Worried about virus'? buy a Mac

[ZaZu]

Security threats to PCs with Microsoft Windows have increased so much that computer users should consider using a Mac, says a leading security firm.

Sophos security said that the 10 most commonly found pieces of malicious software all targeted Windows machines.

In contrast, it said, none of the "malware" were capable of infecting the Mac OS X operating system.

Microsoft has pledged that the latest version of its operating system, known as Vista, will be its most secure yet.

One of the reasons for fewer viruses and worms on Mac systems is that the smaller user base for the computer is less of an attractive target for hackers.

Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5150508.stm)

I build my own so that ain't an option ...

[lynx]

I build my own so that ain't an option ...Unless you run certain versions of Mac OS/X for Intel (http://www.uneasysilence.com/os-x-proven-hacked-and-running-on-an-ordinary-pc/)

[fkdup74]

One of the reasons for fewer viruses and worms on Mac systems is that the smaller user base for the computer is less of an attractive target for hackers.

There's your reason for these nonsense articles.
Mac isn't more secure, it's just less circulated.
I'm tired of the Mac fans harping on this BS.
This should be in software.

[Chewie]

Nope, should be in the Lounge.

[Darth Sushi]

Mac is for weenies...

[Monkeee]

fuck Mac, if you know how to use a computer, you can easily dodge viruses without a hassle. i've stayed virus-free since the day i bought my computer... (except the MS.Blaster) x]

[Tempestv]

But that would mean that you would have to use a mac- worth the risk IMO

Besides, considering that macs are secure only because there are to few mac users to intrest virus writers, every time someone follows the advice of the artical, they increase the likelyhood of a mac virus.

[Virtualbody1234]

Use Linux way before even thinking of a Mac!

[Skiz]

One of the reasons for fewer viruses and worms on Mac systems is that the smaller user base for the computer is less of an attractive target for hackers.

There's your reason for these nonsense articles.
Mac isn't more secure, it's just less circulated.
I'm tired of the Mac fans harping on this BS.
This should be in software.

agreed.



fuck Mac, if you know how to use a computer, you can easily dodge viruses without a hassle. i've stayed virus-free since the day i bought my computer...

yup.



Use Linux way before even thinking of a Mac!

ditto.

[{I}{K}{E}]

double post

[{I}{K}{E}]

Don't have any anti-virus software for 2 years now.

I scan my pc once in a while with an online scanner and never had a virus ;)

[orcutt989]

fuck Mac, if you know how to use a computer, you can easily dodge viruses without a hassle. i've stayed virus-free since the day i bought my computer... (except the MS.Blaster) x]
I agree with you. I have never been infected with a virus/trojan/malware since I have had my computer. If you are computer-literate not getting viruses and spyware is simple as pie! And yes you dont see company networks being based off of Mac OSX Tiger, no no, its Windows, Windows, Windows...

[4play]

fuck Mac, if you know how to use a computer, you can easily dodge viruses without a hassle. i've stayed virus-free since the day i bought my computer... (except the MS.Blaster) x]

then you have caught a virus/worm so claiming otherwise is stupid.

your pretty much dead certain to get infected with something if you run windows. with all the exploits for internet explorer all it really takes is you to visit one dodgy site or even visit a legitimate site that has been running dodgy ads.

Has any of you tried putting a fresh install of windows on the internet. Chances are you will catch some sort of worm within 8 minutes i believe it is.


There's your reason for these nonsense articles.
Mac isn't more secure, it's just less circulated.
I'm tired of the Mac fans harping on this BS.
This should be in software.

Its true that macs may not really have been a target so far but even if they do become very popular the secuirty model inherited from bsd makes it very difficult for the average user to actually cause any system damage since they wont be running as root. Hands up all the people that run as admin on windows because running as anything else makes it impossible to use, i know i do.

hell linux is pretty secure from viruses because to get the classic executable through email to work you would have to send an email with instructions such as



here is that word document you requested. To view it you must
1) open up a konsole window
2) cd to the directory you download the file to
3) ./configure
4) make
5) su
6) make install

and there you have your document

any one else see why there are no real linux viruses.

[clocker]

Don't have any anti-virus software for 2 years now.
Me neither.
I scan my pc once in a while with an online scanner and never had a virus ;)
I made the mistake of using the Panda online scanner a few months ago and have been spammed mercilessly ever since.

The poor consumer is really wedged between the proverbial rock and a hard place...constantly bombarded with news snippets about virii and phishing scams, yet the obvious (and highly touted) solutions are nearly as disasterous.

I can't tell you how many PCs we see where the main complaint is "The computer runs slow"- we turn it on and ten minutes later Norton, SpySweeper and AOL Security Suite are still loading up. Then they all jump up and down congratulating themselves because they discovered a forum tracking cookie.
Well done, boys.

Naturally, no one- including most of our small business customers- has even the most rudimentary backup strategy in place, so any sort of infection becomes a life or death situation for them.

No wonder the public has such a love/hate relationship with computers.
If it wasn't for email and easily available porn most people would gladly give them up and switch to a more productive and enjoyable way to blow money...like heroin.

[bigdawgfoxx]

Yeah I hate seeing computers that have like 8 virus things running at one time...there like "i got mcafee, norton, spysweeper, spysearcher, spyTHISISSPYWARE, spyIHOGRESOURCESLIKECRAZY, spyHAHA, running and its horrible. But some guy was telling me about how he doesnt hear of macs getting viruses and i was like yah well when you cant do anything with a machine its hard to catch anything...and how there arent as many viruses for macs because who actually uses them...? haha

[peat moss]

@ Clocker , the worse ones are programs that people D/L to correct a problem then get bombed with spyware that is almost impossible to remove for the average user .

Sad really ,when you spend hours trying to correct for them instead of just formatting cause of little Johnny's school pic's from 2001 . :frusty:

[clocker]

Sad really ,when you spend hours trying to correct for them instead of just formatting cause of little Johnny's school pic's from 2001 . :frusty:
I'm always amazed at the blind faith people place in their PCs.
"Well, it's been fine for the last five years(!!)...I don't understand what happened".:stars:

They think I'm kidding when I tell them I think it's a miracle every time my PC turns on and wouldn't put anything I couldn't afford to lose on it.

Just yesterday a customer lost all her son's wedding pics to a (really) bad Maxtor HDD.
The drive was so fuckitated that our recovery PC wouldn't even POST with it hooked up.
Simply putting power to it resulted in clearly audible clicks and grinding noises, I'm sure the platters are scratched beyond salvage.

On the service ticket she had written that the main problem was "difficulty accessing the internet".
The fact that the poor PC blue screened and cyclically rebooted just trying to enter Windows totally escaped her.:pinch:

[peat moss]

@ Clocker , thats why you make the big bucks , and keeps me in beer money .

I could 'nt do it for a living ,number one I'm not qualified ,number two there's too many stoopid people out there . Takes all the fun out of it ! :(

[digmen1]

The guy that started this thread is obviously a Mac dealer. I bet he has sold lots of Macs judging by the responses, us Windows users are getting Viruses every day.

Apple tried to rip us all off years ago and only sold to graphic artists and schools. Its only nerdy geeks and jealots that use them.

I have only had one virus that AVG picked up with no damage. And that after 4 years on the net.

Regards
Digby

Its the Spam that pisses me off !