i was wondering if it is possible to get a virus on a mac, and if i need to get a virus protection program because i have noticed that my macs been acting funnier then usual, like going slower, and applications freezing and this didnt usually happen when i had it for the first 2 months, and now its been 5 months.

It's not really possible to get a virus... there might be something out there, but nothing to worry about.
Check to see how much space you have on your computer, and how many applications you have open at once... you can also make an appointment at the genius bar at your local mac store; they're very helpful. There also may be something wrong with your mac, in which case you can get it fixed for free since you've only had it five months.

You should at least get some sort of protection. Better Safe than Sorry.

Heard of OSX.RSPlug.A.? Well, there is a possibility that there is a Trojan/Virus out there called OSX.RSPlug.A. (I think that's what it is called) It is "suppose" to be harmless but annoying.

As Mac Computers get more popular, more viruses/worms/etc will be targeting Mac computers so I HIGHLY suggest getting a anti-virus.


ANOTHER reason that might cause your Mac to become slow is the reason that 16PaperLanterns kinda stated. Seek help.


Hope your Computer get's better!


To be honest, I would buy a external hard drive and back up my files. Reformat the computer and start out new.


*I absolutely hate it when people think that Mac computers are immune to all viruses. Just saying

oohhh alright thanks a lot:)

ill make sure to hit up the mac store cause random stuff freezes which pisses me off lol.

ill make sure to ask them also about it:D

Try this one, My mate is currently making a tutorial on how to use a Mac.. and one section is free apps and he has a free Virus protector in it.
Click here.
You don't need to purchase any anti-virus because the free ones just work as well.


If you're running BootCamp check to make sure the date and time is correct, because bootcamp at one point set my MacBooks date a day ahead and it lagged it to buggery until I found out and changed it back.
I am assuming you're running OSX 10.5 (Leopard) Also
try this Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > Select your Hard Drive > The Press "Verify Disk" let it check the disk for any errors if it comes up in green at the bottom "The Volume (Disk Name here) appears to be OK" then you can quit that and see if that helps.

If not you can always try your luck googling your problems or browsing the apple mac forums.. They have helped me with a few problems before.

I highly doubt you have a virus. I mean, it's possible, but really unlikely.

Did you install anything new recently?

The viruses don't lag your Mac, my mate got one all it did was say some random phrase every minute until he reformatted.

thanks that helps a lot. are you sure thats trustable? hhaha i'm so afraid to install things that im not familiar with haha.


not that i know of... everything i get usually is from the apple site download area, so i think im fine in that area.

im just scared of spyware and stuff cause i always get pop ups on safari even when the blocker is on. but idk i think i'm fine but i get always start to worry in the back of my mind, and i just wanted to know if that rumor that its unlikely for a mac to get a virus was true lol.

but thanks all of you

Its only a matter of time before people create a bunch of viruses that target macs.
And then I will laugh at all the apple fanboys who are like "OMG MACS ROCK THEY DONT GET VIRUSES LOL"

Then he was just lucky, I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to write part of the code that would launch lots of instances of itself and each would allocate some part of memory... (or something else like that, which would take lots of system resources)

The only real reasons why Macs are more resistant to viruses is because they use Unix system also no one really bothers to write them for macs and the way the ports are configured it's hard for a virus to get in.


Yeah the program is safe it is one of the most recommend freeware anti viruses that I have come across
I would also advise instead of Safari to use Firefox on your Mac with the No Script add-on you won't get any popups or have any ads on any site unless you allow it =]


I don't know why people bother with Viruses for OSX.. since the OS is mainly used by people in the media and graphics industry. Unlike windows where it's used in way more circumstances and is left way open to attacks.

Well what can you say - people are assholes
And since Macs are spreading to BFUs more and more the more assholes appear
(at least that's my theory )

If macs weren't so damn expensive I would buy one and dual boot with vista

You can bild a hackintosh for under $800.

Full guide.
+ this.

I might try that second link on my extra laptap I have laying around.

they're expensive because they're good

but honestly it is worth it to pay the price because in the long run all the money you spend on a pc trying to repair it everytime (which is also a waste of time), and getting new software to protect it adds up to the price of a mac. cause i know that a pc isnt suppose to last a really long time, cause they really dont. & it's not hard getting used to macs, i think it's easier then pcs actually.



alright thank you i'll try that bad boy out.

Funny enough Vista ran better on my Mac with 1GB of DDR2 667MHz ram than on my mates Laptop which has 2GB of DDR2667MHz ram, I was all "This shouldn't be man"
Yeah I deleted bootcamp since I never used Vista on it.


It works to an extent, but can very unstable and bitch to get drivers for. I had a mate who tried it and a mate that uses it along with his eMac lol.


It's alright =]

As for the PC thing Laura it all depends what you buy in the way of parts, like top of the line brands in everything is going to make the computers life longer, but if you say bought everything top of the line minus a power supply and ram those 2 are going to affect the computers performance and life expectancy. But yeah the Mac thing is true in a way, my mate scored a G4 tower complete for free and it only has a 400MHz processor but it's capable of running OSX 10.4 or OSX 10.5..

Bullllshit.

Seconded.

I had the same PC for 4 years, rebuilt the entire thing a year ago to upgrade all the parts, and it was STILL cheaper than Mac desktop. If i would have spent $2000-$2500 on a mac 4 years ago, and wanted to upgrade to a newer model, i'd have to drop another $2500 for a new machine.

PC's have their plus sides, one of which is being able to upgrade whatever you want and not having to pay an arm and a leg for some proprietary crap.

Apple is an evil corporation. Like Andres said, there's virtually no way to upgrade them, and every few years when software becomes obsolete you get bent over with the price of a new computer. Also, PC software is more commonplace therefore making Apple's hard to learn.


exactly. Building a mac or a PC yourself is usually $500-700 cheaper than buying one in a store for the same quality. You also get a computer that is better suited to you.