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Macs May No Longer Be Immune to Viruses
Bill writes "MSNBC reports that the combination of Apple's growing market share and their recent switch to x86 processors has made Mac OS X a new target for viruses. Unfortunately, it seems that many Mac users are in denial. '[Computer security expert Tom] Ferris said he warned Apple of the vulnerabilities in January and February and that the company has yet to patch the holes, prompting him to compare the Cupertino-based computer maker to Microsoft three years ago, when the world's largest software company was criticized for being slow to respond to weaknesses in its products.'"
They have just been less targeted.
I cannot see the change to x86 having a significant impact on this situation. An increase in popularity, however, certainly will.
The only saving grace for Apple/Steve Jobs is that even if he (if given the chance) would do exactly the same as MS/Bill Gates is that he can't and just by being there puts a tiny brake on the MS Juggernaut.
But make no mistake. If positions were reversed in terms of sales then MS would be just as an important a brake. Perhaps even more important.
Think about this. How many of you believe that is the media part of Sony that has been crippling the company by insisting on DRM that hardware consumers don't want?
Right, so now exactly how do you think Steve "Disney" Jobs would be on the subject of DRM if he had MS like control off the desktop.
A lot of people argue that iTunes limited DRM was the maximum he could get away with in his negotiotations with the record labels. This is true. The records labels are insane and would have chosen DRM that would be unaccaptable to the consumer.
Steve Jobs isn't insane but I am convinced that the Limited DRM for iTunes is also what he thinks is the maximum he could get away with.
Put more simply, I don't he was trying to get the least drm. I think he was trying to get the maximum DRM he could get consumers to swallow and then convince the record labels (who wanted even more) that it was this or nothing.
If you look at other parts of Apples business practices you really don't get the idea they are the mythical good guy. There support sucks, their warrenties got more loopholes then US wiretapping laws and they are as sue happy as the RIAA.
Just that Apple is for now to small to really make an impact. Doesn't mean that they don't want too.
So I am not at all suprised that Apple sounds exactly the same when it comes to dealing with flaws in their products wich leave their customers vulnerable.
Business as usual. Everybody does it. Only opensource can afford to say "oops, yeah that is a HUGE risk we are going to patch it right now so every single one of our users needs to get of their ass now".
Opensource does indeed patch much faster BUT it is a lot more work and worry for the user.
What sells better. You car manufacturer pulling you over with flashing lights to impound your car to have your brakes fixed OR having it quietly fixed when you next bring it in for service. WRONG. Don't fix it all, just settle with the dozen or so families of the person killed in the crash. That is good business.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
What does it say? How does it explain the fact that MSNBC also runs stories on Microsoft-based exploits? Hmm... this says a lot.
Daines, a 29-year-old British chemical engineer who once considered Macs invulnerable to such attacks,"... this makes him a qualified source how?
Probably something to do with the fact that 99% of users of systems, be they Mac or Win, are about as knowledgeable about viruses as he is, for better or worse?
Who the fuck is Tom Ferris again?
Who the fuck is bulldogzerofive?