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PC Tools launches beta of iAntivirus for Leopard

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

July 1, 2008, 5:16 PM

Despite its x86-sounding name, PC Tools has launched the free beta of iAntivirus, a piece of protective software designed for identifying and stopping Mac-exclusive malware.

Macs and their users are subject to a number misconceptions and stigmas. Thanks in part to a particular advertising campaign, there is an ill-bred notion that Macs are impervious to malware. Critics of the company condemn Mac users for being technologically ignorant in believing their hardware is insusceptible to compromise.

Over the course of 2008, PC Tools has gathered a database of 70 Mac-specific malware items that only contributes to the critically reputed nature of Mac users. Of the registered malware the group found this year, only 2% were viruses. The majority of threats against Macs were socially engineered, relying on tricks against the user to infiltrate their system. 38% of the compromises were keyloggers, 30% "hacking tools," and 11% were backdoors.

iAntiVirus

Enter iAntivirus, spyware and antivirus protection specifically for OS X (10.5+). Like other antivirus products, it provides realtime protection and automatic definition updates. The beta version is free, and requires an Intel-based Mac running Leopard. Upgrades to full support, or enterprise-level packages cost $29.95 each.

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By DatabaseBen

posted Jul 2, 2008 - 6:03 PM

:( great....

yet another antivirus software and infliction upon the marketplace.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jul 7, 2008 - 9:00 AM

Pretty simple solution for ya, though....don't like it? Don't buy it. ;)

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Jul 2, 2008 - 11:08 AM

Despite its x86-sounding name, PC Tools has launched

Tim, it may surprise you to know that Apple now sells PCs with Apple Macintosh OS X on them.

They call them Apple Macintosh PCs.

(Note to Editor: PC is an acronym for "Personal Computer")

;)

Score: 0

By God Dammit

posted Jul 2, 2008 - 5:18 AM

Mac OS X is not the most secure desktop operating system available like everyone seems to think. It's also by far not the fastest or most reliable desktop operating system.

Score: 0

By GBH

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 9:00 PM

"Despite its x86-sounding name"

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Does the "reporter"/press release know that Mac's run intel chips now?

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 6:04 PM

No OS is immune to computer viruses. One of the many reasons you should never use Admin privileges on your everyday account.

But...some OS's, like M$ Windows in particular, have horrible security records, which has enabled mass virus propagation.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 7:29 PM

The Mac probably has just as many holes as Windows. There are just less people trying to crack it. The more popular it gets the more viruses are going to pop up. The days of "I have a Mac because I wont get viruses" crap is over.

Score: 0

By internetworld7

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 11:23 PM

Don't fool your self.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 10:25 PM

Mmm... 80 threats - only 2% viruses. And the Windows platform is up to what, 1 billion viruses?

I don't think Mac users need to worry yet, whatever the reason people aren't hacking it. But when it comes down to it, it's platform is definitely more secure - the UNIX platform has always been a more secure alternative to NT.

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 7:35 PM

"probably", "maybe", "might".....

whatever you need to tell yourself

Score: 0

By cescam66

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 9:36 PM

heeeeeeyyy my friend pitdinga2.... poor baby he got offended by siryak's comment... awwww poor baby

Score: 0

By TheNewGuy

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 5:35 PM

I've always been a rational Mac user. I have several friends with Macs who believe they don't need to worry about viruses. I always add, "yet".

If the marketshare isn't enough to gain the attention of most virus scripters, the anti-PC attitude that is generated (by what I have witnessed to be only a select few of users) will.

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 6:26 PM

"I've always been a rational Mac user"

You spin around while operating Macs?
or is the Mac spinning?

Score: 0

By sheedl

edited Jul 1, 2008 - 8:24 PM

@Paul - Rational is not the same as rotational.

Wake me when there is an actual threat, not a bunch of hyped up never going to happen in the wild proof of concept stuff.

- The reason you don't see viruses for Mac, is that the underlying OS is a lot better, not because of market share.

Its the same reason you don't see viruses on Linux / Unix boxes.

We're smug because we're right.

Sure, there will be a virus one day, but its been 4-5 years already, and still nothing.

If windows went 1 day without a new virus coming out, I'd be suprised.

Therein lies the crux of the matter.

With pretty much any OS except for Windows I'm safe. Windows causes malware.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Jul 2, 2008 - 10:50 AM

Link or is that your worthless opinion?

Score: 0

By cescam66

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 9:37 PM

can you prove it?

Score: 0

By internetworld7

edited Jul 1, 2008 - 11:31 PM

LOL. "can you prove it?" Sure. Just uninstall your antivirus and surf the net as usual without it. Also be sure and download as much junkware as you can off the net. But most importantly open up any and all attachments that are sent to you by spammers.

See if you can do this for one week before your glorified typewriter running WinBlows becomes a haven for botnets and trojans. I'm sure that's all the proof you'll need.

Score: 0

By cescam66

posted Jul 2, 2008 - 10:17 PM

so wanna suck it?

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Jul 2, 2008 - 5:09 PM

So computers now protect against stupid? Who knew!

That's not proof, proof would be if you run Windows without an A/V and you get one without any interaction from the user.

If you take said virus made for apple and you apply the same theory you have "thoughtfully" come up with, that person too would get a virus.

Computers will never protect against stupid.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Jul 1, 2008 - 10:26 PM

Every single day. I'm debugging a Windows box right now.

Score: 0

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