"Just because you use a Macintosh, don't think you're any more secure than a Wintel user. A sharp increase in the number of flaws being discovered in Mac OS X suggests that the Apple operating system may soon be every bit as prone to malicious attacks as Windows systems, according to a report from the SANS Institute, a security training and research firm." This time no MSNBC, boys and girls, this is MacWorld.com. In the meantime, have fun with Apple's new commercials.
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Member since:2006-03-06
"Sure it sounds like stupid arrogance, but really, what habits do i need to change? Is there some Anna Kounikova mail I should avoid? Is there some special critical update different from my normal updates? Is there a serious need to install some third party firewall or anti virus? "
In all fairness, if every user utilized his/her common sense, the number of viruses, spyware packages, and adware packages on *any* OS would be very significantly decreased. The fact of the matter is that most users don't use caution.
Infestations that don't require any end-user interaction are a different matter; there have been cases in the past where even properly patched Windows machines with conscientious users have been hit en masse. Thankfully, this has not happened in the *nix or Mac world yet, and would be more difficult to implement for the attacker.
The bottom line is that using common sense will protect you from most attacks but not all. Just because there has not yet been an attack on a Mac or *nix vulnerability (that I know of, anyway) that requires no user intervention does not mean that it will not happen. The attitude of "I use a Mac (or *nix) so I am inherently safe" could prospectively turn out to be a very costly one.
Member since:
2005-06-30
Everyone's saying recent events are harmless but a big wake up call to mac users ... well some "security analyst" has rudely waken me from my afternoon nap and i still don't see what the fuss is all about. As a user, does it change the way I use my Mac in any way? Not one bit. And I'll still be safe.
I'm going back to bed.
Sure it sounds like stupid arrogance, but really, what habits do i need to change? Is there some Anna Kounikova mail I should avoid? Is there some special critical update different from my normal updates? Is there a serious need to install some third party firewall or anti virus?
None. I don't have to do anything different than before, and I'm still safe. Now thats what I call security.
Edited 2006-05-03 04:10