By buying a Mac, you’ve already taken the first and best step toward keeping malware off your computer. Both Symantec and Intego sell Mac antivirus programs: Norton AntiVirus 11 ($50; ) and VirusBarrier X5 ($70; ), respectively. But if you don’t run Windows and you don’t mind passing along virus-laden e-mail attachments to your Windows friends, you don’t need either one.
If you do run Windows on your Mac, you should install a Windows antivirus program on your virtual PC. Our con- federates at PC World recommend Symantec’s $70 Norton Internet Security 2008, the $80 Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0, McAfee Internet Security Suite (three-seat license $70), and BitDefender Internet Security 2008, which costs $50 for three PCs. Each of these general-purpose security suites can protect your virtual Windows machine against all sorts of threats.
Symantec and Intego both offer dual-protection products for users who run both Windows and OS X on their Macs. These bundles give you Windows and Mac antivirus apps. Norton’s package costs $70 and includes Norton AntiVirus 11 for Mac and Norton AntiVirus 2008 for Windows, while Intego’s package costs $80 and includes VirusBarrier X5 for Mac and BitDefender Antivirus 2008 for Windows. Each of these packages costs far less than its two programs bought separately; you have to install the Mac program and the Windows program on their respective operating systems.
If you’re worried about passing along infected e-mails to friends, these bundles or one of the stand-alone Mac apps can also scan your inbox for malware attachments. The free, open-source ClamXav () will do so, too, but it’s slow.