Kaspersky intros Anti-Virus for Mac
updated 09:15 am EST, Thu November 5, 2009
New Mac anti-virus software protects files
Kaspersky has introduced Anti-Virus for Mac, a port of its long-running Windows and Linux software designed to cope with threats such as worms, Trojans and bots. Some features include e-mail and attachment protection, as well as download scans, and alerts on blocked files and programs. The software recognizes up to 30,000 threats; self-protection functions guard settings with a password, and attempt to prevent techniques from being modified or deleted.
Automatic updates ensure protection against current viruses. While running, the program is also said to consume a low 1 percent of processing power. Anti-Virus requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or higher, and costs $40 under a one-year single-system license, or $60 under a license covering three machines.














I'd been using Kaspersky on my
11/04, 10:00am reply
BootCamp partition in XP and XP virtual machines on my Mac. It works great, but it's as annoying as all get out since it's always popping up a window asking to update that damn database to cover virus threats. I moved to AVG anti-virus instead and it's less intrusive since it seems to do everything in the background. I'm not considering putting Kaspersky on OSX at all.
iphonerulez
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
Huh?
11/04, 10:23am reply
We need this to protect us from what?
Mr. Strat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2002
Trust Kaspersky?
11/04, 10:50am reply
As a company that trades in FUD, I simply wouldn't trust their software to do what it's supposed to and crucially, ONLY what it's supposed to on a machine of mine. Period.
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
It's only a matter of time....
11/04, 11:02am (2 replies) reply
It's only a matter before something comes to the Mac. Don't be naive.
pastusza
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 1999
Anti-Virus for Windows or for OSX?
11/04, 11:05am reply
This only make sense if I see this as a Mac Anti-Virus for protect the others Windows PCs from having Virus. So why should my MAC make their work?
About the spyware and trojans, could make some sense. I believe, that are some intrusion attacks that can use Java Applets for some kind of intrusion, while you navigate on the web, if you still have Safari 3. I believe that Safari 4 is more secure, but never know!
The great triumph for this Protection Software, could have been give some kind of a better ASLR implementation against memory attacks, since in the OSX ASLR is kind of incomplete, I believe.
I am not an expert in security, so if say something stupid, just say. I am always willing to learn more.
IxOsX
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2009
Matter of time...maybe
11/04, 11:22am reply
I'm not saying it will never happen, but it hasn't happened in 8+ years.
And if a person is routinely getting tainted attachments, they need to find a better source for whatever they're getting. And let the Windows people protect themselves. It's not my job.
Mr. Strat
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Joined: Jan 2002
A port from Win/Linux?
11/04, 11:32am reply
Hopefully actually a fresh build as OSX and Windows have a few differences.
TomSawyer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
Matter of time...
11/04, 12:37pm reply
It is just a matter of time before all major anti-virus companies will have ports for increasingly popular Mac OS. They have to spread to other platforms; good old days of totally unprotected XP machines getting infected after doing nothing but connecting to the internet are gone. And for the companies wich have their business based solely on the security shortcomings of OS tough times lie ahead. Microsoft is continuing to shrink their field of operation by focusing on security, by introducing annoying confirmation boxes right into the system so users won't have to rely on a third party product to get bugged, and by providing AV scanner as part of regular software updates.
Anti-virus makers had to resort to scare tactics and misinformation to keep money flowing. First, they make you think that anything out there may be a threat. Indeed it may, but the most cases of virus infection are caused by either unpatched software or user installing virus by launching bogus executable file. Next, they lie that their product will protect you. In truth as testing shows the chance to detect previously unknown virus activity is very low for every AV. That means until a virus actually spreads wide (via unpatched holes or users not being cautious enough) it won't make it into AV's database and won't be detected. To detect virus infection that is already there you can use any free AV scanner tool.
The constant buzz generated by AV makers and some self-appointed "security experts" sounds dooming for Mac: when OS share will grow big enough we will have plenty of virus writers targeting currently virus-free environment. It is just a matter of time, they say. But there are two points they miss totally.
First, Mac OS won't surpass Windows market share. Macs are premium PC, and premium sector can't sell more units than, say, Dell will sell their cheap series units. It means that until Apple starts shipping Mac OS without Macs (which won't happen in foreseeable future) Windows market share still will be several times larger than Mac OS's. Nothing to make virus writers change their habits, after all they are after money here, and the business rules dictate to pursue larger target.
Second, despite existing security holes in Mac OS exploiting them poses a real challenge. Yes, as it has been demonstrated time and time again you can hijack a Mac. But what do you do locked in an account with user's privileges? You can't steal passwords from keychain (at least no one claimed he did so), while on Windows it never posed a problem. You can't change browser behaviour to point user to fraudulent pages to steel banking info, while on Windows... you know the story. And, you can't hide your virus process so deep that user won't be able to remove it from auto-launch and get rid of it forever. Note to truth-freaks everywhere: by "you can't" I mean "you can in theory, but it will be easier to actually get physical access to Mac than finding a hole that will allow you to do that trick".
So, Mr. Kasperski, your market is shrinking, thank to MS. Sooner or later more people will dump your bloatware down the toilet, and as such you will have to migrate to greener pastures. Sadly, Mac OS doesn't look like those. A couple of users will buy your AV, but it won't be enough to sustain your middle man business model. Please, stop your FUD. It won't help.
ViktorCode
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
Pssst...it ain't about market share
11/05, 10:24am reply
The lack of viruses for OS X has nothing to do with market share. It has everything to do with how the operating system is designed.
Jeez...get an education in computers.
Mr. Strat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2002
No viruses on Macs, product useless, go see Window
11/05, 01:27pm reply
I'm sorry but don't waste your money on this until someone actually proves to be able to get a virus into the wild. So far, no one has and I don't think we'll see any for a long time either.
There have been many hackers who say they can do it, yet none have actually proven or come up with one without having admin rights or physical access to a Mac. Which obviously means they can't do it.
Unix isn't your open door like Windows is for viruses. Apparently Windows 7 is no better from what I've read.
It's security via a better OS, not because of lack of Macs out in the wild. With Macs at or above 10% market share now, the excuses are no longer going to work anymore. Not that they did before either.
b9robot
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Joined: Feb 2009