Comments on: Apple begins recommending Antivirus utilities to users

By: ND

ND — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:25:11 +0000

Do your homework!

It was worded in a similar manner last summer. It was essentially copied into a new Support article that was recently released. Same idea in a new release.

Check out

TUAW.com

By: Likeabite

Likeabite — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:27:52 +0000

@ ND It couldn’t be 18 months old if it was from last summer and it is news now because Apple’s marketshare in the computer world just increased. This should make hackers and coders more apt to develop viruses and malware for the system.

By: ND

ND — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:02:31 +0000

This is silly!

Apple has been suggesting people use multiple AV barriers for years. Why is this now news. Because two analyst wanted to make this news. The update they site is only an 18 month old revision from LAST SUMMER.

Way to break news!

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:57:19 +0000

That’s freakin’ funny! I didn’t even realize they are recommending MULITPLE AV programs! HAHAHAHA!!!

I have a router, Windows XP firewall and McAfee and my system is bullet proof even with me being local admin.

By: DaFD

DaFD — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:11:57 +0000

I never thought I’d see this day.

I hope Apple later on makes their own Antivirus application, base on Clamav problably, that exsists as a preference pane and has live scanning in all accounts.

By: ChrisNYC

ChrisNYC — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:22:01 +0000

@RAS

>>>the idea is to be “good net citizens” and not pass along emails with viruses<<<

I think there’s 2 major reasons why people get nabbed my malware: 1 – hanging around sites and downloading potential problems. 2 – Not being knowledgable about AV and hacking in general.

To those ends, I’d think Apple owners are less likely to troll file sharing sites, and other target areas. However, it’s a problem if Apple users think they are bulletproof.

By: Likeabite

Likeabite — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:53:04 +0000

@ Scott and SW Engineer…I completely agree

By: AhBienGoDie

AhBienGoDie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:14:36 +0000

First, I use both mac and pc, and i love both. PC for games and work and MAC for daily uses.

Yes it is true there are a lot of viruses for PCs and very few for MACs, and thus Mac is more secure. BUT the only reason for that is because of MAC’s small marketshare, not really because OSX is more secure.

THEREFORE~ Smart Mac users will stop promoting people to buy MAC and stop having pointless arguments w/ pc users about which one is better. When the day all PC users switch to Mac (if that day will ever come). i think Mac will become even more unstable than PC.

Just my 2cents.

By: SW Engineer

SW Engineer — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:25:35 +0000

There wasn’t a lot of gloating and smugness in the Mac community prior to the iPhone. If more malware and viruses are coming out, it’s likely a retaliatory method of trying to get these Fanboys to STFU.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:06:40 +0000

I’ve never agreed with the idea that macs are more secure against viruses that PC’s – It’s security through obscurity…

In terms of 1-100 scale for being a “target” for those writing viruses, Mac’s are like a 5, PC’s on the other hand are like a freakin’ 500 only because they are SOOOOOO MUCH MORE prevelant than macs…

That’s not secure, thats lack of market share.

By: RAS

RAS — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:58:25 +0000

One day, it MIGHT happen, definitely is POSSIBle, but for now there still is no Mac virus. The windows registry is an awful piece of architecture and an absolute haven for virus/malware. The Unix underpinnings of Mac OSX are the big security advantage, not the platform’s relative obscurity.

By: Mr. Hi-Definition

Mr. Hi-Definition — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:52:43 +0000

This sucks, but I knew this day would come. People are going to figure out how to make viruses for Macs too.

Macs are still better with viruses than PCs. There is no doubt on that.

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:23:53 +0000

I’m sure Apple would love charging users lots of money to sell us customized AV products.

Market it right and they’ll have people camping out outside their retail stores before its release.

