Those Apple "Geniuses" are obviously nothing but mindless pawns in Apple's fanatical long-shot campaign to control the realms of both hardware and software. They only told you protection isn't necessary because they want you to actually believe that their precious OS X is as perfect and impenetrable as their ridiculous ad campaigns claim.
Don't get me wrong, OS X is a good OS if you overlook the fact that it's a pretty shell thrown over a stripped-down open-source BSD kernel that they still manage to sell for $130.
Apple hardware is well-made, especially the notebooks.
BUUUUUUUUUUT.... Don't think for a SECOND that you're perfectly safe in that blanket of ignorance the "geniuses" try to wrap around you. While NO operating system is completely safe, OS X is known among serious hackers for having obvious, gaping security holes and pathetically under-developed anti-malware systems. OS X is perceived as secure because most malicious software is written for Windows, since it holds the largest market share, and most serious hackers could care less about whatever information the average mac user is concealing. There is, however, malicious software written for OS X, and there are some hackers out there who are well-versed in UNIX and can root your system in a matter of minutes. Trust me; I know a dude who does it. I've seen him bring an iMac to its knees in about an hour.
Here's a good free antivirus you can install. I actually find it better than most of the anti-viruses people insist on paying so much for.
http://avast.com/eng...ac-edition.html
Edited by pyrocajun2707, 13 February 2008 - 02:42 AM.