on 4/26/01 10:56 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> I have got a lot of the little information I have on computer viruses
> from the companies selling antivirus programs. I've looked up all the
> ones advised here by Listies (thanks again for all the help!). There
> was mention of incoming viruses on emails and/or attachments and viruses
> downloading from floppy disks.
> Going into all of this blindly I admit I've likely been overly
> apprehensive and gullible! Whats the worse thing can happen if a virus
> gets in? The computer doesn't mutate into an alien does it?? Hehe
>
> :)
> Kate
>
> Marc wrote:
> <<There really isn't much need for anti-virus software on the Mac (in
> fact there isn't much need on Windows either if you're halfway careful
> about what software you run, how it's configured, and your habits in
> using it), though the companies that sell such applications do their
> best to keep the hysteria going. I keep a copy of Virex around to drag
> suspicious files onto, but I don't leave it running otherwise (ie. no
> extension or control panel) - that way it doesn't suck up any of the
> 2400's meagre CPU time and memory when I don't need it. >>
>
>
Depends on the virus. By and large, viruses on the Mac were written more by
folks who were interested in the "grins & giggles" of simply seeing their
creation propagate. However, because some were poorly written (or perhaps
as a byproduct of compromises to make them work at all), some viruses could
cause abnormal system behavior. Perhaps just icons changing to generic
form, but up to frequent system crashes. The Mac community has
(thankfully!) been spared the system destruction and/or hard disk
reformatting aspects that the Windoze world has had to put up with. To be
honest, I can't recall the last time a NEW Mac virus was reported.
Macro viruses are another matter. These typically infect Word documents.
The Mac would not even have these were it not for Microsoft attempting to
make Mac and Windoze versions of Office as intercompatible as possible.
(OK, there were a few HyperCard viruses that I suppose qualify as a sort of
macro virus.) Some of these macro viruses can cause you to lose data in
Word docs and can even damage your "Normal" template (where many of your
settings are kept). These can "invisibly" contaminate Word files and you
can end up re-infecting others even months after you thought you'd taken
care of it. But the biggest danger is that you'll infect your Windoze using
friends/collegues, for whom the damage potential is often far greater.
Lastly, Macs are totally immune to the Visual Basic viruses that have lately
plagued the Windoze world. As not even Microsoft's own e-mail readers on
the Mac have Visual Basic, the virus can't execute. If you forward a piece
of e-mail that has one of these beasties attached, though, you can still
propagate the virus.
Now, since once or twice a year we hear of some Mac product coming out and
ending up having an old virus that's somehow gotten written onto the CD,
plus given the ever-present chance of a macro virus, it would be a good idea
to utilize some sort of virus protection. My experience (with Symantec's
product) is that there is no discernible slowdown in performance. And the
peace of mind is worth it.
- Eric.
=====================================================================
FEAR NOT!! This eMail came from a Macintosh, which means it is free
from the numerous Visual Basic-based PC viruses.
=====================================================================
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