Virus Scan for Windows Viruses on Mac

Question

I am new to discussion group since my Apple Care subscription expired and they don't renew it.
I hope this is the correct Forum for this topic----if not, please advise which of over several thousand threads might it be associated more closely with?
I'm Looking for a virus scanner that will scan windows materials (CD disks with program files on them) while in a MAC 10.3 OSX environment.... (sorry haven't yet updated to either TIger or Leopard 10.4 or 10.5 as of yet).
Can use or buy either an online scanner or resident virus scanner within the Mac. As this discussion group concerns the PowerBook G4 15 inch screen, that is what I chose to post first within.
Thanks for reading this!

Answer 1

Hi eww:
Wow! You are correct for most of your assertions and observations...but unfortunately for you, I am employed and live in a PC Windows world that makes no excuses or time for the few (to the IT managers) Apple/Mac users out there. You do have a fan here in those multitude of PC vs. Mac advertisements, which clearly point out the folly of anyone using Windows on a PC.
I am employed by a 21 college University, which, at my last estimate, currently is funding Microsoft to the tune of $42 million dollars a year for its Windows Licenses across the University platforms which are almost 100% Windows based (or mainframe Unix for computer science classes of course). I consistently get emails with unopenable "windat" files and "PowerPoint" "excel" etc files and CD's that are totally unusable in the MAC, and for which I maintained the PC. Currently offline, its a two step dance to get them off line to the MAC and then save to a jump drive and thence recopied over to the PC to be opened there. They will not normally spend college money duplicating 100 page endless documents for the one user who has a "pc" problem, and they are just as enthusiastic about their PC's and Windows and hide any defects under the general phrase "computer or internet system is down---sorry for the inconvenience" broadcast over the old fashioned "telephone answering machine" network we still have functioning after 20 years! Also, unfortunately, after having spent monies for many expensive computer programs and their proprietary methods of "saving" files so that only their program can open and utilize them.....I am not about to buy all "Mac" versions of the programs (if there are any in the same company---usually they are not), or spend the time and money buying brand new Apple created or third party created programs, learn how to use them, and then save to their unique proprietary methods of saving files, all the data and files which are saved now on the PC. That unfortunately is simply not an option. Unfortunately for timing, after investigating those programs that claim to convert the Mac into a "Windows friendly" platform also run afoul of many issues, including the program cost is just the beginning, as now one has to purchase all new versions of the programs to run on a different computer with its new unique CD product key, not to speak of the difficulty of deciding if I go with XP which can run and share the files as they are, or the new VISTA program, which as I've explored this issue with some of the major programs I use and no longer can access right now on the PC---they say that (in typical Microsoft computerspeak) "sorry, but you may find that older programs no longer run in the VISTA environment, so new programs and files may have to be created" (that sentence is a simplified compilation of the programs that I've investigated..... The simplest one to show you this on is the fact I'm a WordPerfect User in a "Word" world. Even the MAC I have has Microsoft's version of Office on it with their terrible Word program on it. Fortunately for me, WordPerfect realizes this is the issue and creates keys that allow one to change the way a file is saved so that those people with Word, or a dozen other word-processing systems can read and correct those files. Unfortunately, that does it for WordPerfect as the other companies I use and have used for years through many versions on the Windows based systems, do not care if their programs would be readable by people using similar systems on a Mac.
But enough about why I still cling to the PC.
You brought up interesting points that I didn't stop to think about when I went searching for AV software that would check up on the Windows based CD for malware, spyware, and viruses. I've installed CD's from reputable companies that have had "issues" where people do insert such spyware etc unknowing to the top bosses into their production of the CD's in order to create havoc and upset the end user. Of course normal AV software on my PC has removed those programs for years. My difficulty is clear now, that I cannot use the older versions of the software as they do not install on my machine anymore with the "larger" Hard Drives and it detects that and refuses to scan for it....which takes care of the pre 2006 versions of the AV software.... Post 2006, AV software, must be "activated" using the internet and updated frequently else the AV software shuts down as a precuation against piracy. Of course turning on and connecting to the internet for even a few minutes of registration invites in to my computer a trojan horse which can do its damage before the AV software has been activated and the "Internet" scanning part of the software activated. I've discussed this problem with the software company at length and they assure me that they never thought of the problem, as most people like myself are installing "upgrades" not from "zero" so the older AV software is kept functioning until its removal is requested by the "Wizard" installing the new one, after confirmation of the CD product key allows for the installation and registration of the software.....I know I know too much details but you did respond to me as if I did not know of the detriments of having a PC and now I've explained the problems that led me to this course of action......its not the patience of a saint, but the business (education) that I'm in and to which Apple did not have enough of a clout when they were choosing which platform will run University-wide several decades ago, so now we are stuck with Microsoft whether we like it or not!
Back to the AV problem and thanks for pointing out that without the ability to download the program into the computer for the AV program to not only check up but eliminate any malware and viruses, the CD is essentially unchanged and would have been inserted into the PC and transferred its virus to the PC (if it did have one, as even a small virus would seriously hamper my continued discussions with these companies as they are searching for a solution, and coming up empty, of course they ask: any new software or viruses, and that I have until today answered "no"....
So therefore I am between a rock and a hard place not having the ability to install a MP3 creation program into the PC, nor being able to use the latest GarageBand with the parts of the program that had "defects" (we don't call them bugs in Mac, of course Mac's don't get things like viruses or bugs I've found out over the years!)...which have been long rectified with the newer iLife and newer Tiger/Leopard operating systems. Unfortunately, that accident and lack of willing and patient people to carry the computer to where the store is located has been the cause of the delay in upgrading...until now its deadline time and too late to do anything about it....
Of course the Garage Band would be updated when I get to have Leopard installed, but as someone here already pointed out, I have to buy from a store not via mail since I would not trust myself to install something on the Mac simply because I do not have the experience installing stuff on the Mac as except for a font program MacFonts, the Mac PowerBook is essentially the way it was when purchased in 2004.
Thanks again for your patience in reading all of this background material---any suggestion from you or anyone would be appreciated as I’m forever barred from posting my question on the Windows help Forums as the price of entry is too high (another “free” installation of the Windows Genuine Advantage” program!)
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