Comments on: Week in Geek: The Macs Have Viruses Too Edition http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/ Computer Help from your Friendly How-To Geek Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:17:06 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: chris http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71307 chris Sat, 02 May 2009 12:54:40 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71307 @ Aoi_sora9x - Obviously if you give a program permissions to install and run, a Mac or Linux won't fight off any virus because it just thinks it's a program. This is the type of security that was finally built into Vista, where a program had to ask to be installed. It's the hijackings and worms that Macs and Linux are protected from. I'm Windows admin have always run windows or linux and they don't jsut blue screen or need to be reformatted every day, but just started using a Mac at home about 2 months ago, Apple is definitely delivering a better out of the box product. Don't get to crazy on the "I've used macs all my life" guys, they really don't know what it's like to have to worry about crap like conflickr. @ Aoi_sora9x -

Obviously if you give a program permissions to install and run, a Mac or Linux won’t fight off any virus because it just thinks it’s a program. This is the type of security that was finally built into Vista, where a program had to ask to be installed. It’s the hijackings and worms that Macs and Linux are protected from.
I’m Windows admin have always run windows or linux and they don’t jsut blue screen or need to be reformatted every day, but just started using a Mac at home about 2 months ago, Apple is definitely delivering a better out of the box product.

Don’t get to crazy on the “I’ve used macs all my life” guys, they really don’t know what it’s like to have to worry about crap like conflickr.

]]> By: Aoi_sora9x http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71264 Aoi_sora9x Fri, 01 May 2009 15:11:07 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71264 "The difference between a Trojan and a virus isn't just semantic, it's critical. People who steal software deserve what they get; buying original software for the Mac has never been the cause of any problems. Just visiting a tainted website can force you to reformat a Windows machine. " erm, does it mean that even if i download a pirated software for Mac, my mac will COMPLETELY FIGHT OFF THE VIRUS? and i dont get the shit about Mac users' windows machines hanging all the time O_O do they BREED virus in their HDD? “The difference between a Trojan and a virus isn’t just semantic, it’s critical. People who steal software deserve what they get; buying original software for the Mac has never been the cause of any problems. Just visiting a tainted website can force you to reformat a Windows machine. ”

erm, does it mean that even if i download a pirated software for Mac, my mac will COMPLETELY FIGHT OFF THE VIRUS?

and i dont get the shit about Mac users’ windows machines hanging all the time O_O do they BREED virus in their HDD?

]]> By: bobbylight http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71214 bobbylight Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:33:53 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71214 @ drew palmer

Well no wonder your Macs haven’t crashed as you just stated yourself you buy the original software for your Mac so what’s there to worry about? there isn’t a lot of virus out for Macs, we have already explained this, for your pcs it sounds like you have no idea what you’re doing, The point is Mac is going to catch up to windows with the virus, Trojans etc it’s just going to be time. I just used avira free edition virus program and it does the job. Just scan what you download & you will be fine.

Old but good article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4609968.stm

]]> By: Drew Palmer http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71177 Drew Palmer Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:13:45 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71177 I'm a Mac fanhead, converting 20 years ago to Apple after the IBM PC and a Wang before that. I have installed and managed over 200 Macs at my company, and never has there been a virus problem. On the other hand, my 3 Windows computers crash pretty much weekly. The difference between a Trojan and a virus isn't just semantic, it's critical. People who steal software deserve what they get; buying original software for the Mac has never been the cause of any problems. Just visiting a tainted website can force you to reformat a Windows machine. I’m a Mac fanhead, converting 20 years ago to Apple after the IBM PC and a Wang before that.

I have installed and managed over 200 Macs at my company, and never has there been a virus problem.

On the other hand, my 3 Windows computers crash pretty much weekly.

The difference between a Trojan and a virus isn’t just semantic, it’s critical. People who steal software deserve what they get; buying original software for the Mac has never been the cause of any problems. Just visiting a tainted website can force you to reformat a Windows machine.

]]> By: TheAsterisk! http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71108 TheAsterisk! Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:31:49 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71108 System security only goes do far. Most trouble is caused by idiots going where they shouldn't and being reckless. Do Mac ads lull their followers into a stupor? Perhaps, but then they're still idiots to be so easily influenced as to believe a commercial advertisement without question or reservation. Depending on where you live, you might have to check your slippers for scorpions each morning before slipping them on. Similarly, if you roam about the dregs of the Internet, you have to watch for malware. The arguments over which slipper the scorpions find most comfortable or which are the roomiest, etc., means nothing if some fool steps right in without shaking the critter out first. I'm amused by this, but that's merely because I'm amused whenever fanboys get maligned, and Macs seem to have more than their fair share of fanboys. System security only goes do far. Most trouble is caused by idiots going where they shouldn’t and being reckless. Do Mac ads lull their followers into a stupor? Perhaps, but then they’re still idiots to be so easily influenced as to believe a commercial advertisement without question or reservation.
Depending on where you live, you might have to check your slippers for scorpions each morning before slipping them on. Similarly, if you roam about the dregs of the Internet, you have to watch for malware. The arguments over which slipper the scorpions find most comfortable or which are the roomiest, etc., means nothing if some fool steps right in without shaking the critter out first.
I’m amused by this, but that’s merely because I’m amused whenever fanboys get maligned, and Macs seem to have more than their fair share of fanboys.

