To: Bush2000
Oh, give it a rest. OS X is just as vulnerable as any other OS.
Hardly.
Firstly, Mac OS X is built upon a Unix core, which is an inherently superior to the Classic Mac OS as well as the DOS base of the Windows OSes prior to XP. Hence, based upon this, it is LESS intrinsically vulnerable than WindowsMe, Windows98, etc.
Secondly, Mac OS X's shells, which are built on top of the core, are designed with security in mind in ways that even XP is not. I don't think it is possible to *install* ANYTHING on Mac OS X without explicit user authorization. Anytime my computer attempts an automatic update to my OS or to any of the applications I have on my computer, I have to authorize EACH download and, then, EACH install, through the repeated individual input of my passcode. IF I were to activate my root user feature, I would become more vulnerable to someone monkeying with my OS, but I'm not that stupid ... I'm certainly NOT going to leave "root user" active, even if I periodically activate it to make some precise, critical change to the OS, that cannot be made with just Administrator permissions active.
Thirdly, as a matter of practical concern, the Mac OS does not have nearly as many wackos writing viruses for it because, to put it simply, there are not as many Macs in use as Windows-base PCs. Fewer targets means fewer people trying to shoot at them and fewer fish in the barrel to try and hit. HOWEVER, that is beginning to change -- particularly when one combines US and International sales.
But, even with this third condition, one would think that there are enough Mac-haters out there who are so wacked-out with disgust for anything Macin"trash" that there should be a noticeable number of them trying to harm the Mac OS, Apple Sales, and Mac Users. There SHOULD be a few dozen, or perhaps more, potential viruses, malwear, Trojan Horses, etc. Where are they? They don't exist. But, given the heated emotions on this subject, there SHOULD be a whole bunch of them. Based upon some of the email I've gotten from some who have tried to write viruses, as well as from friends who write legitimate software for the Mac OS and other platforms, I suspect that a whole bunch have tried to write such viruses ... tried and failed.
Finally, as the Mac OS X base continues to grow in user-numbers, it is entirely conceivable that enough wacked-out software authors will attempt to write viruses that some will, eventually, become successful. I don't doubt that, eventually, there will be some around.
8 posted on
01/28/2005 9:19:07 AM PST by
TexasGreg
("Democrats Piss Me Off")
To: TexasGreg
Firstly, Mac OS X is built upon a Unix core, which is an inherently superior to the Classic Mac OS as well as the DOS base of the Windows OSes prior to XP. Hence, based upon this, it is LESS intrinsically vulnerable than WindowsMe, Windows98, etc.
You're high. Seriously high, if you actually believe the crap that you write.
9 posted on
01/29/2005 10:58:50 AM PST by
Bush2000
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