POLL : Virus infection and Mac

Out of interest, I'd like to know what kind of virii (that's the plural for virus, and yes, I know it's pedantic, but someone will point it out if I don't use the proper terms) if any, people have encountered on their Macs.

Please answer the following questions. All readers are welcome to contribute and comment.

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?

And optional extra questions, because I have no comparative data and don't know how true the FUD about PC virii is :

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?
7. Did it cause actual damage?

Please include the model of computer you are /were using, and the operating system.

cheers
Jude

1. How long have you been using a Mac?

regularly since 1999

2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?

no

3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?

no

4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?

yes, back in 1999.
i dont know what the virus was, or if it was causing any real problems

5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?

not anymore.
back then it was Virex

And optional extra questions, because I have no comparative data and don't know how true the FUD about PC virii is :

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?
7. Did it cause actual damage?

sorry, never had a PC.


cheers
nick

1- Used Mac 7 yrs-

2- Never any type virus --I am online 8 to 12 hours aday -

3 - No damage--

4- no virus detected

5 - No virus software

6 - on my windows pc I have had about 40 virus found --
and I am careful --

7 Yes caused all kinds of problems and cost me about $250
and Many hours of hassel

I read a paper that stated there are 20 known Mac viruses-
most were last century --

over 20,000 known windows viruses --
about 30 more everyday -

my pc viruse software updated as much as 4 times aday--

MS Outlook is rated the #1 security danger on the web --

All my windows Pcs are cup holders now --

--Jay--

1. How long have you been using a Mac?

Since 1991. Mac SE/30. 2MB of RAM...40MB hard drive. 9" screen.

2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?

Yes. The Microsoft MACRO virus. Affected any machine with Microsoft Word. This was in 1996.

3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?

Damage? No. Just messed up the word documents.

4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?

Nope. And I have, in the past, used Norton and Virex. Useless...got rid of them.

5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?

And optional extra questions, because I have no comparative data and don't know how true the FUD about PC virii is :

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?

Oooooh yes. My oh my yes. More than a few.

7. Did it cause actual damage?

Yep. Destroyed the directory. I had to erase the hard drive and start from scratch. But, I used the machine for gaming only...two games. Got the viruses by downloading add-ons to the games. I don't game on PCs anymore. Mac Games only.


www.shanerosseditor.com

Listen to THE EDIT BAY Podcast on iTunes
[itunes.apple.com]

1. About 8 years
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. Ran Virex for a while but nothing now
6. No. But I've had crippling adware/spyware maliciously installed
7. Yup

I don't use PCs at all anymore. For a while I did for HTPC and occasional gaming but it wasn't worth the pain.

- Justin Barham -

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
Since 1998. I've owned two, but have used dozens more in various places.

2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
No.

3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
No.

4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
I used to use Norton Futilities. Never did any good. I've never had a visible virus, either.

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?
7. Did it cause actual damage?
I've used two PCs -- a 486 from 1991 which had lasted 10 years, and a Dell Optiplex. However, I had internet access in film school back in those days, so I never put either PC online. Paranoia. As it turned out, I was paranoid about the wrong thing -- the 486 died of old age, and the Dell was stolen. Viruses weren't the problem!


www.derekmok.com

I should add my own answers, too, I guess.

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
Since 1984, I think .. maybe 1983 - it was the Apple ][e. I'm also a troubleshooter, so I've met an awful lot over the years as well.

2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
No. Not on any Mac so far.

3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
No.

4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
Not on mine, but I did see one on a System 7 machine more than ten years ago. It was a virus for system 6. so it didn't work.

5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
No. About once every five years I worry about it and install something, run it, and then delete it. Haven't found any virii on my gear yet.

And optional extra questions, because I have no comparative data and don't know how true the FUD about PC virii is :

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?
I have seen three PCs go down with spyware/adware and virus in the one office. They were connected to the internet for the researchers, but had anti-virus and spy/adware programs running at all times.

A friend of mine right now seems to be struggling against something on her system. Last night a document she was working on turned to ones and zeros before her eyes. I am not a PC expert and can't say if this is a virus, but we think it probably is. She has virus protection, which I updated and ran for her recently, showing no infections. So I dunno.

7. Did it cause actual damage?
All three computers office have now gone to Digital Heaven. (No, not *that* Digital Heaven)
Document damage so far on my friends laptop.

Also - this is not intended to be a 'Mac rocks PC sucks' poll. I'd really like it to be a real world survey, so we can either be more careful, or not get so freaked out, whichever is indicated by the results.

Only a Mac owner for about four years. Never had any troubles, but then I never open email attachments and most of my email services are text-only. Don't bother sending chartreuse characters over a fuchsia background. I won't see it.

