MacAntiVirus

For years, Mac owners have laughed at the frantic efforts of their PC neighbors to fend off attack by viruses, Trojans, rootkits, and other malware. Given that PCs are a vastly greater segment of the market, it's cost-effective for the bad guys to concentrate on PC attacks. And yes, it's true that Apple's operating system is tougher to crack than Windows. But the days of Mac complacency may be ending. First, some threats are completely platform-independent. If a phishing email can fool you into entering your credit card data on a fraudulent site, it doesn't matter if you're running Windows, Mac OS, Linux, or DR-DOS. You're hosed.


In addition, some of the bad guys have ventured into the Mac realm, creating Mac-specific attacks like the recent MAC Defender. Delivered via poisoned search engine results, this bogus application claims to protect users, but actually harms them. It opens porn Web pages at intervals and convinces gullible users that they're infected. Naturally the only "cure" is to register MAC Defender.

In addition, some Macs run Windows as well as Mac OS X, a volatile combination. A Mac running Windows is vulnerable to the innumerable Windows-based attacks already swarming the Web.

We haven't yet observed any true surge in viruses, Trojans, or other active malware targeting the Mac, but it couldn't hurt to be prepared. Many of the major security vendors offer Mac products; some offer combined protection for Mac OS X and Windows running on the Mac. And a few will scan the URLs you visit to help fend off phishing attacks.

You don't even have to pay for Mac antivirus protection. Sophos offers a fully functional home edition of its Mac antivirus for free. If you'd rather go with a different vendor, or if you need features Sophos doesn't offer, consider one of the choices from the chart below.

MacBook Air

If the only thing preventing you from picking up a MacBook Air is the Core 2 Duo foundation, hang tight, things are about to get better (and significantly faster). According to reports, Apple is getting ready to refresh its MacBook Air line with Intel's Sandy Bridge platform and Thunderbolt interface. New models will be ready to launch in June or July.


This is according to news and rumor site DigiTimes, which feels pretty confident in its sources behind the scenes in Taiwan. Apple, of course, is keeping mum on future product releases, as the Cupertino outfit always does.

"Main supply chain makers for the new models remain about the same as for the existing MacBook Air, with Quanta Computer solely responsible for assembly, Catcher Technology supplying casings, Auras Technology a main supplier of thermal modules, Shin Zu Shing supplying hinges, and Simplo Technology and Dynapack supplying batteries, the sources pointed out. However, none of the makers have confirmed their participation in making new MacBook Airs," DigiTimes says.

The timing is right for Apple for update its MacBook Air line. The first Macs to receive the Sandy Bridge makeover were the MacBook Pros earlier this year, which were also the first to sport Intel's Thunderbolt interface. More recently, Apple refreshed its iMac line with Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt, and it only makes sense that the MacBook Air, which currently uses Intel's Core 2 platform, would be next.