground sites where malware is most common, then you should be OK.

If you choose to pursue underground Web sites and illegitimate software then you do so at your own risk.

Many reputable antivirus programs have been made available for the Mac in recent years, with a few being released as free Home versions.

These, along with the ones that have been around for a while, give Mac users a healthy number of options to choose from.

It is more specific to finding hidden Trojan horses than being an all-around scanner for malware.

For a full listing of these programs, including reviews, see the Mac Antivirus Software at CNETs Download.com.

While booting multiple operating systems may be fun and convenient, it also increases the potential targets for viruses on your system, especially if you have data shared between the various operating systems that you run.

Its preferable to have one in the Windows installation that will protect the Windows files, but at the very least have one on your Mac that will detect both Mac and Windows viruses.

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Best Antivirus Program For Mac Os X