can macs get viruses?

m5rcc

Notmyrealname wrote: »

The fact that such a big deal is being made about something that wouldn't even warrant being news in the Windows world shows how good OS X is.

And Apple released a patch the day after unlike Microsoft where you'd have to wait until Patch Tuesday the following month assuming one was released at all.

I think the point is Apple's claims that Mac owners need not worry about security which is false.

Dave_C_2

redcard wrote: »

Is it because the Windows list would be about 10 billion pages long.

An exaggeration about a million times too big
Using Symantec's estimate of the virus count passing 1 million in 2008 then listing them at 100 per page gives 10, 000 pages.

I'm not denying that Windows viruses are more prevalent than Mac viruses, in my opinion the virus writers obviously aim for the biggest target with a better return on investment.

Lets face it Joe Bloggs hasn't-got-a-clue-about-computers-but-has-to-use-facebook-innit will have a Windows PC [1] and be wide open to Virus attacks. [2]

[1] He won't pay Mac prices
[2] The installed AV has run out and has not been updated or replaced.

Dave

scottishperson2

Notmyrealname wrote: »

And Apple released a patch the day after unlike Microsoft where you'd have to wait until Patch Tuesday the following month assuming one was released at all.

I'll need a timeline on that.

When did the Flashback Trojan first appear.

When was the patch released.

Does this patch clean the infected mac.

paddyrg

scottishperson2 wrote: »

I'll need a timeline on that.

When did the Flashback Trojan first appear.

When was the patch released.

Does this patch clean the infected mac.

According the The Register, the Windows fix was pushed out by Oracle several weeks ago.

almillar

Notmyrealname - it was a problem with Java, Oracle (Java owner) patched it in February, Apple only patched it in April - how's that the next day?
Assuming ANY operating system is safe from viruses is the first mistake anyone can make.
There ARE more viruses for Windows than Mac.
OSX WAS more safe than Windows XP a few years back, but XP, Vista, 7 have all caught up significantly (especially with regard to Admin privileges).

Dave_C_2

There is a non-sequitur logical fallacy going on here:

You can show that Windows machines are vulnerable to viruses.
But
It does not follow from that premise that Macs are immune from viruses.

You can and probably will argue all day and all night about which OS you prefer, but the fact remains that Macs are vulnerable to viruses.

More on this thread, where the same logical fallacy is being used.

Dave

MoneySavingUser

23n1th wrote: »

Now back on topic you pesky trolling apple fanboy.

It does seem that the Apple Fanboys (not just here but everywhere on the internet) have had to resort to trolling because they can't come to terms with the fact that Mac's aren't the utopia they have been brainwashed by Steve Jobs into thinking that they were

Java's developer, Oracle, issued a fix to the vulnerability on 14 February, but this did not work on Macintoshes as Apple manages Java updates to its computers.


Apple released its own "security update" on Wednesday - more than eight weeks later. It can be triggered by clicking on the software update icon in the computer's system preferences panel.


The security firm F-Secure has also posted detailed instructions about how to confirm if a machine is infected and how to remove the Trojan.
Although Apple's system software limits the actions its computers can take without requesting their users' permission, some security analysts suggest this latest incident highlights the fact that the machines are not invulnerable.


"People used to say that Apple computers, unlike Windows PCs, can't ever be infected - but it's a myth," said Timur Tsoriev, an analyst at Kaspersky Lab.


Apple could not provide a statement at this time.

8 weeks and they have the nerve to complain about patch Tuesday?

23n1th

Gratis wrote: »

23n1th,

I'm writing this on my PC (Windows 7) which – like my Macs – is diligently protected against malware.

Oh so you use a Windows computer too? Generally that’s the second or third claim of an apple fanboy claiming not to be an apple fanboy.

My smartphone is Android and I have no desire whatsoever for an iPad. No Apple "fanboy" am I.

You use an android phone? Normally further down on the list of claims apple fanboys make when they claim they are not apple fanboys. And there there’s the classic "I have no wish for an ipad" (I didn't quote you directly just in case you report me again-scared!!!). But wait the all time great and number one claim made by those claiming not to be apple fanboys is - "I'm not an apple fanboy" (again I didn't quote you just in case you... what report me? take me to court???)

I use all three platforms – Linux, too, on occasion – ...

Another claim of the apple fanboy claiming not to be an apple fanboy. I think you've cover them all, well done you, no one now thinks you're an apple fanboy.

