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Is There a Virus Threat for Macs?
The Wall Street Journal ^ | May 11, 2006 | Walter S. Mossberg

Posted on 05/11/2006 1:24:06 PM PDT by quidnunc

There's no other major item most of us own that is as confusing, unpredictable and unreliable as our personal computers. Everybody has questions about them, and we aim to help.

Here are a few questions about computers I've received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained a question about security software for Macs.

If you have a question, send it to me at mossberg@wsj.com, and I may select it to be answered here in Mossberg's Mailbox.

Q: There's been a lot of press lately about increased virus activity on the Macintosh platform. Should Mac owners now be running the same kinds of security software that Windows owners use?

A: There is no sudden security crisis on the Apple Macintosh platform. In fact, for average Mac users, there isn't a security threat of any significance, at least not yet. It is laughable to compare the real, massive and burdensome security problems on Windows with the largely theoretical security problem on the Mac.

As I have said in the past, no operating system is invulnerable to attack, including Apple's Mac OS X operating system, which powers Macintosh computers. It is possible to write malicious software for the Mac, including viruses and spyware, and it is possible for this software to spread in the wild, infecting many Macs.

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at ptech.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: impossible; jobsisgod; macsareperfect
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To: Swordmaker

After all that, you still have not told us how it is better. On functionality, I find the Mac to be annoying.

For example, it keeps going back to its preferred defaults. When I save a file on a PC, that becomes the default save to location. When I save a file on my Mac, it does not remember where I save the last time, so I have to select the location.

Example two: When I open a window on a PC and I don't like the size or position where it opened on the screen, I resize it, relocate it, use it and close it. When I open it again, it is the size I want and on the screen where I want it. With a Mac, it will never remember where I postioned it and what size I made it the last time. It always opens up smack-dab in the worst possible location for my work habbits, causing me to have to relocate it (out of the way) and resize it to what I want.

I don't call them Windows on my Mac, I call them Pains.

Am I missing something here? I ask in all sincerity. Please tell me I am wrong and what the fix is for these two problems.


161 posted on 05/13/2006 12:13:32 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: Swordmaker
Wait a minute, I have one of those on my desktop too! Only I did not pay $3,800 for it.

And I don't have to move it out of the way to do my work.

162 posted on 05/13/2006 12:16:27 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: Echo Talon
so you paid a few thousand bucks for a digital aquarium?

ROFL...At least they came up with a reason why they like their Mac.

163 posted on 05/13/2006 12:17:14 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: BJungNan; coconutt2000
Who were you directing this at. You have me confused on this one.

no, if you look you are the second person on the ping list, that was directed at coconutt2000

164 posted on 05/13/2006 12:44:34 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: Golden Eagle

"Fast, sure sometimes, but very rough riding and hard to drive, terribly few creature comforts, and you're constantly exposed to the natural elements. Ergo, there's not many on the road, whether it's cheaper to buy than an actual car or not."

You can't believe this from a guy, from the things that he says, obviously never rides "motorcycles".


165 posted on 05/13/2006 1:43:04 PM PDT by FLAMING DEATH
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To: FLAMING DEATH

correction to the above:

"You can't believe this from a guy THAT, as evidenced by the things he says, obvoiously never rides motorcycles."


166 posted on 05/13/2006 1:49:35 PM PDT by FLAMING DEATH
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To: Golden Eagle
Besides, I know people who greatly prefer motorcycles to cars, and have a blast with them...
167 posted on 05/13/2006 2:07:18 PM PDT by FLAMING DEATH
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To: BJungNan

Please re-read what I wrote in #148. Similarly equipped, prices are close to the same.


168 posted on 05/13/2006 2:37:06 PM PDT by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: FLAMING DEATH

nice screen shot! could you let me know your settings... sheesh :) how did you change the start button?


169 posted on 05/13/2006 2:58:24 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: Echo Talon

overclockers.com represents some of the most extreme OS/Platform snobs out there.

As for me and my family, we will continue to use my Macintosh computers running OSX with absolutely no anti-virus, anti-spam, or anti-trojan software.


170 posted on 05/13/2006 3:18:14 PM PDT by TheBattman (Islam (and liberalism)- the cult of Satan and a Cancer on Society)
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To: Izzy Dunne

Symantec products for Mac started their downhill trend even before OSX made its debut. But after OSX, Symantec has been horrid. And when you consider that Symantec cut its teeth on Macs in the early days....it's kind of sad. But when you consider that the number of problems out there affecting macs, and the fact that even past loyal customers quit using Symantec products because they caused more harm than good.... it's no wonder Symantec has been quietly backing out of the Mac development front.


171 posted on 05/13/2006 3:35:22 PM PDT by TheBattman (Islam (and liberalism)- the cult of Satan and a Cancer on Society)
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To: quidnunc
Yeah, it is called "The keyboards are to small, the operating system is unorganized, and the mouse is frickin' awful virus"
172 posted on 05/13/2006 3:36:57 PM PDT by Porterville (I gave at the State Franchise Board; leave me alone you blood sucking liberal.)
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To: TheBattman
As for me and my family, we will continue to use my Macintosh computers running OSX with absolutely no anti-virus, anti-spam, or anti-trojan software

LOL

173 posted on 05/13/2006 3:38:02 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: BJungNan
And I don't have to move it out of the way to do my work.

You don't seem to understand... it's not in the way, it is behind everything. Nor did it cost your inflated $3800. My G5 cost less than half that...45% of that ...

174 posted on 05/13/2006 4:45:27 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!")
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To: Swordmaker
You don't seem to understand... it's not in the way, it is behind everything.

People just don't realize the power of the Mac's graphics subsystems.

175 posted on 05/13/2006 7:39:37 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: antiRepublicrat
People just don't realize the power of the Mac's graphics subsystems.

That's why Echo's PC v. Mac graphic card reply is meaningless...

176 posted on 05/13/2006 9:20:21 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!")
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To: Swordmaker

Yea, but I picked up my little fish aquarium thingy for less that $10. And I'm not sure if the fish on your move, but mine swim across.


177 posted on 05/13/2006 10:42:45 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: savedbygrace

Even if they were the same price, because of the problems associated with Mac in the work environment, I would still prefer if I did not have to use the Mac.

Actually, even if the Mac were free, it would still be more expensive in the long run in terms of what they cost us at work in lost revenue.


178 posted on 05/13/2006 10:48:34 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: BJungNan
Yea, but I picked up my little fish aquarium thingy for less that $10. And I'm not sure if the fish on your move, but mine swim across.

Full 3-D motion, lifelike, fin movement, sea star climbs the inside of the monitor glass... multiple directions... cost... $10 but they've raised it to $19.95 because they added a crystal clock...

But can yours do a spreadsheet?

179 posted on 05/14/2006 12:49:48 AM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!")
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To: BJungNan
Actually, even if the Mac were free, it would still be more expensive in the long run in terms of what they cost us at work in lost revenue.

Somehow I don't think your employers agree with you... and I can't help but think that you or they have done something wrong for you to have the problems you complain about. Your experience, if true, is far outside what my experience has been... or the experiences of my clients... or the reports of others who use Macs.

180 posted on 05/14/2006 12:54:34 AM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!")
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