Is it true a Mac will never get a virus?

Is it true a Mac will never get a virus? If it is not, what virus's should i be most worried about and how do i avoid them?
Thanks.

No. What is true is that there are no viruses currently affecting OS X.
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection
An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.
See these Apple articles:
          Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection
          OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          About file quarantine in OS X
If you require anti-virus protection I recommend using ClamXav.

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Is it true that Mac's can get a genuine Virus? I've heard they can't.

Is it true that Mac's can get a genuine Virus? I've heard they can't.

OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it updated with software updates from Apple.
A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":
Never install any product that claims to "speed up", "clean up", "optimize", or "accelerate" your Mac. Without exception, they will do the opposite.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources. Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iTunes or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Disable Java in Safari > Preferences > Security.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Block browser popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > and check "Block popup windows":
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but popups have devolved to become a common means to deliver targeted advertising that you probably do not want.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever see a popup indicating it detected registry errors, that your Mac is infected with some ick, or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. To date, most of these attempts have been pathetic and are easily recognized, but that is likely to change in the future as criminals become more clever.
OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgement, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

My Mac will not get on Internet. Email works.

My Mac will not get on internet. It says it is connected. I am willing to delete everything almost to fix this.

If you weren't connected to the Internet, you wouldn't be getting email.
Are you having an issue with your browsers, i.e., Safari? Have you tried other browsers, i.e., Firefox?

Weird Permissions which will never get repaired

Hi
The following ios the log of my recent permission repair. Can someone help me get those "unrepaired" fixed?
thanks
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Deploy.bundle/ Contents/Resources/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar", should be lrwxr-xr-x , they are lrw-r--r-- .
Repaired "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Deploy.bundle/ Contents/Resources/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar".
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Admin.framework/Versions/A/Resources/readconf ig" has been modified and will not be repaired.
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Admin.framework/Versions/A/Resources/writecon fig" has been modified and will not be repaired.
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar", should be -rw-r--r-- , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Repaired "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar".
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/libdeploy.jnilib", should be -rwxr-xr-x , they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Repaired "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Resources/JavaPlugin Cocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/libdeploy.jnilib".
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired.
Permissions differ on "private/etc/resolv.conf", should be lrwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x .
Repaired "private/etc/resolv.conf".
Permissions repair complete

They will never be fixed since they are not errors. The Permissions database has changed but has not been updated by Apple.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1448
When you see one of these with an l in front of the Permissions (a symlink) even if it's not on the list, just ignore it. You can also generally ignore any Permissions errors that return even after "Repairing."

HT4623 Lost all my data to this update. stuff i will never get back. not happy.

Just did the new update and upon finishing, i got an error msg, -1 or something and it said my phone could not be update, which doesnt really worry me. But to even get my phone back working i had to restore it, Because all i had was the plug in symbol.
Well i restored my phone, lost all my music, because i manage mine manually, also lost all my PDF files that i had stored in my ibook.
So end of the day. im ****** off. and annoyed with these updates that we get that pretty much 50% of the time, screw you over.

Your Mac is well equipped to take care of your files, Time Machine is solid, and you already have it.
Mac Family Tree have done you a disservice, no doubt. AutoSave would have been nice if it had worked. But you compounded it by making no backup provision. Your data is important to you, not MFT, it is a wise choice to take care of safeguarding it rather than relying on them.
I feel for you, it's not a good way to learn just how important backup is.

I have an older macbook, OS X 10.5.8. Am I just going to have to face the fact that I will never get my itunes on my new iphone?

I just upgraded to the iphone 5 and I am incredibly frustrated that my Macbook can't update itunes anymore which means I can't put music, pictures, or anything on my iphone. To be honest, it'd be easier to take the phone back than to pay for a new computer. Is there anything I can do before I just give up and take it back, or am I just stuck with a 16gb iphone that can't hold any of my music unless I buy it all?

Purchase Snow Leopard and install it, then upgrade to the latest version of iTunes, and you'll be all set with your iPhone 5.
Online (US): http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Online (UK): http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Germany: http://store.apple.com/de/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Elsewhere: call the phone number in the Apple Online Store
Apple's price is $19.99, £14.00, €18.

Is it true that Macs do not need anti-virus or spyware?

I know nothing about computers. This is our first Mac. We purchased our mac mini in Oct. 09. My nephew set it up & told us we didn't need a anti-virus or spyware. I just use the e-mail & my daughter uses it for school & face book. It has been slow and has been locking up on us. Last night I had to force close. I took a look in security and it said the firewall was not on. Is this a problem? Should it be on?