... and have have made no reference to any of them in this thread.

Not true you gave yourself away with this little line (and I'm going to have to quote you here):

"I’m not going to pursue this with you further; I have more productive things to do (on this virus-free Mac ) so I suggest you now let the matter drop before everyone else gets bored with it."

And obviously you don't have more productive things to do.

I took issue with with rudeness of another poster to it and then answered politely and comprehensively the response s/he gave.

Your claim of innocence is rather transparent. What you did was condescend, mock, belittle and insult the other poster. Not only that but as an apple fanboy you did so to illicit a response from them in order to change the subject of the thread. Hijacking a thread like this makes you a troll, a troll with a dictionary, a thesaurus and delusions of grandeur in you case.

I am, however, extremely grateful to you for demonstrating so publicly and so convincingly why nobody should ever bother to read the obsessively Applephobic rants you have been posting with such tedious and monotonous persistence to this forum for so many years. Such is your twisted psyche, you even polluted a thread someone started in tribute to Steve Jobs when he died.

I wondered how long it would take you to turn your condescending, mocking and insulting talents with your dictionary and thesaurus towards me.

I'm flattered that whilst I'm demonstrating so publicly and so convincingly why nobody should ever bother to read my supposedly obsessively Applephobic rants which I have been posting for years that you took the time to do just that . Flattered and a little tearful!

Whether or not the rabid mania of your postings – and your sustained personal offensiveness to other people – are some form of psychiatric disorder that is related to your claimed dyslexia I know not and care less.

Now talk about libel! Ouch! Did I touch a nerve? (< question mark just for you!).


In one sentence you have effectively demonstrated your personal offensiveness and your complete ignorance, way to go.

Doctoring other people's posts and entering them as "quotations" in your own postings is an act of deliberate libel (look the word up) with malicious intent, for which I have just now reported you to the administators of this site (whom, by your action, you have made party to your libel).

I'm trying hard not to play your game but if I may a bit of friendly advice. If I was you, criticising the spelling, grammar and punctuation of others, I would put my posts through a spell checker to avoid the embarrassment of spelling administrator wrong.


I'm not sure using your own words against you constitutes defamation. It does not attack your "good name" or "reputation". Just because your words can be turned on you doesn't mean it was false or malicious. The only injurious bit was to your swollen pride and bloated sense of self-importance.

There's little to add to the topic of the thread: almillar, as so often, summarised it concisely and correctly – anyone who thinks any operating system is immune to malware is deluding themselves and anyone who fails to protect themselves against it is a fool.

And there it is in a nutshell, an admission of guilt from the fanboy. There is little to add to the topic but you still had to hijack it anyway. Troll!

Have a nice Easter and try, with whatever futility, to get some sort of grip on both yourself and your unfortunate personal dysfunctionalities.

Now if we're talking defamation you need to watch your comments here very carefully because the above quoted is intended maliciously and damagingly to misrepresent. I'll not report you though mainly because you're not worth the effort to click that button as well as reply to you and I don't need to tell teacher every time someone in the playground says something I don't like.

I hope you have a happy Eostre

Gratis

23n1th wrote: »

Oh so you ...

(etc.) :coffee:


Look. Just grow up and find a good psychiatrist. For everyone’s sake.

Try painting an egg, instead; it's therapeutic. :easter_os


The topic of this thread is long exhausted and I’m not going to engage with you further, however hard you try to hijack it or me. You’ve proved all my own points.

Witter on, if you must. Me, I'm off to the pub, to interact with some good beer and some intelligent people. :beer:

I wish everyone else a happy Easter, too. Have fun! :easter_ba

(Ah yes; my typo . Serves me right for using the PC, instead. :rotfl: )

23n1th

Gratis wrote: »

(etc.) :coffee:


Look. Just grow up and find a good psychiatrist. For everyone’s sake.

Try painting an egg, instead; it's therapeutic. :easter_os


The topic of this thread is long exhausted and I’m not going to engage with you further, however hard you try to hijack it or me. You’ve proved all my own points.

Witter on, if you must. Me, I'm off to the pub, to interact with some good beer and some intelligent people. :beer:

I wish everyone else a happy Easter, too. Have fun! :easter_ba

(Ah yes; my typo . Serves me right for using the PC, instead. :rotfl: )

Do you see what you've done now? The forum police have not only deleted posts but have randomly deleted my signature.

What is it they say about workmen and their tools?