Well the first internet malware was a UNIX worm... In any case, I'd be careful asserting that for the most part "based on UNIX" = "not susceptible to malware".
I've been admin around UNIX-based boxen for years... and all the system vendors put out security patches... many of which can be exploitable... -sc > -----Original Message----- > From: John Aldrich [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 1:16 PM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: RE: Mac Anti-Malware > > *nix (Unix, Linux, *BSD) is much more difficult to infect, as you don't > automatically have "admin" privileges the way you do in the Windows > world. > By default when you create a new account on a stand-alone PC, that > account > has Admin privileges which most viruses and other malware can exploit > to > infect the O/S. > Unix-based operating systems (Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Mac OS/X, etc) > do not > give normal users the right to run code with elevated privileges, which > is > what would be needed to infect the O/S. Let's say you wanted to install > a > piece of software. Under most unix-based operating systems (I'm not > familiar > with *all* variants, so I'm saying "most" to cover my butt) you have to > be > "root" or equivalent to install software. The O/S won't LET you install > software. > In Windows most users have the ability to install software (unless they > are > specifically denied that by virtue of having been given special reduced > privileges.) > That's not to say that it's not possible to infect a Unix-based O/S, > just > that it's a LOT harder to do than a Windows O/S. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Steven M. Caesare [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 12:38 PM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: RE: Mac Anti-Malware > > " For the most part that is true, as OS X is based on Unix (BSD to be > exact, > I think.)" > > Please to be explaining. > > > -sc > > -----Original Message----- > From: John Aldrich <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 12:34 PM > To: NT System Admin Issues <[email protected]> > Subject: RE: Mac Anti-Malware > > That's a good question. The most common answer you're going to find is > "we > don't need antivirus/anti-malware." For the most part that is true, as > OS X > is based on Unix (BSD to be exact, I think.) That being said, there has > been > some recently publicized (in this list even, I think J) activity that > warrants looking for anti-malware on the Mac. > > My suggestion would be to check the "usual suspects": McAfee, AVG, > Symantec > (YUCK!), etc. > > I just did a little bit of looking (not much, mind) and the ONLY thing > I > found was Avast! has a Mac version. Trend Micro (maker of PC-Cillin and > host > of the free on-line virus scanner "antivirus.com") makes a Mac version > of > their stuff, so it's available. You just have to look a lot harder to > find > it than with Windows anti-malware. J > > > > > > > > From: Jon Harris [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 12:21 PM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: Mac Anti-Malware > > > > What is a good Mac OS X(?) Anti-Malware software? I have zero > experience > with Mac's and was just instructed to begin looking for some software > for > one. Anyone got a good recommendation they will offer up? > > > > Thanks and I am off to see what is out there. > > > > Jon Harris > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.53/2154 - Release Date: > 06/04/09 > 05:53:00 > > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.53/2154 - Release Date: > 06/04/09 > 05:53:00 > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
