Brian Krebs at the Washington Post takes note that Apple has recommended in a November 21st technical note quietly posted to their support site that Apple users install antivirus software. A quick glance over the conversations below will show that a whole group of websites are jumping on this news as if it is a landmark event.

However, this quiet release of a technical note isn't a "sky is falling" announcement by Apple that everyone has to go install anti-virus software right now; in fact, it's really nothing new and Krebs' original article fails to examine Apple's long-standing stance on security closely and instead relies primarily on an anecdote of Krebs speaking with a salesperson at his local Apple Store.

Apple has for quite some time offered third party antivirus software both on their online Apple Store and on the shelves of their Apple retail stores. For as long as I can remember, Apple has calmly recommended that people have some sort of antivirus solution in place, less for reasons of protecting their Macs and more for reasons of preventing the spread of viruses that can affect people using Windows based systems via Apple computers, which although not susceptible to the majority of viruses, can spread them easily by forwarding infected files via email. Apple consistently warns users about opening files downloaded from the internet, in case they should be some sort of malicious file. Nothing has changed regarding Apple's stance on the security of OS X, which is still detailed on their website and detailed in their downloadable PDF security document (direct link). 

The reports and discussions below characterizing this news as a major change in Apple's security protocol may be misinformed, but that doesn't change the fact that if you have a Mac, having some sort of antivirus protection is, and always has been, a  good idea, even though the chances of you running into any sort of serious problems are dramatically less than the chances of a Windows machine being infected.

If you're looking for an antivirus solution for your Mac, Obsessable recommends that you save your money and go with the free ClamXav.

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