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If Mac OS X Came to x86, Would You Switch?
A not-so anonymous Anonymous Coward would like to put this query before you: "I'm not a fan of Windows, and never have been, but I am a fan of the x86 architecture. I really like Linux, but there are still a few issues that are keeping me from switching completely. I really like Mac OS X but I don't want to drop $2000 on a computer that is only as fast as an x86 computer at half the price. Darwin, Mac OS X's unix-ish core, has been ported to x86 and Microsoft's upcoming Longhorn OS seems to be disliked by everyone but Microsoft. If Apple released Mac OS X to compete with Longhorn, would you switch?"
Once one person gets past your firewall they'll find the vulnerable kernel and get into your machine
Really? And how were they planning on doing that, short of breaking into my house physically? I run decent firewall on a dedicated box that is totally locked down. I seriously doubt anyone could breach it without some hard-core time investment. And besides, why would they? On my cable neighborhood there is so much more lower-hanging fruit...
So, for the sake of security, throw some damned boxers on and maybe even a cup
It's not like the box is completely open even once you're into my network, I'm just saying I'm not all that keyed up about upgrading kernels now, now NOW because of a couple of security issues that could only maybe be a factor to someone if they had already breached my not-insubstantial front security.
And as for my sister watching my house and throwing up a WAP for her convenience:
1) She's so far down on the list of people I'd ask to house-sit that I'd probably sell the house first.
2) She doesn't know what a WAP is, so I doubt she'd be installing one anywhere...
3) Re the ibook: She has a Mac-zealot for a neighbor who is so rabid about the things it's pretty much guaranteed that she'll never buy one. She fears that shit might be contagious.
4) And finally, I'd just have whoever use my WAP instead. Which does filtering based on MAC addresses. If you're not on the list it doesn't even acknowledge your existance.