Limewire, Areas Question

if i download one of thoese things like kazza or whatever, can i get any virus's on my mac like i did on my pc?? always woundered might be a dumb question thou

You could potentially download PC viruses but they wouldn't hurt your Mac.

Yes... you could definitely get a virus.

Get anti-virus protection and scan all files with it before running or installing them.

Mac's aren't bullet proof. They just aren't as popular.

chicago said:

Yes... you could definitely get a virus.

Get anti-virus protection and scan all files with it before running or installing them.

Mac's aren't bullet proof. They just aren't as popular.

Click to expand...

You are correct in saying that macs are not bullet proof. However, the reason why viruses are not as common on macs does not have anything to do with its market share. Macs are based on a UNIX type operating system. And the way it is designed make it very hard for macs to get a virus. There have been many attempts to infect a mac with a virus, almost all were unsuccessful. The only successful "virus" was not really a virus, it was the leap-a "virus" which required users to download it, and install it on their own.. and to top it off.. you had to give the computer your password to let it install the "virus"

I am not saying that there will never be a virus for mac, but the reason why virus's are limited on a mac is simply not because of market share, its because of the operating systems security.

chicago said:

Yes... you could definitely get a virus.

Get anti-virus protection and scan all files with it before running or installing them.

Mac's aren't bullet proof. They just aren't as popular.

Click to expand...

This is an old argument. Macs are not "bullet proof", but considering that there are no known OSX viruses loose on the Web, your vulnerability is extremely limited.

Scanning all files is not necessary, don't bring your Windows paranoia with you to the Mac experience. I have encountered many Windows viruses via e-mail and simply delete them via Secure Delete to make sure they are gone.

The argument about popularity vs System security has already been addressed, and I believe it is a bit of both. Apple is MUCH more proactive about system vulnerabilities, as they are exposed, than MS, who tends to be reactive.

All that being said, I have been running without an AV app running on my Mac for years and have never run into an issue. The ONLY real reason to invest in one is to scan e-mails to keep from passing nasties on to your PC using friends.