BUGSMAN (I ZAP GERMS)  Please do not get me wrong over what you are about to read, since I have huge admiration for developers who create great apps for the Mac as Shareware or Freeware (and occasionally good value Commercial) downloads.

My concerns over this are:

1. Anyone subscribing to MacUpdate is smarter than the average bear, thus:

2. Anyone subscribing to MacUpdate knows the advice already posted by ZBOB - the best anti-virus defence is planted between your ears, and

3. How responsive can the developer guarantee to be when (NOT IF) an OSX virus gets into the wild? It takes a significant amount of monitoring and resource to implement an update to the filtering.

The developer, PC Tools, offers no information about its history, size or structure on its web site. For all I can tell, this is a script-kiddie working from a garage. And the name PC Tools suggests a Windoze oriented operation, despite well-written copy telling me that everything is Mac oriented and does not bloat the apps database with Windoxw only virii (aka "viruses" for the illiterate).

I know that Macs are in the frame for attacks from the e-vermin, and I also know that every single major AV vendor has given up trying to flog their wares to Mac users, for good reasons: there has, until now, been no credible threat. The time is therefore right for a dedicated and serious Mac software developer to come out with a product, that if it delivers, could easily become dominant.

Meanwhile, I will not download this valiant (maybe?) attempt, as the cynic in me says that this is more likely an attempted sale based upon FUD - Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt = buy now; better safe than sorry.   
(Version 1.0b3)

VICJOE  The lengthy list of viruses/malware on the developer's page is misleading; there are a number of old viruses for OS 9 and the Classic environment, yet this software only works on Intel machines with Leopard, which of course cannot run the Classic environment.  
(Version 1.3.5)

SURFSPIRIT  BAD! OK, it was lot faster than ClamXav to scan files, but din't found any of the two virus ClamXav had made alert, I also run Kaspersky via Parallels to the same usb pen, and Kaspersky confirmed the two virus. All the antivirus used their most recente database. ClamXav seems better, you can even easy scan any file or folder by mouse click menus. I also run Sophos aclamed anti virus and the result was the same as iAntiVirus, a shame! Above of all this, I am completely sure my pen was infected because it was used to try to desinfect a friends pc that was full of virus and malware. So if you want an anti Virus for mac so you minimize your friends pcs nightmares, choose ClamXav!  
(Version 1.3.5)

PIRX  Well, I had ClamAV running all the while on Tiger, folder sentry on my PowerMail e-mail attachments folder, documents folder and downloads folder. Then, upon finally upgrading to Leopard last week (October 2008), ClamAV instantly warned me about 3 Windows virii, 2 of them in my e-mail attachment folder, one from 2005 and the other one from June 2008, as well as one in the download folder.

For some reason I was mighty unimpressed by ClamAVs performance, but it is hard to blame ClamAV, as Intego VirusBarrier and Sophos had also failed in detecting the virii!

If there should be an aggressive new virus out there, I reckon that the chance of either aforementioned software on a Mac catching it may be no better than 50/50.

Apart from corporate compliance, the point of having AV software running on a Mac is the same as using a condom in real life: To protect yourself against against an unlimited variety of known and unknown infections.

If iAntivirus can reliably do that better than the others, then it is a sure winner.  
(Version 1.1)

ZBOB  I also was confused about the pricing policy but after I posted on their forum the problem was clarified. The software is free but you have an option to pay for it and you get the following advantages:

High-speed updates

Dedicated 24/7 support

Phone support

Also the free version includes unlimited updates (both virus definitions and program updates).

This piece of software is pretty cool if you ask me, I gave it a try and was very satisfied with it. Very light on system resources, good detection rate (as far as i've tested it), very simple interface and very easy to use.

Now the problem that remains is: Do you really need an antivirus for the mac? As I saw on a forum, someone said: the best antivirus is the one that sits between your ears :D. Especially on a mac ;).  
(Version 1.0b1)

IGREG  I have to say that my review may have been hasty, it seems to use a lot of CPU at certain times. I am looking into it  
(Version 1.3.5)

IGREG  Have had it installed for several hours now. I have noticed no problems. Uses about 40 MB of RAM for application and a background program. Quick scan was pretty quick. Even the full scan was not too bad, about 45 min for hard drive with about 55 GB of data. No noticeable system impact. Interface is user friendly. It is free for home users.

I switched from Intego Virusbarrier, which uses more than twice the RAM and has a weird and confusing interface with the current version. Plus its annual subscription renewal is expensive.  
(Version 1.3.5)

GREGM  OSX10.5 ***INTEL*** only -- not PPC

1. Mac specific only --- does not keep you from "passing on" a WIn virus.

2. Regarding the FUD factor: the current list is available on developers site, with clear reasonable descriptions of each "threat". Go ahead and engage your brain----

3. Free for home use -- paid for office use, or if you want live support. ( Just like many other Win AV products like AVG, Avast, Avira, PCTools, others)

4. PCTOOLS was in existence in pre-windows days. I don't know when they started up.  
(Version 1.1)

THUS.SPAKE.Z  I, also, have the issue of my MacBook Pro's temps sometimes shooting up and fans spinning at over 5000 rpm when "Protect My Mac" is on.

When checking Activity Monitor, I find that iavd is at nearly 100%. Turning "Protect My Mac" off brings temps back down and fans back to idle speed (2000 rpm).

Hope the developers find a fix for this issue.

Other than this one problem, iAntivirus seems to work ok and is fast. It hasn't found any viruses, yet, but that's because there aren't any active ones in the wild at this time, but I do like to keep an anti virus program available and run it once in a while.  
(Version 1.3.6)

TRANCE  works great on 10.6.1, scans literally 10x faster than macscan and actually found the trojans that were giving me problems unlike macscan which found nothing  
(Version 1.3.6)