Welcome to the Apple discussions.
It's irrelevant that there are no current mac virus's, as, like the stock market, current performance isn't a gauge of the future. In addition, use of an antivirus is good if you receive files that you might forward on to your Windows friends, and want to ensure you're not passing on any virus's. I use, and recommend, ClamXAV, also recommended above. It's available from http://www.clamxav.com . I use it to scan mail and downloads.
You do want your mac firewall turned on. Click systems preferences, security, click the firewall tab, click allow only essential connections (if not already highlighted), click advanced, and enable firewall logging and enable stealth mode. If your daughter uses iTunes to download music, you don't need to do anything else. If she uses Bittorrent, then you should open some ports. Watching video's won't be impacted with the firewall enabled.
I've also installed a program named Little Snitch, which requires me to specifically allow any outbound communication. Once authorized, you don't have to do anything again. So, if something were to sneak through, it wouldn't be able to phone home without authorization. Little Snitch is available from http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html
On your overall performance, one thing you might do is to run OnyX, available from http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs/english/apps.html . Run the tasks on the maintenance and cleaning tabs, which does disk maintenance. Before running any disk maintenance, you should have a hard drive backup. A number of people have used this and found it improved performance.

HT201250 After Time Machine has backed up my files, can I delete my originals from my Mac and do something in Time Machine to ensure it will never automatically delete them from the backup in the future?

I'm new to using Time Machine - I'm making my first backup right now - and I have a few concerns.
So let's say my precious photos are taking up most of my Mac's hard drive space. I back them up with Time Machine on an external hard drive. After that, I want to delete my photos from my Mac because I want more space and my photos are now stored in the external hard drive. I have a few questions about that.
First, does Time Machine's backup system follow the same concept as having extra storage (so would this be a reasonable decision to make)?
Second, if it does, then could I access/open these photos from Time Machine's backup anytime I want?
Third, would I need to use the restore backup function of Time Machine every time I want to open my photos are there alternative ways of accessing my photos, like through opening directory paths to the photos?
Lastly, when the external hard drive becomes full and Time Machine wants to delete my oldest backup files, what can I do to ensure that these photos will never get deleted unless I manually do it? Like, is there a way to lock and secure these files? Or, is it like if these photos are the only copies saved in the backup, I can rest assure that Time Machine will never delete them?
Thanks

NeuroBrain wrote:
Since my new external hard drive is have a lot of space, I'm thinking of splitting it for Time Machine and external storage.
This is a common mistake and I highly advise against it.
1: TimeMachine saves states of changes and thus requires more room on the TM drive than the boot drive it's backing up.
2: Something happens to the TM drive, loss, theft, dropped, power surge, etc., you lose both backups.
3: The storage drive might become a portable need, with it being on the TM drive, now your increasing the risk to the TM backup that something could happen to it along with the storage drive, due to increased movement.
Seriously, have a read,
Most commonly used backup methods
it's ASC User Tip that saves us regulars all the trouble of having to repeat ourselves over and over again in the posts, because we tend to forget things too, or not here sometimes etc.
"Plan for the worst and the good will take care of itself" - Donald Trump

Shows "space background", but never get any further in install

So I, just got my copy of Leopard today, but I can't use it!
I am trying to install it, and it shows a grey screen for a couple of seconds, then the screen shows the main space background theme. It never asks for languages, and I can hear the HD spin every now and then (like it's trying to do something), but the installation will never get past the screen.
I've tried everything I could think of: I put my original Apple Drive back in, disconnected all devices (except keyboard and mouse, airport) and have tried booting several times. It is not a hardware issue, as it never says anything, I have a 1.66GHz G5, >1GB RAM and I don't know whats going on here. Please help!
-Parker

I am having the same issue. I am in the 10.4.10 - drop in the Leopard disc and click the "Install" icon. It asks me to restart and I type in my password. It restarts and then comes up to the "cosmic" screen and stops.
The next thing would be making a language selection and it doesn't get that far.
I know about the language selection screen because I used this same Family Pack Leopard DVD to install it on my Mac Book (2.0GHz with 2GB Ram).
I let the Power Mac sit for a LONG time and it does nothing.
I have tried it with the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse keyboard away from the machine and a wired version of each (the only way to get the DVD out by the way is using the wired mouse).
I am going to try some other things (unhooking everything else - printer, etc...), but this doesn't seem right.
Again, Power Mac Quad Core Intel box, with 2GB Ram, 5 internal hard drives (4 raided and installing to the 5th) with nothing else really special (upgraded graphics card, but it was from the factory).
I'm not happy since I took it upon myself last night to buy the Family Pack of Leopard, iLife '08 and iWork '08. $400 for nothing at this point since I don't want to install more software on my machine until this upgrade goes well.
Ideas? Apple - if you're listening, PLEASE pay attention to your computers and take a break from the iPhone for 5 minutes. I know it's making you a ton of money - but come on!

Apple mail never gets new mail

My apple mail will never get new mail automatically, it is set to check new messages every 5 minutes. If i open the application, it will then get my new mail but never without me opening the app. Am i doing something wrong?

