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Symantec: Mac users deluding themselves over security
MacCentral ^ | 09/19/2005 | Matthew Broersma

Posted on 09/19/2005 2:09:19 PM PDT by Panerai

Mac users are “operating under a false sense of security”, according to Symantec, and Firefox users will have to recognize that the open-source browser is currently a greater security risk than Internet Explorer.

Symantec’s latest Internet Security Threat Report, published Monday, found evidence that attackers are beginning to organize for attacks on the Mac operating system. Researchers also found that over the past six months, nearly twice as many vulnerabilities surfaced in Mozilla browsers as in Explorer.

“It is now clear that the Mac OS is increasingly becoming a target for the malicious activity, contrary to popular belief that the Mac OS is immune to traditional security concerns,” the report said.

Symantec said OS X - based on BSD Unix - now shares many of the security concerns affecting Unix users. “As Mac OS X users demand more features and implement more ports of popular UNIX applications, vulnerabilities and exploits targeting this operating system and its underlying code base are likely to increase,” Symantec said in the report.

The number of security bugs confirmed by Apple has remained about the same over the past two six-month reporting periods, with no widespread exploits, Symantec said. But an analysis of a rootkit called Mac OS X/Weapox - based on the AdoreBSD rootkit - indicates the situation might not last much longer. “While there have been no reports of widespread infection to date, this Trojan serves to demonstrate that as Mac OS X increases in popularity so too will the scrutiny it receives from potential attackers,” the report said. “Mac users may be operating under a false sense of security.”

(Excerpt) Read more at macworld.com ...


TOPICS: Technical
KEYWORDS: apple; cybersecurity; firefox; internetsecurity; propaganda; safari; symantec
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To: Hank Rearden
In 22 years of using CP/M, MS-DOS and various flavors of Windows, I've never had a virus survive long enough to execute on any of my systems, much less take one down or even harm one.

I'm in exactly the same boat. In 23 years of moderate to heavy computer use, to my knowledge none of my Microsoft OS computers have ever been infected. I've been emailed many viral attachments, but was never careless enough to open one. I always kept my AV software updated and promptly installed OS patches. Doing "the basics" has worked well for me.

There was some luck involved. I have run code that might have contained viruses, that I downloaded from sources that seemed OK, but might not have been.

41 posted on 09/19/2005 3:16:43 PM PDT by TChad
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To: roostercogburn
They really are more user friendly and harder to screw up.

Each situation is different. For example. Outlook Express is "defaulted" not to load images, scripts, and music within e-mails, unlike "yesteryear" when OE users experienced "content rich" e-mails in all their exploitative glory.

Windows Update provides yet another hurdle to overcome. When you first go there, you get a browser redirect error page that simply states that "Your browser security settings are set too high", and guides the user on how to allow ActiveX content from Microsoft only, to be allowed to install and execute.

My point is, one has to be savvy enough to understand all of that.

Symantec, is merely plugging their product, because they are in the business of making money.

42 posted on 09/19/2005 3:18:20 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (Liberalism is a form of insanity)
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To: Izzy Dunne

Just what I was thinking!


43 posted on 09/19/2005 3:20:08 PM PDT by Serb5150 (www.illmitch.com)
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To: Izzy Dunne
Beware the crime statistics quoted by a lock salesman.

Given the behaviour on how Symantec's product detects a higher than normal "false positive" virus report, it's most likely true. PC Magazine ran a bench test of all the AV software out there when AVG came onto the scene, and Symantec scored toward the bottom of the list of about a dozen or so AV products out there. They concluded that Symantec detected a higher rate of "false positives" then the rest. AVG ended up being the "Editor's Choice" in that bench test.

44 posted on 09/19/2005 3:24:38 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (Liberalism is a form of insanity)
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To: Panerai

Head in the sand?

Hackers will attack solely based on the number of users of an OS.

Any OS is crackable. The widespread deployment is the ONLY reason Microsoft products are repeatedly attacked. Open Source will just give them some more keys.


45 posted on 09/19/2005 3:29:34 PM PDT by JustAnotherOkie
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To: Panerai

Another shot fired in the OS war bump.


46 posted on 09/19/2005 3:32:40 PM PDT by clyde asbury (Happiness is Ypsilanti, Michigan in my rear view mirror.)
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To: Panerai
And in other news today...

Chicken Little reports that the sky is falling.

I like to live dangerously. I'll continue to use my Mac -- and Firefox -- without benefit of any of Symantec's wonderful products.
47 posted on 09/19/2005 3:45:18 PM PDT by sonjay
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To: JustAnotherOkie
The widespread deployment is the ONLY reason Microsoft products are repeatedly attacked.

Wrong

48 posted on 09/19/2005 3:45:28 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: stinkerpot65
Will someone help out an old geezer that has forgotten his antique computer skills. I thought that Internet Explorer and the associated email programs were vulnerable to hackers because they were integrated into the Microsoft operating system. This integration occurred because some high priced executive in MS thought that they could sell more browsers that way.

