If dumb people run as root they can always accidentally “install” a virus. No software is more secure than the users. They always have been and always will be the biggest security hole. Assuming the install base grows eventually Apple will have to contend with the “always root double click on anything” crowd. As long as you’re not in that crowd you probably don’t have to worry, truth to tell Windows users that stay out of that crowd can stay pretty worry free too.
The OS helps, certainly Mac doesn’t encourage people to run as god as much as Windows used to (Vista and 2K8 severely discourage it, of course they still make life very annoying when you don’t), but you still could (because sometimes you have too, life with computers) and if you double click the wrong thing when you are...
I’ve been on Windows forever, and I’m even lazy and tend to be god, I don’t get viruses. It really doesn’t take much smarts, even on the OS with the worst security rep (mostly earned) ever.
You said — “If dumb people run as root they can always accidentally “install” a virus. No software is more secure than the users. They always have been and always will be the biggest security hole. Assuming the install base grows eventually Apple will have to contend with the “always root double click on anything” crowd. As long as you’re not in that crowd you probably don’t have to worry, truth to tell Windows users that stay out of that crowd can stay pretty worry free too.”
Well, on Mac OS 10.4 (and prior versions, too), you set up the initial account as the Administrator (when you first get the computer, and/or first install a new operating from scratch). Then you are advised to set up a User Account to run your everyday stuff. But, a lot of Macintosh users operate in the Administrator mode. I do and I don’t have a problem.
However, the root (user) is not activated on the Macintosh, unless you go to some measures to do so. You’ll hardly find any user signed in as root and using the Macintosh computer that way. It really doesn’t ever happen.