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NPR on Mac hacking-- a little FUD, a little fact

by Mike Schramm Dec 18th 2007 at 1:15PM

NPR hits up the issue of Mac hacking (the bad malware kind, not the good kind), and suggests that Macs are supposedly becoming a bigger target for exploitative folk.

While this is a topic that could easily (and does often) degenerate into complete misinformation and FUD, NPR basically acknowledges that Macs are showing up in more and more places (and that includes the iPhone, where even Apple is concerned about security), and that means that they're becoming a juicier target for malware developers. Fortunately, however, a familiar voice shows up later in the report (dig those dulcet tones!) to remind everyone that throughout five iterations of OS X, the malware problems have been hard to find. Malware developers may be trying, but it ain't working.

Of course, we can't let this go without noting that this story was inspired in the first place by a PR report released by... you guessed it: an antivirus company. The people who profit off of programs that supposedly prevent malware are claiming that malware is a bigger threat than ever before? Go figure.

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NPR hits up the issue of Mac hacking (the bad malware kind, not the good kind), and suggests that Macs are supposedly becoming a bigger...
 

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Dave

I'm a moderate, and I'm calling you an a$$clown (emphasis on the clown, the a$$ is just to improve the melody) if you think NPR is slanted. Do you listen? WNYC is sponsored by TekServe, and gives away MacBooks during their pledge drives. And they still cut on Apple when they think they should.

That doesn't mean they are right all the time though. And no news organization has zero slant, but they have the least slant of any of the news outlets I've encountered.

And too many journalists just run with press releases because its EASY. Local news in a lot of markets is filled out with electronic press kits.

December 18 2007 at 5:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

How do you know I'm liberal? Typical reactionary neocon. Resorting to mudslinging without having ANY facts. And to call me boring... Oooh! That's mean! My feelings are hurt.

And again, I ask for some sort of hard data (not from Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, or any radio talk-show host) that states that PBS/NPR isn't truly balanced...

December 18 2007 at 5:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Brian's comment
russell

First off, as someone with views that most would describe as "liberal" I have to wonder why you consider being called that "mudslinging". If that is indeed what you are, then wouldn't it be more like an accurate adjective?

Additionally, there was one particularly interesting study done at UCLA that described NPR as slightly less liberally slanted than the average private media outlet, but somewhat liberal nonetheless.

Personally, I never listen to NPR for anything but information on science and technology. In my experience its usually wrong, but its a way of hearing about things I should try to learn about when I get to a computer.

December 18 2007 at 5:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
russell

Oops, forgot the link: http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/Media-Bias-Is-Real-Finds-UCLA-6664.aspx

December 18 2007 at 5:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

Not to get into politics, but show me where NPR/PBS news divisions are anything but credible? They have the most balanced mix of commentators and they cover stories the "mainstream media" is unable to, due to advertising pressure. By stating that NPR/PBS is not "credible," all you do is make yourself look like a gigantic a$$clown.

Moron.

December 18 2007 at 3:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Brian's comment
Randy

Typical Lib. Can't go 30 seconds without starting the name-calling.

You're boring.

December 18 2007 at 3:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

I could never understand why credible news organizations would take press releases from groups owned or sponsored by anti-virus software companies and turn them into news stories. They're ALWAYS saying that the threat is higher--it's their business to.

December 18 2007 at 2:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Scott's comment
Randy

When you say "credible news orginizations", surely you are not referring to NPR?

December 18 2007 at 2:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mikka

Really. It makes me especially disheartened to see NPR take the fall...

December 18 2007 at 2:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

I'm curious, how long do we have to hear the "Macs are going to be a bigger target now that they're gaining market share" statements before we're allowed to compare it to vaporware? I mean, everyone keeps saying it, but it's not happening.

December 18 2007 at 2:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Chris's comment
Josh

I may never have a fire in my house. Does that mean I shouldn't have smoke detectors or a fire extinguisher? AntiVirus is just that. Even on my PC I can honestly say that except for when I was working with virus samples I have never had a virus on my own computers. That's during the past 15 years. (Unless I had one and never knew it.) PC or Mac I run AntiVirus now and always.

December 18 2007 at 2:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

Dude, I didn't say there isn't any malware. I just asked if we can call bullsh#t anytime soon on the people who keep saying that the Mac is becoming an increasing risk.

December 18 2007 at 2:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shawin

We all know that those who make viruses work with anti-virus software companies...

December 18 2007 at 1:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Shawin's comment
tofu

... and we all know that pharmaceutical companies and lobbyists.... oops! wrong blog!

December 18 2007 at 1:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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