Mac No-FUD-Here Ping!
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Posted on 12/07/2008 9:31:07 PM PST by Swordmaker
I had one of those reality-bending moments last week that made me say, "Are you kidding me?"
A support document on Apple's Web site appeared that suggested users install anti-virus software on their Macs.
That advice countered a key marketing appeal of Mac OS X and made those of us who follow Apple wonder if something bad was coming down the road. . .
. . . I'm sure we'll see a virus threat emerge at some point; although the architecture of Mac OS X makes it difficult to deploy a virus, it's not impossible. But instead of buying and running software that guards against nonexistent threats, you're much safer by never clicking suspicious links in e-mail (which scammers use to trick people into giving up important personal information such as credit-card numbers) and being careful about what you download from the Internet.
Currently, Mac OS X is essentially immune to the types of viruses that are so common under Windows that Microsoft has finally decided to offer anti-virus software along with Windows. I haven't recommended that Mac users run anti-virus software since well before Mac OS X appeared, because there are no credible threats.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
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2. I run anti-virus software on ALL of my Windows machines. This is to guard against Windows viruses which exploit security flaws in Windows (as opposed to the human-engineering attacks in #1 above, which are OS-independent).
3. I do not run anti-virus software on any of my Unix, Linux, or Mac machines, because #1 takes care of the trouble I could get into while using those more secure OSes.
4. At work, where I have Unix, Linux, and Mac servers which can be used to store and distribute files for Windows machines, I am beginning to implement Windows-virus software, which scans files for Windows malware even though it can't affect the server it's on -- because some Windows user might download the file and infect themselves.
5. Let us not become complacent. While I think it is unlikely that Mac OS could ever become the cesspool of malware that is now Windows' fate, there is always the possibility that somebody will eventually come up with something. The Boy Scouts' motto is "Be Prepared".
Oh really? I know of a Mac who was fatally infected with RINO virus.
I had to think for a second : ) You knew a Mac who was infected with a Rhinovirus you mean.
And defeated by the Barack Trojan.
That’s only a problem if you’re running OS-X Black Panther.
Oh MY! You're right... but that was the Mac biological version .8... we're still working on it.
Oh MY! You're right... but that was the Mac biological version .8... we're still working on it.
The virus is quite predicable and often shows itself by double posting on certain, but not all, FR Mac threads...
> Come on man, don't you know the purpose of the Internet?
Okay, okay,... "...any more".
I admit, in the heady early years of the web I was curious, and the industry was still growing. I was an occasional visitor to the Nerd of Porn Asia Carrera's buttkicking free website, although I never bought any of her movies. She retired about five years ago, and to be honest, I'd already lost most of my interest and I haven't bothered since.
Porn sites are, like, SO 90's anyway....
BTW, both of the above links are to "safe" pages that, while not themselves pornographic, contain references that aren't ideal for the under-18 crowd. And if you follow the links further, well, you better be over 18.
I’ve got an Atari game console that doesn’t run any antivirus either, and for the same reason.
I see, there are 40,000,000 Atari Game consoles still in use and connected to the internet?
LOL... Touchy.
Look, mac-wise my first one was an SE. I still have my old PowerBook 520c around here someplace. I was a charter member of Seattle dBug, downtown business users group... The premier Mac user group in the northwest. I met Guy Kawasaki there many times before anybody knew who he was. I don’t need a lesson on Mac arrogance. I lived it way before it was cool.
I’ve been around long enough to know that anybody that claims that any OS is invulnerable to attack... is dangerously deluded.
Its like some guy crowing that his car is prowler-proof, since he hasn’t been hit, so he doesn’t even bother locking the doors anymore.
Dumb.
IMHO.
Nothing touchy about it.
Either you are referring to the Atari's small current market share and exposure or you are referring to its technological age. Neither is analogous to the Mac.
There ARE currently around 40 million OSX Macs in use... viruses have been written to invade user bases as small as 1,000 vulnerable machines, the Witty Worm invaded all 10,000 BlackIce firewall protected computers within 45 minutes of its release on the web... so security by obscurity can't be the reason there are no viruses for OSX.
The technology is cutting edge, so it can't be technological obsolescence.
So what is the connection?
Look, mac-wise my first one was an SE. I still have my old PowerBook 520c around here someplace. I was a charter member of Seattle dBug, downtown business users group... The premier Mac user group in the northwest.
OK, you are an old Mac hand... how much experience have you had with OS X.
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