Do I Need Anti-Virus Software?

Anti-virus software can be likened to Health Insurance for your computer. We're never overinsured, but we can easily be "overpremiumed". The trick is to pick a good balance of cost, comfort, and protection.

On the Windows side, there seems to be little question (and there is none in my mind) that anti-virus software is a must. There are 3500 or more active Windows viruses at any given time, some of which are very nasty indeed. Stuff like the blockers that Cable, DSL, or other ISPs run are very good at catching them, but not perfect. On my Windows machine, I personally keep anti-virus software current and running.

On the Mac side, there are currently no active viruses that will run on OS X, although that could certainly change. As a result, I do not run any anti-virus software on my Mac. I have one client for whom I do recommend anti-virus on their Macintosh. That client gets a lot of email that originates on Windows machines, and needs to forward that mail to others, some of whom also use Windows. While the viruses do not run on the Macintosh, they can be forwarded by the Mac if they have already been attached to an email message. Anti-virus software can pick up those viruses and prevent them from being forwarded.

You can click here to see some simple rules of thumb for spotting viruses before they infect your machine.