Free virus scanner?

LegacyUser

Anywhere I can download a free virus scanner - keep getting warning emails from a mate, which say the email was received, but whatever virus removed. Tried doing the online McAfee free scan and it won't work. Im using OS 9.1 on an iMac.

I have Virex, but it never finds any viruses (it only provides new definitions once a month anyway), and I'm not convinced it checks outlook express anyway. Does it scan my mail account?

deevey

What type of file are you trying to send him ? sometimes word docs, PPS, EXE files among others will be removed by norton or by the webserver by default..

If its one of the above, you might try zipping the file before sending.

LegacyUser

I'm no sending attachments, but attachments are appearing his end

deevey

Just wondering what email client he is using ? or is it a web based mail system ?

Are you sending a plain txt mail, could be the mail content itself is attached as a "mac only" mail and not being recognised by his client

LegacyUser

Both of us are using OE, I always send plain text ... its not just one person I get the warning mail from either, bringing me back to the original question:

Where can I download a free Mac virus scanner.

GRAHAM2002

Have you tried AVG its free to download!

Can't remember the web site but you will find it with google

Cheers
g

deevey

try http://www.allfreespot.com/antivirus.html

Theres a few links there

Steve

Zascar

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/ - very handy

Peteer

Hi,

It is most likely that you are not sending any viruses to your mate. It is common for Viruses to use addresses found in users address books on other machines to 'pretend' that the address shown is the sender when in most cases the virus has been sent from elsewhere. At worst from the Mac you will forward something that you have received from a Windows environment and pass this on without any effect on the Mac. This is something that you will do, i.e. forward an infected file. The payload of a windows virus will not work on a Mac.

The mac it's self has very few viruses, and if a 'Windows' virus makes it onto your machine it will not function as a virus and as I said earlier, at worse you might pass it on, thats all.

For free software you could try: http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/2831

Let us know how you get on, if you use news groups a good source for help is uk.comp.sys.mac

What Operating System does your mate use?

Hope this helps,

Peter

LegacyUser

Virex still can't locate anything, and neither can Agax.

Zascar ... thanks, but is that not for PC?

Next question: at work, some of the Macs are being changed for PCs in one department ... I'm told that a lot of viruses are specifically written for PC and will not "work" on Macs????

If all Macs and PCs are connected to one central server and a PC becomes infected, will that increase the Macs' vulnerability?

Peteer

Originally posted by Buckfast
If all Macs and PCs are connected to one central server and a PC becomes infected, will that increase the Macs' vulnerability?

In a word no. As the code is written for windows software and hardware configurations and therefore will have no effect on Macs on the same network.

Peter