Symantec talks Mac security
What might Apple's surging sales of Macs have to do with the security of your computer? Possibly, a lot. In a recent CIO interview (conducted by our very own Lisa Hoover), Ollie Whitehouse, an architect for Symantec's Advanced Threat Research Team said that as the Mac keeps growing in popularity, so will the exploits. This theory has been around for as long as OS X, if not longer but lately it seems to be gaining some credibility. There was the Mac "virus" last year, though it actually managed to infect less than 50 Macs in the wild. There was the report of a "dramatic increase" in OS X malware recently. And just yesterday ZDNet posted an article on vulnerabilities found in three operating systems: Leopard, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. They said that Mac OS X had the most vulnerabilities of the three (though it is worth noting that they are "vulnerabilities," not actual exploits. Windows still reigns supreme on that front).
Could these analysts be right? Should we be worried about the continued security of our chosen platform? Should Apple start focusing on OS X's security rather than simply adding more features?
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: it is a scary world out there.
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What might Apple's surging sales of Macs have to do with the security of your computer? Possibly, a lot. In a recent CIO interview...
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Okay, seriously, WTF. I'm sorry about the 2 comments above, looks like something screwed up with my 1Password login. :o
Symantec is a nightmare to remove from Windows machines, I would hate to see it on my precious Mac.
They should seriously ship the hardware with this information - even URL info for FAQs and DIYs.
December 23 2007 at 2:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThey should seriously ship the hardware with this information - even URL info for FAQs and DIYs.
December 23 2007 at 2:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI am a Mac user and there is a lot of scare-mongering about MAC OS viruses, but I do get bored of Apple going on about Windows and it's viruses. Microsoft, for all it's faults issues and explains virus patches quickly. When Apple has a security problem with their software they seem to take a long time to deal with it. If Apple had as many users as Microsoft, this would be unacceptable. Too much focus on ITunes, IPod and IPhone, not enough on the Mac OS. The eye candy and gimmicks creeping into the OS is a symbol of this. Time to sort out your Core backyard first, Apple.
December 21 2007 at 6:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyit's another way they found to make more money.
there's no virus on mac because of its great userbase. that's why macs must cost more than pcs.
I don't want no damn geek kid to trying to make some viruses.
Like every program-os-etc. it has vulnerabulities and maybe even some exploit. but as everybody do knows, we pay to have something great, I don't really think someone would pay to destroy it... it's all about morality.
Look, symantec always tried to scare everybody, so they would make a lot more money with their stupid antiviruses.
I've been using PCs for more than 10 years, without any antiviruses and I rarely got a virus, (okay yeah on windows me but let's forget windows me... ahd and let's forget windows at all.)
So that is it.
why is it that virus protection companies start running around saying macs aren't safe and dumb reporters take the bait, no system is 100% safe, but I'll take my mac over a pc any day.
December 20 2007 at 12:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyCompletely unnecessary language on a blog. Kids are able to read these comments. Seriously.
December 20 2007 at 11:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHonestly, I think anti-virus software is completely worthless on any platform... if you're careful. In the last 10 years I can only remember getting one "virus" on any of my machines (windows boxes) and even then it was just some stupid ad-ware stuff. Not a real destructive virus. If you know what you're putting on your machine, and you're behind a firewall.... there's no real threat.
Of course... my parents ship me their computer twice a year to fix it because they somehow end up with craploads of viruses on their PC, despite having antivirus software.
Are you homophobic, or is just my imagination?
December 20 2007 at 8:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe problem I think with this comparison lies in the fact that, because the Windows sourcecode is closed, there is no way telling exactly how many vulnerabilities there are in the first place, whereas on Mac OS with it's opensource nature an estimate can be much more precise.
For all I know, there could be a 1000 more vulnerabilities in Windows than Mac OS, just because we can't look into the source to prove it doesn't mean they aren't there.
Another thing is that Microsoft has this habit of patching more than one leak or vulnerability with an update without documenting this, so there's really no way to tell and that's why I hate those statistics so much.
They could be just as close to reality as talking monkeys popping-up in my brain.
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