I have a new Mac computer and was told I do not need any software or virus protection installed...?

Question

...but.........
With the Mac computer- I still want to use internet explorer but now I need to install Firefox or a program to use the internet to send email, search websites or browse online from what I understand. Is Firefox safe to install and what for virus program would I need to keep my Mac protected? I'm new to the Mac computer which I also find that it does not have windows either.
Would appreciate any help from advanced Mac users!! thanks

Answer 1

For years there has been this rumor that it is impossible to get a virus on a Mac and to a certain that was true, not because Apple computers have any better than her Windows or any OS but because people who make viruses wanted to make an impact an Windows computers have over 90% of the market share so I guess it just made more sense to them. However over the last few years this has started to change because Apples are becoming more and more popular, there have been 2 viruses in the last 6 months alone.



Firefox is a safe program to download you don't have to worry about downloading that, you probably could go without the antivirus but I wouldn't recommend it. The thing that you really need is a Firewall to stop people from hacking into your computer. Most internet security companys these days have Mac options in their products. But I am not a Mac user so I can't personally recommend one for you.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

It isn't necessarily true anymore. Since Microsoft dominated the computer market, EVERY virus writer wrote for I.E. because that was successful. Writing for an Apple O.S. would have netted a handful of computers. Why bother? The same work gets a hundred times the return on Microsoft, and I.E. had many more holes to exploit, too. However, more people took that advice to heart, and along with folks using Firefox (me) and Opera (me) and Chrome (me) instead of I.E. (buggiest thing Microsoft makes), some are now writing virus codes for Safari. You're gonna want some anti-virus software for your Mac.

Answer 4

Looking at unpatched vulnerabilities, you should not use IE. Use Firefox instead:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_web_browsers#Vulnerabilities

IE is not supported by MAC anyway, On June 13, 2003, Microsoft announced that it was ceasing further development of Internet Explorer for Mac and the final update was released on July 11, 2003.

Free anti-virus for your Mac - And why you need it

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/free-anti-virus-for-your-mac-and-why-you-need-it/10191

Answer 5

You don't "need" to install Firefox, but you can. It is far less safe as it comes from Mozilla than Safari in recent tests, but can be improved a lot by installing NoScript and by turning off Java (not the same as JavaScript). Safari comes with your Mac as the default browser. The only way to use Internet Explorer is to install Windows. Apple doesn't pay Microsoft for a licensing fee to include Windows with new Macs. You have to go get the Windows install DVD yourself. An application called "Mail" for sending email comes with your Mac. Look at the bottom of the screen. See that row of application icons?



These PC geeks are mistaken. There are not a handful of Macs. There are over 75 million in use. If someone makes a virus for Windows, it is small news. If someone makes a virus for Mac, it is big news. Those kids who make viruses to get headlines would love to attack Macs and make really big headlines, but they can't, because Mac OS has better protection than Windows. As far as "a hundred times as many", the ratio of Windows to OS X use is 7.274 to one.



No antivirus application comes bundled with or has ever come bundled with any Apple computer from the Apple factories.



Free: ClamXAV or iAntiVirus (latter requires OS 10.5, Intel).



Pay: Virex, Norton, Sophos, Intego, MacScan, Avast. Not one Mac owner in a million has ever experienced a virus. It is not merely that their are fewer Mac computers that accounts for fewer Mac viruses. The Mac OS does not permit any file added to the base system directories until you type your admin password. That doesn't account for any open-door policies, such as your allowing third-party cookies in Safari or allowing Java and cross-scripting. You can close all those doors and still surf the Web, thus preventing malware from settling in on your Mac.



The best for getting rid of tracking cookies is MacScan. The new version is US$29.95; if you can find version 2.6 (no longer on their site), it is free and malware profiles updates are free -- skip the MacScan engine update; that cancels your free use.



After you do all the scanning routines to get rid of tracking cookies and rare but possible other bad stuff, start using Firefox with NoScript and NoRedirect installed, uncheck the option to allow third-party cookies, uncheck the option to allow Java (different from Javascript which you likely wouldn't want to disallow as almost all sites rely on it), be sure the built-in OS X firewall is on, set the advanced options of the firewall to use stealth mode and Block UDP Traffic, use a hardware router even if you use only one computer on your network, don't keep Personal File Sharing / Windows Sharing / Personal Web Sharing / Remote Login checked when you don't absolutely need to use them, don't use Wi-Fi during any secure data exchange such as online banking or CC purchase, when you do use Wi-Fi, set a WPA password and choose to make the network hidden, never open any email from someone you don't recognize, and never open attachments unless you were expecting it (skip all the jokes and chain letters).



Some secondary means of security are available at securemac.com

Answer 6

As the number of people that use Mickeysoft Windows is bigger it is much more interesting to develop viruses that affect that group as the impact will be bigger.

So most likely if one develops a virus it is pointed to affect windows machines.



That doesn't leave out the rest of the pack, I installed ClamXAv on my Mac to try to keep it clean.

Answer 7

First question, you do not at the moment choose any antivirus protection. There hasn't been a MacOS X virus released in 4 years. regardless of what the others are telling you, in simple terms verify the Sophos internet website lower than, it is going to back me up. There are about 7 or 8 lively Mac malware accessible. you may want to be ignorant or grasping to contaminate your Mac with one among them (there are over a million,000,000 homestead windows viruses). The Mac malware are trojans in unlawful application downloads like torrents of Photoshop, Snow Leopard, and iWorks 09. also they are in fake application like a malware remover, an antivirus and formats to view porn. you are able to't seize something on a Mac by using vacationing a internet website, beginning an e-mail or clicking on an ad. you ought to conform to get carry of and installation it with an admin password. in simple terms don't be grasping or get duped. As to browsers, you've already got Safari put in, this is the fastest and between the most secure browsers. There are uncommon situations at the same time as a internet website developer is too lazy to be certain a internet website for different browsers to apply than IE. if so you are able to trick Safari to inform the internet website it truly is IE. lower than the Safari opportunities, the better section, you are able to click on "tutor boost". Then in the actual menu bar once you take advantage of Safari, click on "boost" and go right down to "person agent". you are able to tell the internet website you're another browser. or you are able to attempt Firefox, it quite works properly, my spouse prefers it. or you are able to get Opera or Chrome, additionally they paintings. As to homestead windows, in case you quite, quite settle on you ought to have homestead windows operating on your Mac also, you've the utilizing observed as Bootcamp on it. With it you are able to partition your not straightforward force & installation a legal replica of homestead windows. at the same time as the Mac begins up, you've your determination of which operating equipment to apply. The homestead windows side might want to get any of the homestead windows viruses regardless of the truth that.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

Dude, why would you want to use IE?

Nothing is wrong with FireFox. It is safe.