Hi mahepecha.
It's a known problem. Whether it's a bug in Mail or not, I don't known. Here are two threads where this has already been discussed (they refer to each other in some of the posts):
IMAP Deleted Messages AND Unread Messages
IMAP deleted mail won't stay deleted...

Outlook 2011 for mac will not open after installing intego virus barrier

Outlook 2011 for mac will initialize after intego virus barrier X6 anyone know this fix for this?

Yes. Uninstall Intego Virus Barrier. You don't need it.
You will find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435

Can you get a virus on an iPad?

My friend and i were on a seedier website and when we played a quicktime file the internet cut out, we were connected but couldn't load any pages. I just turned wifi off then on again and everything works fine now but should i be concerned?

You should only be concerned if keep frequenting the seedier websites because while the iPad will not get a virus it might get a Trojan if you get suckered into download one and giving permission for it to be installed.
Allan

If i have music from limewire can i get a virus on my iphone

can music from limewire give my iphone a virus

Limewire was discontinued and shut down about a year ago and as a result of this, most of the music and files you find in the program are corrupt or virus-laden. Your computer may be affected, but your iPhone will not get a virus from a malicious music file because the mailicious code was not designed to be harmful to iOS, only to Windows.
HuskieN

I was just told ML could not be installed because apple HD is broken and could not be repaired. I never had any problem ever to suggest a broken HD, on my 2 yr. old mac pro. 10.6.8. Any one else having this problem? Will I get a refund, if so how?

I have a 2009 MAC PRO 10.6.8. Had never had any problems. Tried installing Mountain Lion today. Was told, " Mountain Lion could not be installed because Hard Disk is broken"!
Is it because HD is broken or perhaps incompatible? Has any one else had this problem? I had no symptoms suggestive of a broken HD. Will I get reimbursed if ML could not be installed? If so what do I have to do?
How can I verify the status of the HD, in absence of symptoms for my own information?

mottoo wrote:
I have a 2009 MAC PRO 10.6.8. Had never had any problems. Tried installing Mountain Lion today. Was told, " Mountain Lion could not be installed because Hard Disk is broken"!
Is it because HD is broken or perhaps incompatible? Has any one else had this problem? I had no symptoms suggestive of a broken HD. Will I get reimbursed if ML could not be installed? If so what do I have to do?
How can I verify the status of the HD, in absence of symptoms for my own information?
The solution to your problem is rather simple
1: Get a external hard drive and use Disk Utility to format it with a GUID partition map and OS X extended Journaled.
2: Export your browser bookmarks and any other needed data to a file,. Copy your User data folders of Music, Pictures etc over to the external drive via drag and drop copy methods, disconnect the drive.
I don't advise using TimeMachine at this point since your boot drive is messed up, thus so will be your TM drive, just transfering the problem later on back to the new install. We are proceeding with a "Fresh install" method to eliminate as many issues as possible which a TM restore can return to a new OS X install.
3: Next you will need to follow these instructions to zero erase (important) and install 10.6 fresh, use the same named account (different password ok)
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
4: Before you return files or install programs, Software Update fully and use the AppStore to install 10.8, this way it will be on a fresh 10.6 install, free of issues.
5: Install any and all 10.8 compatible programs as much as possible before returning your User files, this is a performance measure.
If you need too, use this site to find one's that are 10.8 compatible.
http://roaringapps.com/apps:table
6: Last install your user files from the external drive backup into their respective Music, Pictures, Movies etc., folders, into the same named accounts so you preserve your iTunes playlists. When you open those programs, they will update their respective support files automatically.

TS1884 if i reinstrall mac os (snow lepord) will i loose my files,i have no backup and i mac wont start , safe mode never gets past spinning loading icon and i left it all night

if i reinstrall mac os (snow lepord) will i loose my files,or will a new partition be created?
some info,
i have no backup and my imac wont start , safe mode never gets past spinning loading icon and i left it all night yesterday,
when i used disk utility when booting from the install disk im told the "disk is damaged " but the repair utility wont run sand tells me to back up etc....
i cant make a new partition , and i cant make an image
please help

I fully agree with BDAqua.
Don't do anything with this Mac until you have an external disk which you can boot your Mac from.
Not all USB disks are easy to boot from - FireWire is better
When you have a suitable empty external disk I advise:
Put install DVD into damaged Mac
partitioning external disk into 2 volumes
install OS onto one volume of external disk
Don't import anything during install process - it may reintroduce historic problems
Boot external disk
Use finder to copy critical data from Mac to volume of external disk with OS
Use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the whole Mac hard disk to the other external volume
Boot into installer DVD and erase Mac's internal disk
Partition internal disk into 2 volumes and install OSs as required

Is it true a Mac will never get a virus?

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