Symantec: Mac OS X a hacker target

What do you guys think about this? I mean Apple's market share is growing. especially with the Mac Mini. I know many of you say that virus protection is not needed, but what if you are wrong? Should we begin using Virex, Norton for Mac or Clam AV for Mac - or is this propaganda to buy their software? I would appreciate comments from long time Mac OS users, since I just got my first Apple iBook and kind of worried. Also what about firewalls? I have a router with a firewall, but is there semething like Zone Alarm for OSX?

Thank you for you time, and sorry for asking alot of questions.

Source : http://software.silicon.com/os/0,39024651,39128858,00.htm

#267095

like the old saying goes: the only secure os is the one unplugged from the net. still, i'd say you're a long way off from panic mode. it's just symantec trying to sell software.

#267097

Heard thing like this lots of times.

#267103

sorry but im not a Mac user... the only thing i have heard from other ppl in the web (chats) is that in fact there are some virus for Macintosh, they gave a number... 70; its that comparable to hundred thousands millons trillions billions for WIN32 (Microsoft)...??? i dont know, just try not to mess with hacker pages and dirty web server programs (like e-mule) without the proper deffence, no worries...

#267107

Yeah, it is a known fact, every os has virus... the article holds some truth to it, but i will tell you this: I was using windows until dec 2003 and i can tell you that i NEVER got a virus on my computer, why? because of common sense... If i didnt get a virus on a windows machine, i think its highly unlikely that i will on my mac...

People that think they are virus free though, those are the ones that will infected, just as getting STD's, it is most of the time ignorance from part of the person that just got infected...

#267110

You're not just gonna get a virus. You must do something to get it. Just don't do something stupid, visit unsafe sites, keep all your ports open, use Outlook [or any M$ B$ product], et cetera

#267116

You're not just gonna get a virus. You must do something to get it. Just don't do something stupid, visit unsafe sites, keep all your ports open, use Outlook [or any M$ B$ product], et cetera

rember blaster? Anyhow thats the only virus i have ever gotten. I dont even scan my drives for viruses anymore, i AVG running just cause its free, and nvidias firewall cause its built into the chipset, but if it wasnt it woulnt use anything, and i havent in the past. 99% of all viruses are you being stupid.

#267124

speaking of blaster, the exploit that allowed it to kill RPC had been recognized, documented and patched by microsoft long before blaster appeared, and only people without the needed windows update got it. most other recent viruses used known and patched exploits, so the only excuse for contracting them was laziness. and that ain't much of an excuse, now, is it?

patch your system regularly, use common sense when opening email attachments, and you will be safe.

#267141

speaking of blaster, the exploit that allowed it to kill RPC had been recognized, documented and patched by microsoft long before blaster appeared, and only people without the needed windows update got it.

damn straight!

#267142

I recently subscribed to a mac account and Virex is available when you get a mac membership. Since I will not have to pay for it, because i already paid it indirectly, do you think I should install Virex? or is it gonna mess up my computer and make the OS less smooth?

Thanx

#267147

speaking of blaster, the exploit that allowed it to kill RPC had been recognized, documented and patched by microsoft long before blaster appeared, and only people without the needed windows update got it. most other recent viruses used known and patched exploits, so the only excuse for contracting them was laziness. and that ain't much of an excuse, now, is it?

patch your system regularly, use common sense when opening email attachments, and you will be safe.

patching your system regularly is a huge job when your on dialup. A 10 meg download once a week to patch a bunch of things you dont even use becomes a little umm iritating.

#267151

It never hurts to have proper protection on any OS.

A Seph stated... I too have never had a virus on any Windows box I've owned.

It's called proper maintanance and common sense.

There are a ton of exploits for Linux systems and since OS X shares a lot of the same common libraries, it's only a matter of time before a nasty one shows up for the unprepaired.

As for firewall SW... the built-in firewall in OS X is more than sufficient for the average users.

I prefer a hardware solution myself.

Also, for you Windows users, the monthly M$ updates will save your a$$. Install them.

#267153

patching your system regularly is a huge job when your on dialup. A 10 meg download once a week to patch a bunch of things you dont even use becomes a little umm iritating.

Mmm every week ? I don't think so, most of the update are about 3-4MB and it's going out every mounts or two.

/aviel

#267157

i think Symantec wants to sell more of their crappy software to new switchers who think AV is a crucial parts of every OS :slant:

#267159

Apple just released a Security Update

#267160

Well, OS X is a lot less safe than Windows, but has almost no viruses written for it. I suppose that means that you don't need an Antivirus, yet.