]]> By: Urichhai http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71088 Urichhai Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:50:54 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71088 Actually if you look at Mac's history it really wasnt till the iMac that they really became a PC if i am not wrong. Thats when they started using the same components as our PC's. but yes in a way you are right its not the pc but the OS and seriously I can see in the very near future a virus written for mac, already a trojan out there. Well the way I see it too is I feel for the music and movie industry when a virus really hits since those seem to be the industries that primarily use macs. Hmmmm1 A virus to start downloading movies before they even hit the screen???? Actually if you look at Mac’s history it really wasnt till the iMac that they really became a PC if i am not wrong. Thats when they started using the same components as our PC’s. but yes in a way you are right its not the pc but the OS and seriously I can see in the very near future a virus written for mac, already a trojan out there. Well the way I see it too is I feel for the music and movie industry when a virus really hits since those seem to be the industries that primarily use macs. Hmmmm1 A virus to start downloading movies before they even hit the screen????

]]> By: Aoi_sora9x http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71084 Aoi_sora9x Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:27:44 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71084 @Eh Hands: "Frankly, gloating about a trojan, creating a mocking wallpaper, and stating that Apple is "lying" about their security (when it can easily be debateable that they aren't) doesn't really scream to me that you're on their side. Neither does complaining that the Mac ads are "mocking us." But that's okay." So... care to tell me who starts the flame war about OSes first? Apple, or Apple, or Apple? Who, in their ads, think of PC users as dorky nerds wearing thick glasses and outdated outfit? Who differentiated PC and Macs (though they are both technically the same thing)? Food for thought: Do you still call a Mac with Linux installed on it a Mac? @Eh Hands:
“Frankly, gloating about a trojan, creating a mocking wallpaper, and stating that Apple is “lying” about their security (when it can easily be debateable that they aren’t) doesn’t really scream to me that you’re on their side. Neither does complaining that the Mac ads are “mocking us.” But that’s okay.”

So… care to tell me who starts the flame war about OSes first?

Apple, or Apple, or Apple?

Who, in their ads, think of PC users as dorky nerds wearing thick glasses and outdated outfit? Who differentiated PC and Macs (though they are both technically the same thing)?

Food for thought:
Do you still call a Mac with Linux installed on it a Mac?

]]> By: senshikaze http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71065 senshikaze Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:23:15 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71065 Glad I use a Linux PC AND safe computing habits. (and yes, I run clamAv in the background. I work with Windows PC's day in and day out, I know that AV isn't an option [even on linux PC's or mac PC's]) It is not all that surprising that Mac PC's have a botnet. I work with (and for) mac users and they are not the most, um, kind to their Mac PC's. They are also not kind to my Windows PC's either. Ah another day in the life i guess. Glad I use a Linux PC AND safe computing habits. (and yes, I run clamAv in the background. I work with Windows PC’s day in and day out, I know that AV isn’t an option [even on linux PC's or mac PC's])
It is not all that surprising that Mac PC’s have a botnet. I work with (and for) mac users and they are not the most, um, kind to their Mac PC’s. They are also not kind to my Windows PC’s either. Ah another day in the life i guess.

]]> By: Ken http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71061 Ken Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:41:58 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71061 sorry to stir the pot, but aren't macs PC's too. Last time i checked PC stood for personal computer. it does not matter what OS there is: XP, Vista, OS X, Ubuntu. they are all on computers used by your person, are they not? Even in the documentary, Welcome to Macintosh, they call macs PC's as they are a personal computer. i never understood the logic of calling the 2 different. yes mac may have their own hardware but please, i can get OS x loaded on a comp suited for Windows. and yes Macs are very accessible by virus' of any sort. i'm just waiting for the day when 'MACS' do get attacked. it will not be nice. And in case you were wondering, I do prefer MAC over windows. But we all need to start thinking that we are not as invincible as week think we are! sorry to stir the pot, but aren’t macs PC’s too. Last time i checked PC stood for personal computer. it does not matter what OS there is: XP, Vista, OS X, Ubuntu. they are all on computers used by your person, are they not? Even in the documentary, Welcome to Macintosh, they call macs PC’s as they are a personal computer. i never understood the logic of calling the 2 different. yes mac may have their own hardware but please, i can get OS x loaded on a comp suited for Windows. and yes Macs are very accessible by virus’ of any sort. i’m just waiting for the day when ‘MACS’ do get attacked. it will not be nice. And in case you were wondering, I do prefer MAC over windows. But we all need to start thinking that we are not as invincible as week think we are!

]]> By: bobbylight http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-71009 bobbylight Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:37:27 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/week-in-geek-the-macs-have-viruses-too-edition/#comment-71009 Ok I may be wrong here, but isn't the purpose of most ad ware, malware whatever you want to call it, for advertising? Now lets think about it here how many people use pc vs mac, wouldn't you want to create most programs to works on on pc due to the majority of people using them over mac? The point is if you want to be safe on what your downloading scan it before you open it, its more about common scene than anything. I might add Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.Maybe all you mac user should re think your security your biggest downfall is going to be that you think your safe. Ok I may be wrong here, but isn’t the purpose of most ad ware, malware whatever you want to call it, for advertising? Now lets think about it here how many people use pc vs mac, wouldn’t you want to create most programs to works on on pc due to the majority of people using them over mac? The point is if you want to be safe on what your downloading scan it before you open it, its more about common scene than anything.

I might add

Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.Maybe all you mac user should re think your security your biggest downfall is going to be that you think your safe.

]]>