WARNING - internet passwords

poppy10_2

Password Safe is the most reputable and reliable of these programs, and its free.

munk

lol we all sound like we're hardened users of these various password safe apps

Should check some of these others out, keepass is ok but it has minor things that bug me. All in all though it's a sweet app.

BlightyAndy

I keep some of my random passwords in my safe tin. And instead of going in every time, Password Reminder on sites help.

Sapphire

I've heard that MACs are much safer than PCs when it comes to viruses, hacking, etc. Does anyone else think this is the case?

munk

End of the day, there are fewer 'eyeballs' on the Mac systems than there are on Windows (same for linux/bsd/unix like systems). If there were as many people using Macs as there were Windows then it could be that Macs ended up being less secure - more criminals would target Macs because they'd know they'd have a larger 'audience' to steal from.

If this is the case then you could say that Macs are safer by merit of 'security by obscurity'.

Actually this might not even be the case - I think I read something recently though that suggested there were more security issues with Macs than with Windows...? See here for example: http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=758

Best advice is just to keep your machine up to date - turn on auto updates etc - and make sure you use as many different random passwords as you feel comfortable with.

Lokolo

Sapphire wrote: »

I've heard that MACs are much safer than PCs when it comes to viruses, hacking, etc. Does anyone else think this is the case?

Yep they are. This is because people that make viruses want them to effect the most possible people so they make them for Windows rather than Mac OS.

Sapphire

munk wrote: »

End of the day, there are fewer 'eyeballs' on the Mac systems than there are on Windows (same for linux/bsd/unix like systems). If there were as many people using Macs as there were Windows then it could be that Macs ended up being less secure - more criminals would target Macs because they'd know they'd have a larger 'audience' to steal from.

If this is the case then you could say that Macs are safer by merit of 'security by obscurity'.

Actually this might not even be the case - I think I read something recently though that suggested there were more security issues with Macs than with Windows...? See here for example: http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=758

Best advice is just to keep your machine up to date - turn on auto updates etc - and make sure you use as many different random passwords as you feel comfortable with.

Thank you very much for the advice - unfortunately, though, the link didn't help much since I am technically not functional. :rolleyes: So far, I have not been invaded by any viruses or hackers, but there's always a first time for everything.

When I get notifications about 'security updates' on my Mac, is it worth downloading them? I am not sure how these updates help or what they are. :cool:

In any case, I am very cautious about any unsolicited emails that come through to me (mainly linked with eBay rather than any banks). I do have rather a lot of passwords and it is impossible to remember them all, so I have written them down, but in secret places so that it would be very difficult for anyone to find them (possibly including me). :rolleyes:

bristolleedsfan

Lokolo wrote: »

Yep they are. This is because people that make viruses want them to effect the most possible people so they make them for Windows rather than Mac OS.

They target XP and VISTA operating systems to be precise, perhaps we should all go back to Windows 98 much more secure. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

munk

I would read this: http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=758

On that count there were around 10 times more critical security flaws with OS X than with Win XP in 2007. Whilst that's not a count of how many viruses there were on Mac vs Win, the fact there were so many independent reports of vulnerabilities (ie holes in the operating system that could be exploited to gain illegal access) doesn't bode well for Mac on the security count.

Having said that, again I would stress that you're only as safe as the effort you put into staying secure. Even given the above that Macs had more reported vulnerabilities than Win in 2007, it's a no brainer for someone to be less secure on Windows than Mac just because they don't keep their OS up to date with all the latest security patches.

munk

Bleh... sorry sapphire you replied whilst I was posting

you said:

When I get notifications about 'security updates' on my Mac, is it worth downloading them?

Definitely install the updates!! Think of the updates as 'patches' that patch up a hole that's present on your system. Without the patch, infection can get in (urgh though)

Some kind of non computer analogy... imagine someone has a door in a house that they installed a lock on. Someone else finds out that if you throw a stone at the lock from a certain angle, the lock suddenly pops open(!). This is basically the same as a security vulnerability on a computer.

Once the problem with the door lock is discovered, the people that designed the door lock make the changes needed to make it safe again, then make the fixed up lock available for people to install so they'll be safe again. This is like the computer makers (Apple for example) creating a patch for a security vulnerability that's found, which they then make available to everyone to apply so the system will be safe again. You just need to go grab the patch (or new door latch!) that's the only thing.