A subject that seems to cause needless controversy for Mac users is that of viruses. We've all heard the "Macs don't get viruses" line thrown around and overused. Many refuse to put AV software on their Macs swearing that only Windows users suffer from malware. But what is the truth? Are Macs really virus free? Should you bother with AV software on your Mac? Click below to find out

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Well here's the cold, hard truth. Macs are not virus free. There I said it, but before you burn me at the stake for blatant heracy I'll explain why. Viruses affect all platforms even Linux (sorry but I'll bet that might have wiped a smug grin off some). Before I continue, I'm going to start calling viruses "malware" as that term covers everything from your tradition virus to trojans to spyware etc.

It is unquestionably true that malware is a major problem for Windows users. In fact having a Windows based computer without some form of AV software has long been a monumentally crazy decision. For years Windows has enjoyed top spot as the market share leader of the PC industry, but with that the Windows operating system has long been in the sights of malware writers. While the market share is undoubtedly the primary factor, the Windows OS has traditionally been relatively insecure allowing malware to infect an unsuspecting user's system without any intervention. Merely clicking on a disreputable website would be enough to infect a computer, hence why AV software has long been essential.

Up until recently Mac users have enjoyed relative obscurity. Perhaps the main reason Macs weren't targeted was less to do with security and more to do with lack of profitability for the malware creators. There simply weren't enough Mac users to warrant the time spent to write the malicious code. That, however, is changing... fast. As Apple's market share has grown, so has the targetability of the system. In the last year alone a handful of attacks have made headline news for causing problems for Mac owners. Does anyone remember "MacDefender"? The trojan that claimed to be AV software, (un)helpfully telling you that your Mac was infected and you should download the software to remove viruses. Yes it was more of a phishing attack, but it more than proved a point. Malware for the Mac has most definitely arrived.

Like other trojans that have gone before it on the Mac, the user had to download, install and authenticate with their password. Now if you did that, you really have to ask yourself why you clicked before you thought about it. Nevertheless, trojans are becoming prevalent and phishing attacks are working. The Unix base to OS X helps lock the system down and prevent (at least for now) malware from self installing, a structure that Windows simply doesn't have. The reason Linux users also can't be complacent is that the similarities between Linux and OS X allow for a certain degree of cross compatibility. Viruses written for OS X can be ported to Linux and viruses originally written for Linux can (and have been) ported to OS X.

This leads to the big question: do you need AV software on your Mac?

Here's the easy answer, the tides are now turning and it won't be long before the floodgates open seeing more malware threats for Mac OS. While the threat at this point is still relatively small, it is only the thin end of the wedge and perhaps the best time to consider installing some AV software. That way you are protected before the impending tidal wave of malware hits. Now I know you are thinking that you don't want to spend £40 or so on AV software for a small threat.

The good news is Sophos offer up their Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition for free. It's not a trial, it's full software and a quick google will find you plenty of reviews from CNET etc. Given that it's free, the reasons not to install should all disappear. Times are changing, not necessarily for the better but I whole heartedly believe all systems, regardless of OS, should have some form of AV software installed.