My first PC was about 1983. The first real Windows® machine got hit and several machines since. I maintain two networks at home with an air-gap firewall between them. The production machines never touch the internet. The machines that do "go outside" have simple virus protection but go through a good separate mechanical/NAT firewall.

I maintain my own virus software at work and I have been the only PC in the office that didn't get destroyed. As I was leaving for vacation, there was a bug going around and several of the production PCs caught it.

The production OSX Macs, knock on Formica®, have no protection and have never been damaged.

Koz

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
21 years

2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
No

3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
No

4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
No

5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
No. Once owned Norton. It never found anything.

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
Mac Plus - 20 Years
2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
No.
3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
No.
4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
Hmmm....maybe System 6? Not from memory.
5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
n/a

And optional extra questions, because I have no comparative data and don't know how true the FUD about PC virii is :

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?
Yes. Heaps. I lived on the edge as a kid
7. Did it cause actual damage?
Yes. I lived on the edge as a kid

Last PC went out in hard rubbish 3 years ago. I do have XP installed under Parallels on my MBP, but only use it rarely, and it doesn't hit the net.

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
Since 1986, Mac Plus

2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
No

3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
No

4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
No

5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
No

Currently Mac Dual 2.5 GHZ water cooled G5

Matt Murray
Lineside Productions
[www.edgesportfishing.com]
Fishing videos, DVD Production, Websites and more.

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
since 1991
2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
yes. but it was LONG ago
3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
not of any significance
4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
no
5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
NO
6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?
no. the anti-virus software caused more problems than it solved
7. Did it cause actual damage?
n.a.

1. How long have you been using a Mac?

since 1986 with a Mac Plus, later an SE/30, then a Mac IIx .... and on and on through the Quadra 8500/120, the G3 (eventually with a G4 ZIF daughtercard upgrade), Powebook G4 and finally MacBook Pro


2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?

No, not that I can remember.


3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?

Absolutely not.


4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?

Maybe some PC stuff that had got lost.


5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?

Not any more, although I used to run Virex


And optional extra questions, because I have no comparative data and don't know how true the FUD about PC virii is :

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?

I've never owned a PC. But certainly I've had virii on PC's that I've worked on.


7. Did it cause actual damage?

No. I've always run checks when working on PC's ... and generally they've been production machines not connected to the inernet. Mostly the infections have come form floppies. On th eother hand, I've known a number of friends who've had absolute wipeouts beacuse of virus infections on their own PC's.

Andy

1. How long have you been using a Mac?

Since 1984

2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?

The Microsoft MACRO virus and a link virus brought in on a disk by another editor! Although both were dealt with without incident.

3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?

No

4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?

No

5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?

Not since Panther when I used Virex or Norton's Anti-virus

6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?

Many 1000s - in fact 1 Laptop I had to use (Sony VIAO with XP) showed up with 300 only one day after cleaning it!

7. Did it cause actual damage?

Everything from minor corruption of files through to emailling itself out to other machines and even total system corruption, lock out and deletion of data.


Ben



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

1. How long have you been using a Mac?
Since 1993
2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
No
3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
No
4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
No
5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
No

A few years ago i've installed Norton and i found out by myself the experience of having a problematic computer.
From frezze frames while capturing in FCP to a verrrryyyy sloooooooooowww Mac.

I have 4 Macs in my home office working as a swiss clock's and a PC like one made in North Korea.

Rui Barros
Editor Colorist Trainer
Lisbon, Portugal
RTP Post-Production
Apple Certified Trainer FCP 7
Apple Certified Pro FCP 7

Jude Cotter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1. How long have you been using a Mac?
19 years

> 2. Have you ever had an active virus of any sort on your Mac?
no

> 3. Have you ever had a virus that caused damage on your Mac?
no

> 4. Have you ever had anti-virus software discover an inert virus on your Mac?
There was an OS 7 or 9 (I don't quite recall) worm burrowing around in the late 90's. Every computer in the shop, and mine at home, was reported to have it, per a specific worm detector that came out about that time. We ran the "Worm Food" app that came with the worm detector, and all was well. There were no actual visible signs or negative effects on any of the computers, to my knowledge.

> 5. Do you run anti-virus software? If so, what do you use?
I used to use Norton Utilities back in the day before I did video on my computers. Then for awile it was Virex when I first started going online. Since I started using OSX, I use nothing

> 6. Have you ever had a virus on your (non-Mac) PC?
Before the Mac, I used a Unisys mainframe via modem to a dumb terminal in our house. Personally, I have never used a PC, but my step-daughter came home with one on her laptop from downloading "free" smilies from a pop-up ad. (She was 13)

> 7. Did it cause actual damage?
Yep. I don't know what exactly, but she asked for Christmas for a way to "get the virus off her computer". We ended up wiping the whole thing and starting over. Luckily, 13 year olds don't have much in the way of data that they want to keep.

