Topic: So you think your Mac with OSX is safe?

[Mark]

Just curious, can you buy a real, as in size, keyboard for Mac's? Those little keyboards really bug me.

So you think your Mac with OSX is safe?

If I had one I would say "yes!!"

[JCTER]

Just curious, can you buy a real, as in size, keyboard for Mac's? Those little keyboards really bug me.

So you think your Mac with OSX is safe?

If I had one I would say "yes!!"

I'd say it is still zounds safer than a Windows PC, that's for sure.  Maybe "immune" would have been a better choice of words.  I guess I've been reading too many headlines that smack of sensationalism, and it rubbed off on me. 

I don't know about keyboards.  I only ever see the typical Mac 'chic' keyboards in stores in the Mac department.  Love how they need their own entire department separated from the icky PC area in some stores 

[Greg B]

The point was that Obscurity is -not- Security, so you cannot claim your system is secure when it is merely obscure.

I dunno...if hackers aren't looking to hack it because it's not popular, that would be a security feature.  Granted it's not one that will last, but still anything that keeps the bad guys away can be considered security.

Say you put up the ADT signs in your windows and on the sticks around your yard, but never actually purchased the system.  Burglars will still probably think twice about hitting your house.

[mjfarrell]

I personally have never had any one try to sell me a MAC based solely on it's immunity from virus or hacker attacks.
I've also not seen any adds that tout this as a feature of the product.

Perhaps someone could post an add or two showing this as selling point that MAC has ever employed in marketing their product. (please)
And then we could put that misconception to bed.

James, it could be time for you to stop listing to HATE Radio, and TV for a few weeks and see if your worldview doesn't improve.   

[dgorsman]

You don't remember those stupid "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" TV ads?  I'm pretty sure at least one of them was poking at Windows requiring constant security updates while Macs "don't have those problems" and the PC guy blowing his nose like he had a cold.

[mjfarrell]

You don't remember those stupid "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" TV ads?  I'm pretty sure at least one of them was poking at Windows requiring constant security updates while Macs "don't have those problems" and the PC guy blowing his nose like he had a cold.

OH....yeah...how quick we (I) forget sometimes...

[Jeff H]

You don't remember those stupid "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" TV ads?  I'm pretty sure at least one of them was poking at Windows requiring constant security updates while Macs "don't have those problems" and the PC guy blowing his nose like he had a cold.

Mine kept getting a virus and found out why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JixbzFjv_cU

[cmwade77]

OS X is safer than Windows, due partially to obscurity, partially to design. That being said, it is NOT 100% fool proof. The best defense against nasty things has always been and will always be the user's behavior. This is true on Windows or Mac. Do not click on links that people send you (especially if you don't know the person that sent it). Do not open attachments from people you don't know. (Especially .exe, .bat, .zip, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .rtf and .DMG files)

[Jeff H]

Depends on where you get your info

http://www.pcworld.com/article/189760/hacking_impresario_windows_safer_than_mac.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10444561-245.html

Of course the operator is a factor

If you look at the number of published vulnerabilities in software and the number of users and compare Windows versus Mac OS you will discover that Mac OS has far more published vulnerabilities per user than Windows does so I think the data pretty much speaks for itself

If the links above are accurate then
Either Mac users are dumber or Mac is less secure

[JNieman]

^No comment. 

[LE]

Hi ALL !

Just as reference, in the company i work now (with over 500 employees) - i am in the 1 to 5% of those using a pc (and still in windows)... i guess that sooner or later will end up moving full time into the mac world... 

LE!

[Keith™]

WHAT? Luis on a MAC? Say it isn't so.

[cmwade77]

I think Macs are overall much safer, simply because they haven't been targeted, now that they are becoming more popular, they will be. That being said, there are factors that make a Mac safer than a Windows PC against attacks, but it's still vulnerable.

As for the vulnerabilities per user, of course it's higher as there have been fewer Mac users. This is just a way to manipulate the data.

The real number to look for is % of machines that have been compromised in each category, that will tell the real story.