By: Likeabite

Likeabite — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:01:52 +0000

Oh how the times have changed. The fact that PCs have more viruses does not make them less secure. It just means they are targeted more often that macs, which is a fact. It’s similar to boxers…one can be undefeated and another can have 10 losses. That does not make the undefeated stronger than the one with 10 losses because they could’ve faced weaker opponents. When macs start facing tougher viruses look for the vulnerabilities to be more leveled.

By: Jebus

Jebus — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:35:37 +0000

linux FTW!!!
there is no need to worry about viruses unless u no wat youre doing. y spend somuch money an an antivirus if its not needed. i have used windows for years and never once had a virus or antivirus. just no wat youre doin and youll be fine.

By: bryan

bryan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:13:24 +0000

I have wondered when someone will seriously target macs. They have been gaining market share steadily and they have been so vocal about not getting viruses / malware. It is only a matter of time until some hacker decides to target macs. Apple’s advertising about macs not getting viruses could be seen as a challenge to hackers. And most malware/ viruses now are targeting applications not the OS itself, making macs more vulnerable.

By: Spelling Cop

Spelling Cop — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:11:46 +0000

Where did all you people learn to spell? Can we get a grammar and spell checker BG? I think to/too/two, your/you’re, and there/their/they’re is just too confusing for some people.

By: nick

nick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:23:56 +0000

The market share vs number of viruses is a MYTH!
Take a look at the apache market share vs the IIS market share. Then, take a look at which is more compromised.

By: pji

pji — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:18:05 +0000

For the most part viruses, as we new them in years past, are gone. I haven’t seen a case of a wiped drive or deleted mp3s in 5+ years.

What is rampant right now is idiots clicking on shiny objects and install a mess of system compromising, password stealing, browser hijacking malware. All of which will soon be Mac and Linux (thanks netbooks!) compatible.

By: keymaker

keymaker — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:15:20 +0000

@Mike, what they mean is that macs are Immune to the over 1/2 a millions viruses that are out there for Pcs which is complete true, same as if you where to create a virus for a mac, a PC won’t understand it and it will be immune to it, it’s not a myth is a fact. same as is also a fact that for every 2 macs there’s 8 PCs out there

By: keymaker

keymaker — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:08:34 +0000

@Vic, The simple fact that there’s hundreds of thousand viruses/malware for PCs makes macs already more secure, but yes as they gain more & more market share it will become more of a target. even the very few virus that where suppose to attack macs don’t work to good cause they always identified them self and ask you to install, which you won’t do. I have download hundreds of shareware and all kinds of MP3s on my mac and never had a single issue, but as soon as i send them to my brothers PCs he gets screw. Again Microsoft can take more control of their products and at the same time Stop norton/mcafee from milking their customer but i guess that’s to much to ask

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:03:36 +0000

BUT APPLE SEZ THAT MACS R SAFE N CANT GET VIRUSEZ???????

PC FTW

By: Vic

Vic — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:55:26 +0000

@ Jeff

Macs aren’t more secure than Windows. As stated in the article, viruses/malware are uncommon on Macs due to their low market share. Why would a programmer waste time coding a virus for a Mac when they could potentially get billions more on a PC?

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:46:49 +0000

@Jeff

Nonetheless, I can’t tell you how many Mac owners I hear saying that Macs can’t get viruses. In fact, I do not know a single Mac owner who actually understands that their Macs can one day be exposed to malware. Nonetheless, I don’t bother explaining or its a pointless battle trying to overcome a Mac zealot. Instad, I just smirk and nod.

By: RAS

RAS — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:42:31 +0000

Mac users have been encouraged to use anti-virus solutions for years, but the idea is to be “good net citizens” and not pass along emails with viruses. The threat has never been to the Mac platform, but rather to pc’s from forwarded files that are infected. Macs can be carriers, but retain their immunity (for now).

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:39:44 +0000

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:02:21 +0000

Any operating system can be compromised. Once there is enough reason to do so, it will be done. Is OSX more secure, perhaps, but as the OS gains greater adoption, you can guarantee more holes will be found. It happens.