> Please include the model of computer you are /were using, and the operating system.
It is a Dell laptop, running Windows XP Home.

Please do not take this again, as a PC bash post. I have used both MAC's since 1990 and prewindows Zenith X86 (DOS) computers and others up through XP. Sometimes because my job required using a PC and others because it required using a MAC.

I have drawn my own conclusion about which platform is better for me. This is because it's the only computer I will now own. (Well, I still have PC hardware running Linux) In 20+years of working with all types of computers it has become easier to tell which platforms do best for what job.

Is is also my own narrow minded opinion that most people are ignorant of the value of paying more for the priviledge of owning a Macintosh computer. Most people, including most IT managers look soley at the startup cost of purchasing computers. They can not see the long term maintenance cost factors, that are real.

Forward to the days of AVID on a PC for video editing - no one editior was able to maintain their own editing system. You need to have hardware techs that could straighten out problems and get you "back on the air"

Final Cut Pro has not only revolutioized the video industry as far as NLE system editing , but the low price of owning FCP has driven many out of editing shops where several graphicially trained individuals ran the entire operation from capture to ingest to edit to output. Now replaced with a one or two person shop doing the same things in the same amount of time. This precludes the tech support person and requires the computer maintenance to be an added skill.

It comes down to this - in my mind. MacOS X and Apple hardware have made this possible at a cost conscience price point. The simplicity of understanding how the operating system works with the underlying power of UNIX is a GIFT that few understand but have the advantages of daily.

We are also gifted with an operating system that is either too small a target for hackers to care about or too secure to make it an effective target for those hackers.

My ramble is more historical in nature about where we have come from but also about how we got here so fast. The fact that we Mac user have not dealt with viruses and other dangers to our business computers is somehow related to Apple software and hardware. That is one thing PC users can not claim.

<<<the operating system works with the underlying power of UNIX is a GIFT that few understand but have the advantages of daily.>>>

Pretty much.

Windows has the odd problem of needing to maintain backwards compatibility with older software and processes. I have a DOS program that will still run in Windows 2000. That's the good news. This also means all the vulnerabilities come along, too.

That Windows Registry thing is an abomimation. Any software package can make changes that affect everything else.

Because OSX is based on an older UNIX framework, it's much more resisistant to that kind of thing. It should ring very loud alarm bells if you're reading your Mac mail and a little message pops up asking if it's OK to make changes to your computer. Say no.

Koz

Any more takers? Free for all. No pony required ..

So from this we can conclude that there are a number of active, serious Mac virus infections out there and nobody's found them.

How would you know? The PC people have that little Disk Activity light that normally slows down to almost zero when you stop using your machine. The classic problem, if the virus is careful, is that nothing happens to you, but the disk activity light never goes off. I went to the kitchen to make a sandwich. What the frog is the machine doing?

Then there is the unwarranted activity in the Server Room. That's the third bedroom where most PC users put the WiFi Adapter and the networking devices. One look at the network activity lights tells us that there is an insane lot of transmission activity present even though we're not downloading porn.

Do you even know where your AirPort terminal is? Quick, without looking. How many lights does it have on it?

So only if the virus writer is incredably stupid and designs software that interferes with daily activity, would you ever know.

Brought to you by the Sweetness And Light Advisory Board.

Koz

Well I think the purpose of a virus is to duplicate and destroy, so one that sits quietly doing nothing can't really be called active and serious.

Spyware and keyloggers need to be small and quiet, but not virii. If you were worried about that you could use Little Snitch.

BTW I love that one of the four main points listed as a feature in Little Snitch is : "Provides a higher level of security for the paranoid."

<<<duplicate and destroy>>>

But not on your machine. Some of the worst problems are caused by "robot" machines that send mail or other data to other machines for the purpose of maliciously taking them off-line.

"Hello! You have 264,857 messages and no more email service. Have a happy day!"

Koz

But the virus is not actively destroying your machine, and surely if this is true then millions of Macs are all sending the same things to eachother, thereby becoming the 'other' machine, and yet not being affected.

Carriers, I can allow. Must happen. But if no one was being affected by the result, then the virus would be null and void. It seems as if no Macs are being affected by the result, so you can't really blame them for PCs getting infected.

I still don't think that it won't happen. There are for sure some bitter hackers out there right now trying to be the first to cause damage on Macs. Try saying Macs are good on any PC forum and see the tirade of abuse you get. It's quite determined.