#267176

Apple just released a Security Update

Now that's just too funny.

@pooky... heavy emphasis on the word "yet".

#267179

I have had a mac for about 6 months now I have not had any problems with viruses or spyware....or any of that windows crap. Now with Windows, I have had viruses and spyware up the wazoo. I had to do another system restore on windows the other day because of problems. I do use Virex....and it has yet to find anything on my mac.

Hearing from others that have used Virex, it only detected those viruses that would affect a windows user. So.....I would not really worry about viruses for your mac at this time.

#267183

Well, OS X is a lot less safe than Windows...

i'm curious as to what you've based this statement on...

#267184

Is it possible for "hackers" to infect applications like Office, Photoshop, Macromedia, Windows/Mac OSs .. and the other software out there that could be found of P2P networks? I know .exe's are not good to download unless it was written by yahoo.com or microsoft, but can it be the same for .dmg or anything equivalent to a .exe in Windows?

I have'nt used a P2P client on my iBook, but just wanted to know some facts. I've heard that people can hide the extension and make it look like its a music file, but is a exe file. [example: Happy - Mudvayne.mp3.exe] or [Happy - Mudvayne.mp3.dmg]

#267193

i'm curious as to what you've based this statement on...

Maybe he pulled it out of his ass?

#267195

shmengie - do your research, I've seen many reports out there proving that Windows was a lot safer. Although keep in mind that I'm not saying you're less like ly to get a virus. All I mean is that since Windows has so many people looking for holes in it, and so many virus writers, Microsoft has a lot more experience in the world of security and has applied many fixes and patches to Windows.

OS X, on the other hand, has almost no viruses written for it, and thus has a lot of unfixed holes that would probably only be found by a lot of people looking for holes. That's all I'm saying.

You're still relatively safe using OS X for the moment though. Think of it this way:

Windows is like putting on a heavy suit of armor and standing in a cage full of hungry lions.

OSX is like wearing nothing but your underwear and standing in a cage with a cat.

So if for any reason someone decides to introduce a lion or two into the OS X cage, you're screwed.

#267200

Is it possible for "hackers" to infect applications like Office, Photoshop, Macromedia, Windows/Mac OSs .. and the other software out there that could be found of P2P networks? I know .exe's are not good to download unless it was written by yahoo.com or microsoft, but can it be the same for .dmg or anything equivalent to a .exe in Windows?

^ opening a .dmg wont harm anything, you would have to be running some kind of installer (.pkg) contained inside of the dmg. if i opened an mp3 and it mounted a disk image, i wouldnt open it any further

#267232

shmengie - do your research, I've seen many reports out there proving that Windows was a lot safer. Although keep in mind that I'm not saying you're less like ly to get a virus. All I mean is that since Windows has so many people looking for holes in it, and so many virus writers, Microsoft has a lot more experience in the world of security and has applied many fixes and patches to Windows.

OS X, on the other hand, has almost no viruses written for it, and thus has a lot of unfixed holes that would probably only be found by a lot of people looking for holes. That's all I'm saying.

You're still relatively safe using OS X for the moment though. Think of it this way:

Windows is like putting on a heavy suit of armor and standing in a cage full of hungry lions.

OSX is like wearing nothing but your underwear and standing in a cage with a cat.

So if for any reason someone decides to introduce a lion or two into the OS X cage, you're screwed.

Your anology is incomplete and misleading (therefore useless)... The additional question that needs to be answered is "how well is the os written in regards to security issues in the first place?" .

Put it this way; in your windows analogy the heavy suit of armor should be constructed of at least 2 layers of dead rats. (at least 4 layers if constructed of cheese)

Also, "many reports out there proving that Windows was a lot safer" would run counter to most peoples' readings on the net, so you should provide some real evidence ie. links. The common perception of the relative safety of OSX compared to XP has as much to do with the quality of an OS as it does with the oft repeated vague arguements of bigger market share = bigger target, and more money + corp. size = more resources to fix problems.

If a Hollandish dyke is 200 miles wide and made of cheese-cloth, it doesn't matter how many peons are sticking their fingers in it.

edit: I'm not saying your wrong... I'm saying your last post doesn't disprove the hypothesis that you pulled your previous post out of your ass.

#267237

I see what you mean, however I have neither the time nor will to look back and find the sites again. Sorry.

I'm sure that if you really care you could find a few of them on Slashdot.

#267252