Is There a Virus Threat for Macs?

The Wall Street Journal ^ | May 11, 2006 | Walter S. Mossberg

[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-

[FLAMING DEATH]

That sounds like a fun project. I like to take really, really old equipment and see if I can make it workable again.

I have two old boxes, 200mhz with 198 mb of ram in each, running Debian with KDE. They're actually very usable, and you can measure the uptime in months (just checked one of them -- 55 days). That, to me, is so cool.

[Swordmaker]

Destructive OS X Malware spies on Apple Users

Your first linked article refers to the supposed Opener or Renepo "virus" that was reported in October 2004 - and it wasn't a virus or even a trojan. It was a proof of concept UNIX SCRIPT that required the victim to activate ROOT, install it, give it the administrator password, and then run it as a script in Terminal. It turned out the guy who originally posted the dire announcement to MacInTouch was the author of the script and was spreading FUD.

As to the second linked article, this entire thread was about Walt Mossberg's response to a person who was worried about that very article... read it.

Apple, Microsoft, and any software maker will release "security patches" when necessary to fix things that are discovered or make improvements in security... Apple usually does it in advance of any exploit. so what are you complaining about?

[Echo Talon]

Your calclulations are idiotic and wrong and irrelevant. You are a troll, just as bad as a DUer invading Freerepublic.

How are they wrong? I listed the price, broke down the known componet cost(mind you the cost of the parts i listed are actually HIGHER than what apple gets them for because newegg.com makes a profit when they sell parts too)

[Tribune7]

I'm suing Linux right now.

Hiya Darl :-)

[Echo Talon]

using*

[Swordmaker]

How are they wrong?

Do you have any idea of the Apple specs for any of the parts you priced? I strongly doubt it.

Selecting the cheapest parts you can find, regardless of the source or quality, will get you a POS computer.

Show me the wholesale price of a case manufactured to Apple's specifications intended to work properly with nine computer controlled zone fans. Newegg does not sell Apple cases.

Are you claiming that the engineering counts for nothing... obviously you are.

Now you have demonstrated an abysmal understanding of economics.

Your posts have little value and since you never address my questions except to toss more anti-Mac piss pots, you are a troll. Have YOU ever even touch a Mac?

[Echo Talon]

Selecting the cheapest parts you can find, regardless of the source or quality, will get you a POS computer.

I did not select the cheepest parts i could find, I used All top quality parts(would have been even cheeper if I would have went for the low-grade parts)

[Echo Talon]

check out this Lian-li case :) pretty neat LOL

[Swordmaker]

HAHAHAHAHAH! What is that thing? An industrial blower? Or a snail?

I said to Apple specs... that has only 4 fans... the G5 has NINE. Are the fans it comes with variable speed? Probably not. It is also ugly as sin... and it alone costs more than your total price of the "parts" you claim Apple is "over charging" for.

You claim you price this stuff out... but what you come up with is merely an collection of unassembled parts. minus motherboard, processor(s), and operating system. If what you claim is true, why is it that PCs built to match the same level of quality and functionality come within 5% of the Mac's price... and often cost more.

Let's look at your "contributions" to this thread:

• Reply #3 - "It's one thing when Windows fails, but when your god fails . . . ." - not responsive to the article which debunks the Mac FUD.

• Reply #7 - ". . . this sums up most Mac users: 'Very recently, I spoke to someone who is interested in Apple because his daughter has one of their notebooks. Well, the way she describes it to him, I'm not sure who really build her machine: Apple or God. Maybe He's the OEM.' LOL" - Off topic, not related to the Mossberg article, snide and insulting to Mac users.

• Reply #21 - "Maybe he has never fornicated with OS X as you apparently have." - Personally insulting to a fellow Freeper, non-responsive.

• Reply #23 - "Gezz, the guy uses both and knows more about computers than you do." - Another attack on a fellow Freeper... although milder, but still insultingly assuming something you know nothing about. This is a form of ad hominem argument, a logical fallacy.

• Reply #24 - "Download and run this and tell us your results on your mac with a screen shot" - an out of the blue challenge to run a WINDOWS application on a Mac, snide, attempt to hijack the thread, and demonstrates your total ignorance of Macs.

• Reply #29 - "Show us your score, hurry up. - Off topic, snide, and dismissive.

• Reply #33 - its a windows program, im running Linux... and running it under "wine" so... - Irrelevant to the thread topic, another hijack attempt, snide, and again, dismissive.

• Reply #35 - "guess you are just afraid of showing us the raw power of your amazing machine build by God himself." - Ad hominem, insulting, snide, dismissive, ignorant, and intended to inflame.

