Hey! We're getting our own viruses!

Keep up with iOS updates, and use something like Sophos for Mac - worries are minimal... and never say yes to an install request you're not sure about what initiated it... you'll be OK for the most part... then you fall back on a reliable back-up like Time Machine...

I support quite a few macs, and I haven't seen this one -- yet.

(And I do have users who ask why they can't install the latest free cute cursors they saw in some dark corner of the WWWeb -- glad they weren't using a Windows box!)

I insist on setting up systems so a user's "normal" day-to-day account is NOT an admin account. Yes, that makes some updates a little more cumbersome, but it's safer, and maybe (maybe!) gives people an opportunity to think before entering an admin account and password!

Knock on wood -- and keep good backups!

Macs are immune to viruses
bwaahahahaha....

I'm glad to see that MACS are not immuned from viruses. As an IT for over 20 years I kept hearing from my friends that I need to switch from Macs to PC's cause macs don't get viruses. Well I'm glad that I can now help my friends with their virus removal

To be picky, with this latest issue (Flashback and its progeny), it isn't a vulnerability in Mac OS or the underlying Mach kernel -- it's a problem in Java, which with Lion (10.7) is not installed by default.

Panic isn't warranted; neither is complacency.

I know it's hard, but you've got to think, and pay attention. Tell yourself you're using a table saw, where the cost of even a momentary screwup can be more visceral...

I'm also looking for better solutions. Signature-based antivirus isn't entirely worthless, but pretty close. Especially when you consider that a signature-based approach can't stop 0-day attacks.

Noscript with Firefox seems to be a good tool. Awareness is an important component. A good backup strategy is also important.

I'm more concerned about something taking over my iPhone than I am my OSX devices.

Turn off or disable Java and risks are greatly reduced.

It got to the point that I gave up on java because everytime I turn around there seems to be a new virus in java. I quit installing it but there always seems to be a need for it and I have to install. There is an update it seems like everyday for it. Thats one program that relly pisses me off.

The ability to turn java on and off with a single click (via the QuickJava plugin) was the reason I switched to Firefox. I surf w/o java, but I can enable it instantly. And I find I almost never need to enable java.

Java is not a program but programming language. It's used not only on websites but you have it in Blue Ray players, TVs, mobile devices, etc. So basically there is no virus "in java" but is is written using java. As it can be written in any other programming language.

On web java is used to make websites interactive, as like bank websites, forms to fill, internet stores, etc. And I don't know how you get so often updates for java. There is no more usually than a few a year, probably not even one per month.

And about viruses. Most times I saw computer infected it was thanks to brainless user, who usually installed it himself. I even know people who sent viruses to friends via email. Not maliciously: after installing and during destroying system virus was displaying nice fireworks effects on screen. And that was enough for them to install unknown program they get via email from unknown source.

True, and signature-based detection by itself is really not sufficient. However, so many of the "new" or "imminent" threats that appear in the media are actually exploits that have been around for months and have already been included in the updates for all of the major AV vendors. If users don't bother enabling automatic updates to their AV software (and OS security patches) then the fight against malware is truly a losing battle.

Been using Mac is 1991 with NO problems. Currently have 8 Macs on line. When you put Windows in a Mac and go on line the Mac rules go out the window. Pun intended.