One huge reason why people consider Switching to Mac is because of the constant threat of Virus on a PC. So "Is a Mac really safe from Viruses?"
Here is what Apple says
"By the end of 2005, there were 114,000 known viruses for PCs. In March 2006 alone, 850 new threats were detected against Windows. Zero for Mac. While no computer connected to the Internet will ever be 100% immune from attack, Mac OS X has helped the Mac keep its clean bill of health with a superior UNIX foundation and security features that go above and beyond the norm for PCs. When you get a Mac, only your enthusiasm is contagious."
Still not sure? Just do a quick search on Viruses at both Apple and Microsoft.
I alwasy like using analogies when trying to describe concepts, they are easier to understand. My PC-Mac Virus comparison analogy goes like this:
- The Virus will be represented by a person.
- The Computer platform will be represented by Cities, in this case we will use Seattle for the PC and Vancouver for the Mac.
- All Viruses need instructions in order to do their dirty work, in this case we will use a City road map to represent these instructions.
So if you are the PC Virus armed with your Seattle road map set of damaging instructions and you somehow find yourself in Vancouver then you are truley lost with no way of finding or being able to inflict any damage, for the simple reason you don't know where or how to do the damage?
Futher more, even if you did have the right road map for Vancouver you would encounter a heavy security force you where not expecting as Mac OS X is based on Unix, Unix is known for it's unobtrusive yet secure security measures.
A prime example of a typical Virus would be the Virus disguised in an email or downloaded from a Website that you may think is a harmless Image or Photo. On a PC you may unknowingly click it and you know the rest… On a Mac the first level of defense would be Safari (Apple's Web-browser), by default Safari warns you of Images/Photos disguised as Viruses and even if you do go so far as to click on it you will be prompted to enter a "User Name" and "Password". This is because a Virus will need Admin authentication to gain access to the areas where it can do the most damage.
So "is your Mac really safe from Viruses?" Macs are one of the safest system available and I will back this up by saying that I do not use Virus software, I have never had a Virus on any Mac and have been using Macs for over 10 years. What I do recommend is that you use some sort of Backup System, by using a Backup System you not only protect yourself from Viruses but also: Human error, hard drive failure, theft, water or fire damage and a whole assortment of possible ways you can lose your very important computer data.
Here is an Article that covers Why you need to Backup your computer, PC or Mac!
Backup - Backup - Backup
Author - Michael Kaye
Founder of http://www.SwitchingToMac.com Website
"once you go Mac - you never go back"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Kaye
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-A-Mac-Really-Safe-From-Viruses?&id=453989
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