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PC Tools on Monday announced the launch of iAntiVirus Beta Edition, an anti-virus and anti-spyware software application designed especially for the Mac. It's free to download, though US$29.95 nets you full support and updates for one year.

iAntiVirus' database is Mac-specific and doesn't contain any information about Windows-based threats, according to the developer. It's designed to work in the background when in monitoring mode, unobtrusively blocking threats and removing them with minimal system impact. It automatically places detected infections in quarantine and lets you view and restore items, displaying an alert below the system menu bar. You can also configure different scans, depending on your security needs.

Some may question the efficacy of Mac antivirus software, given the relative dearth of Mac-compatible viruses compared to the PC. iAntiVirus' developers note that the release of Mac-compatible "malware"--software designed to exploit security holes or poor security practices--are on the rise, and points to Apple's own recommendation to install and use anti-virus software to scan files in its Security Configuration Guide.

"The Mac has a solid reputation for remaining relatively threat free. However, we are witnessing the use of low level malware scripts, to identify whether there is the potential to infect the Mac OS, as well as the opportunity for malware producers to obtain a significant return on investment," said PC Tools CEO Simon Clausen.

System requirements all for Mac OS X 10.5 or later and 15MB hard disk space.