I also thought that an independent browser and an independent email program inherently foiled viruses. Am I wrong?

When we come to Macs the browser and emails are independent of OS X, hence they inherently are more secure. Do I reason incorrectly.

Thanks
49 posted on 09/19/2005 4:02:33 PM PDT by Citizen Tom Paine (An old sailor sends)
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To: ShadowAce

What's right?


50 posted on 09/19/2005 4:02:58 PM PDT by JustAnotherOkie
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To: JustAnotherOkie
While popularity may play a role, the real reason MS products are attacked so often is because the target is so big and easy to hit.

The claim that popularity is the ONLY reason for attacks assumes that all platforms are equally vulnerable and designed equally. This is not the case. Each OS is designed differently with different strengths and weaknesses.

MS' weakness is security because its strength is ease-of-use and backward compatibility. Windows (and DOS beforehand) was/is designed for use by a single user at a single computer. During the initial design of DOS, the Internet was not even conceived, thus they didn't design for multiple entrances into a machine.

Also, they marketed the fact that each new system of DOS and windows would be backward compatible. Because of this, they needed access to certain ports and protocols. These ports and protocols allow access to portions of the OS/computer that external users should have access to.

OSX and other *nixes were built from the ground up with networks and multi-users in mind. This allows better security (note that nothing is totally secure at this point), and better design in terms of what program is allowed access to sensitive portions of the OS and computer.

51 posted on 09/19/2005 4:16:07 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: Citizen Tom Paine

As long as you don't log in as an Administrator, OSX programs do not have access to OS files, which is why there are not viruses on OSX.

http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20031023.html


52 posted on 09/19/2005 4:23:19 PM PDT by stinkerpot65
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To: Panerai

20 years as a Mac user and no virus protection (tried it once but it slowed my computer) and never had a virus.

Using Safari browser still and am happy with it.


53 posted on 09/19/2005 5:34:37 PM PDT by randita
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To: ShadowAce

OSX and Linux are nowhere near hack free and when it does get hacked it is far worse.

(Credit card breach exposes 40 million accounts In what could be the largest data security breach to date, one has their eye on the Windows machine, some one's sneaking in thru a Unix/Linux backend.)

If you keep DOS OS ie. Windows 98 which cannot be truly secure too long you are just asking for big trouble. And who's fault is that. The Internet is just like asking Chester the Molester into your home.

You just don't hear much about anything but Windows hacks.

Kind of like the MSM vs Republicans.


54 posted on 09/19/2005 6:07:33 PM PDT by JustAnotherOkie
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To: Izzy Dunne
Which makes me wonder why there are viruses for freakin' CELL PHONES with 100k units out there?

cell phone viruses exploit elements common to groups of cell phones: the protocol used, bluetooth, etc... These things transcend the manufacturer.

55 posted on 09/19/2005 6:26:08 PM PDT by MrsEmmaPeel
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To: Bush2000; antiRepublicrat; Action-America; eno_; Glenn; gmill; BigFinn; backslacker; Brian Allen; ..
Synantec's annual FUD about Mac's not being secure... PING!

“As Mac OS X users demand more features and implement more ports of popular UNIX applications, vulnerabilities and exploits targeting this operating system and its underlying code base are likely to increase,” Symantec said in the report.

In other words FUD... Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt... and incedentally, "Please buy our Mac anti-viral program... please... please... pretty please."

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

56 posted on 09/19/2005 8:25:15 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Beware of Geeks bearing GIFs.)
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To: ShadowAce
All the pcs are work have Norton. None of the Macs. Since Symantec says the Macs are vulnerable, I guess we better start plunking down $$ for a subscription, huh?

Symantec's warning is just being made just in the public interest, right? I mean they are just a caring, unbiased observer right? I mean they take money for their security programs with only the greatest reluctance and all that, right?

< /sarcasm>

57 posted on 09/19/2005 8:32:29 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Swordmaker

Personally, I think users of alternate OS'es are a touch overconfident about security issues. On the other hand, Symantec hasn't made a single product worth having for about six or seven years now. Seriously, their stuff blows any more, so they may be getting a bit desperate for new markets.


58 posted on 09/19/2005 8:34:43 PM PDT by general_re ("Frantic orthodoxy is never rooted in faith, but in doubt." - Reinhold Niebuhr)
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To: ShadowAce
During the initial design of DOS, the Internet was not even conceived

It was in full use by military, contractor and educational institutions. I was using it in that state. And it was run by UNIX. Is it any surprise that UNIX machines fare better in the Internet?

59 posted on 09/19/2005 8:43:23 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: general_re
On the other hand, Symantec hasn't made a single product worth having for about six or seven years now.

I remember when Norton/Symantec rocked. Their disk utilities were indispensable (defrag, error checking, and even setting the interleave on old drives), and their Norton Desktop made Windows 3.1 almost bearable (and zip files as folders didn't come back until Windows XP). But I haven't bought any of their products in years.

60 posted on 09/19/2005 8:48:22 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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