Mr. SmartyPants wrote:And we all know how much you've seen.
Pretty much shortly summed up I just have not seen the virus protection system on a mac yet. And I am hopeing some other on this board have more knowlegde of that area. It is not criticism or posetive feedback, just shortly summed up what I have seen.
blkmage wrote:I personally don't buy the Mac has a smaller market share argument. Why? Just imagine the notoriety and infamy someone would get if they managed to write a devastating virus for the Mac.
No the reason the Mac doesn't have many viruses today is because it's based on Unix. Just the way Unix handles admin and user access alone is one of the main reasons why viruses don't spread on Unix systems. This ties in with the other reason, that is, pretty much everyone who doesn't know how to secure a computer properly is on Windows.
Most devastating viruses in the past spread because people open attachments and run binaries with access they shouldn't have. As a result, their system files get trashed and the virus sends itself to more people.
Unix is far more open than Windows. I mean, you have access to the source for the kernel, even for OS X, which is just a BSD variant. How much more access do you want? I think the difference is that Windows makes it easy for people to do stupid, dangerous things, which is not the same as making programming for it more accessible.
Mithrandir wrote:Conclusion: Macs are more secure than windows computers - out of the box. Unless the user actually practices safe computing, though, it doesn't matter WHAT platform you use. Don't install anything you don't trust!!!
Jaden Mental wrote:Oh, and the question was not meant to go against the upper posts, I mean the mac has about 17 known viruses now I think, while the PC has over 15000. It is stupid to in a present sence compare the saftey in terms of virus activity, because the mac has just recently found viruses that can plauge their computers...
Jaden Mental wrote:However, when I am hearing over articles about a virus that disables the mac firewall and causes alot of stir in a mac
Mr. SmartyPants wrote:Didn't we just go over the fact that it's the actual operating system that's safe from viruses? I don't think presence or lack of a firewall really makes a difference.
Mithrandir wrote:And I'm afraid I have to disagree with MSP on that firewall comment. Something you will learn in information systems is the value of layering your protection. The idea being that one level might be vulnerable to a specific attack, but you'll be protected by another level. Read Bill McCarthy's SELinux book (OR&A) for more information on that one.
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