Protect Your Macintosh Computer From Viruses
It has long been accepted that Mac and Linux users are impervious to viruses and spyware while Windows users are more infected than Typhoid Mary. That is dangerous thinking that can lead to a virus wiping out your hard drive or your identity being stolen by some hacker utilizing the latest spyware software.
If Macs were completely safe, why would Mac anti-virus and anti-spyware software be so popular? Plus, new Intel powered Macs have the ability to boot Windows XP and Windows Vista which are notorious for viruses and spyware.
When choosing your anti-virus and anti-spyware software, no matter what operating system it is going to be used on, it is highly recommended that you choose one that will scan and remove spyware and viruses from your computer. High quality spyware removal software should be able to alert you every time an attempt to install spyware is detected.
For maximum protection of your precious Mac computer it is advisable that you combine your spyware removal program with good firewall protection. A good firewall will come with auto-updating blacklists that will protect your computer from malicious access but will allow the programs you want to run (games, IM, etc.) to access the internet with no configuring on your end.
If you follow these steps, and keep your software up to date, you will be able to sleep better knowing that you are well protected. For far too long have Mac users believed that they were completely invincible from the threat of viruses and spyware. As stated before, this is a very dangerous mindset that will lead to ruined lives and hard drives.
Even after installing a firewall and anti-virus software, you are still not completely safe. Keeping your software up to date is a very important, and overlooked, part computer security. New threats are constantly being released, so being out of date is practically an open door to viruses. Most software updates automatically, but you should still double check to make sure the downloads are not being affected in anyway.
Even though Macs have long been seen as unaffected by viruses, this will not always be true. As Macs gain a larger market share, hackers will be increasingly intrigued by the potential of a new set of victims.
