I asked this question before and the responses are listed below along with my responses to theirs
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnDgobnyk4SE.1i6_U0i50Dsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090505135727AAqnxcl

As I put this question up again on Sunday night I put the other question ^ into voting

My original additional details
[ Having bought a PowerBook G4 and noticing the background underlining operating system which looks very unix like .
I am wondering if the claim of being so internet safe is all it claims to be.

Has there been malicious programs (trojans/viruses/etc) that were targeted toward Macs'?

Are Macs' as internet safe as they claim?
]

The unix underlining code does NOT make me feel safer but just the opposite.

I did not know about rootkits’ before this question and am not sure what else to worry about.

The size of Mac Population also does not make me feel safe. Someone who feel smart but is malicious could target Mac JUST to make him feel superior

One answer said Macs’ are safer IF I know how to use them?
What exactly does (s)he mean?
I do not now log in as an admin account But does that make a difference?

[ Below aare the answers to the first posting ]
I have heard about having to give rights to install a program But could one be fooled with a javascript Alert() type window?

1
A Macintosh can get infected just as easily as a PC. That is what the internet is for to make computers compatible with one another so they can communicate.
The bad part of that is is that it makes it very easy for a virus that was originally dos based to infect any other computer on the net.

2)
There are Trojans and Root kits for Mac, as well as every other operating system. However, the user must be tricked into installing them onto the computer, otherwise they can’t get in.

These other people have a lack of understanding of why Mac and Linux are more secure than Windows. The reason is simple, Mac and Linux are better secured operating systems because of the users power. By default, in Windows, a user is Administrator; they have the power to add, remove, and modify the system. In both Linux and Mac, a user does not have Root (Administrative) powers. To modify, install, or remove anything in the main system, the user must either login as root or use sudo commands, both of which require a password; this makes it very difficult to create malware/viruses for Linux and Mac; they cannot install themselves into the system without the users permission.

4)
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/macosxleap.html

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/26/more_mac_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/21/stealthier_mac_attacks/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/16/new_ibotnet_analysis/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/16/alternative_os_flaws/

5)
Keep in mind that Unix is just a catch-phrase tossed out by Apple, and does nothing for security, safety, nor does it add any features. Apple is BASED on Unix, but has nothing to do with Unix, anymore than Windows XP has anything to do with MS-DOS. Also, MS-DOS is about twenty years NEWER than Unix, so it’s actually far more solid.

But the others are correct. Relatively few people write viruses/malware for Macs, because Macs don’t even comprise 1/10th of the world market. They aren’t any safer, just nobody cares about them.

6)
i know one worm, but i think there are also other viruses…
also firewall for mac, mac can’t get viruses?
Source(s):
http://protemac.com/NetMine/

7)
There is many malicious programs the target Macs. The only reason there is more programs going for Windows, is that it’s much easier. Macs are Internet safe if you know how to use them.
Yes,some what.Since over 95 percent of computers are pc’s more viruses are made for them.Some viruses are made for Macs.And can be hard to rid of these.Security software for Mac’s can be downloaded at cnet.com