[Macpartners] McAfee Issues Hotfix for Apple FileVault users

[Jacob A Morzinski]

Hi John,


Is anecdote truly the best way to decide this?  "I won't use anti-virus
until someone I know gets their computer infected."


Here is a short history of malware on Mac, from the security company
Sophos:
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/10/03/mac-malware-history/


Agreed, Mac Viruses are not as plentiful as PC viruses, but they are out
there.  Deciding whether to use anti-virus software is choosing between
tradeoffs: on the one hand you have the hassle of installing and
maintaining the anti-virus software, and on the other hand you have a low
probability of contracting a virus but in that situation a high price of
reinstalling your computer.
IS&T believes that the risk is large enough to be worth the effort of
using anti-virus.  We go so far as to buy anti-virus software and give it
away for free, because we really want people to use it.
We cannot stop people from running without protection, but we don't advise
it.


-Jacob

-- 
Jacob Morzinski <jmorzins at mit.edu>
MIT IS&T: Customer Support

MIT will never require you to reveal your password to anyone.  Do not
respond to any communication requesting that you reveal your password.







On 10/25/11 1:54 PM, "John Canfield" <canfield at MIT.EDU> wrote:

>At this juncture, may I respectfully ask: has anyone who never installs
>"antivirus" software on their (firewall protected and diligently updated)
>Mac systems ever been troubled by any "virus" such software would have
>prevented?
>
>John-Elmer
>