• Reply #38 - "How many frames per second does your Mac run HL2 at?" - Irrelevant, vis-a-vis the thread, question, dismissive.

• Reply #39 - "I guess the mac experience is just great until it comes to games right? then your stuck buying MS or Sony :)" - Dismissive, ignorant, irrelevant to the topic.

• Reply #41 - "I have never had problems with viruses, only Mactards that think they are safe are the one who have problems." - Ignorant, insulting to all Mac users, intended to incite. Irrelevant cost ignorant cost analysis of disconnected parts.

• Reply #42 - "I dont care about MS, I'm suing Linux right now." - Off topic and demonstrates your real agenda.

• Reply #45 - "LOL! And what can an Apple produce that a PC cant? sheesh. PC's can do everything and play games too." - Dismssive, snide.

• Replies #s 46 through 51 - successful hijacking of the Mac thread to Linux topic.

• Reply #53 - "Apple can run OS X who cares." - Snide, dismissive. If you don't care why do you invade Mac threads with your vitriol?

• Reply #54 - "by my calculations you are being charged $1,918 for processor and Motherboard, and "tech support"... sheesh." - Irrelevant to topic, snide insult to people who have chosen to buy Macs instead of building their own.

• Reply #55 - "If OS X is so great why does the fastest super computer on the planet run Linux? here" - Irrelevant and intended to hijack topic back to Linux.

• Replies 56 - 78 - more successful Thread hijacking.

Your purpose in this thread is not to engage in a discussion but to disrupt... something you have done in amost EVERY MAC THREAD IN THE PAST MONTH. I again repeat, you are a bigot and, now I add, a bully. When you enter a thread, most of the Freeper Mac users leave because they do not want to put up with your ignorance of Macs, your snide remarks, and your other anti-Mac nonsense as well as your insulting manners, or lack thereof. If you want to post about how wonderful Linux is, do it someplace else... start your own threads. You are rude and obnoxious.

As you have admitted several times, your entire purpose in Mac threads is to throw stink bombs. It is also apparent that you want to hijack the threads. You are about as welcome as a skunk at a wedding. If you think that Mac users are idiots, fine... just don't come into Mac threads and tell us so. It just makes you look like one.

One last word, Echo. Ignorance is curable... get a Mac and THEN come back and discuss the topics with some knowledge.

[Echo Talon]

One last word, Echo. Ignorance is curable... get a Mac and THEN come back and discuss the topics with some knowledge.

You sound like a homosexual saying you dont know what being gay is like, now bend over and see how it feels... LOL

[Echo Talon]

I agree, that Lain-Li case is UGLY! I thought it was funny looking thats why I posted it. I think its supposed to look like a nautilus

[Swordmaker]

Ah, it is a snail... well, a squid... or something

[BJungNan]

Idiots taken in by trendy junk will pay the price. Remember, it is the same crowd that pays $5 for a cup of coffee.

[Echo Talon]

more fans do NOT equate to better cooling/airflow..... you could have 9 20mm fans vs. 2-120mm, 2-80mm fans and which one would pull more CFM's?

[Echo Talon]

LOL!

[BJungNan]

LOL! And what can an Apple produce that a PC cant? sheesh. PC's can do everything and play games too

I work on a Mac 8 hours a day, six days a week. It is not by choice. It is not a better machine.

[Echo Talon]

If you want to pay a bunch of money for a computer go to falcon-nw.com
Now thats high-class!

[coconutt2000]

Echo Talon.... I come onto another Mac thread and find you trolling. Again.

If you're not careful, I'll begin to think you're gay and still in denial... and that's why you're so attracted to Mac threads. You think Macs are gay, so you come you come here, but because you can't admit you're gay - you attack.

You're Mac-phobic because you secretly envy Mac users. Either that, or you're just gay and self-hating, and take it out on Mac users out of a misconception that Macs are gay too. You're presence on the Mac threads are about as "manly" as a man in a dress.

It all makes sense now.

(This post is as substantive as your contribution to the Mac threads. It is dismissive, insulting, and asserts a fallacy. Just like you. So, do you look pretty in pink, and where should I send the roses and chocolates?)

[Echo Talon]

what apps do they have you using?

[BJungNan]

You were aware that Microsoft used the Mac to develop their game system and write many of the games?

And Henry Ford invented the assembly line that is the basis for today's automobile assembly. That does not mean I want to go out and drive a Model A.

Please, there is nothing that a Mac can do better than a PC. It might do it as well (which I don't think so but I will give you that point).

They simply are trendy machines that people are extremely brand loyal to for no significant functional reason.