Apple's advertisements often boast that their systems are virus-free. While Mac OS X has had a number of widely reported vulnerabilities, despite being well-publicized, they never amounted to much.
Still, in this latest move, if true, it would appear that Apple is not taking its chances, and will provide users with a system that scans files for potential malware. In a screenshot that has been widely circulated, originating from the intego Mac Security Blog, Snow Leopard is shown to recommend that a .DMG file be moved to the trash. The OS claims that the file includes "OSX.RSPlug.A" malware.
That Trojan horse, which was discovered in 2007, runs on OS X and changes the system's DNS settings. It is easily removed and does little damage.
Writing for ZDNet's Zero Day security blog, Ryan Naraine states that Apple is not using the open source ClamAV engine. He believes Apple may have contracted with a third-party antivirus company for the reported new Snow Leopard feature.
If true, the anti-malware inclusion in Snow Leopard would mean that both Apple and Microsoft will soon officially offer some sort of free system-wide protection for their respective operating systems. Microsoft's "Morro" is expected sometime this year.
Late last year, some noticed that Apple began encouraging the use of antivirus for Mac OS X, though the company later removed that support note.
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I'd take anything from intego with a grain of salt.
There's nothing to protect against. But I suppose an ounce of prevention, as they say . . .
This all assumes the rumour is in fact true.
Yeah... This is a teflon coating over the armor...
He believes Apple may have contracted with a third-party antivirus company for the reported new Snow Leopard feature.
Would they have had to have contracted with a 3rd party? Mac threats are so few and far between, they could probably just maintain it themselves if all they are doing is looking for Mac threats and not also checking for Windows threats that might end up on your Mac.
It may also not be "system-wide" and only part of the disc image mounting utility.
I think Apple states so themselves.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/security/
The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box. However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, antivirus software may offer additional protection
Might want to update the article, seeing as Apple update its info to basically confirm this.