Slashdot Mirror
McAfee Feigns Fear at Mac Security
conq writes "BusinessWeek reports that McAfee has just come out with a report which asks the question 'Is Mac OS X the Next Windows?'." They appear to be attempting to scare consumers into buying anti-virus software for OSX. Blogger Arik Hesseldahl breaks down their claims: "First off, Mac users on average pay more for their computers, are self-selected because they tend to know more about technology than your average PC buyer, and by and large are a bit more affluent than those who buy cheapo commodity Windows PCs ... When you take into account the ongoing growth in general PC ownership, even if Apple pushes its annual unit sales to 12 million or more by 2010, its share of the overall market will still account for about 4%, leaving Windows the far more tasty target."
Something tells me the reporter has a hidden agendy against McAfee. McAfee isn't trying to "scare you enough to consider buying its anti-virus software for the Mac", they're trying to point out that anti-virus software, McAfee's or otherwise, for the Mac is an important and vital piece of protection against the malware of the Internet.
"tend to know more about technology" than what, maybe a cave person. I personally work in a company with about half mac half pc users. I am friends with many of both but on average 99% of my mac users don't know the difference between a hard drive and the case. On the other hand my pc users aren't much better but I will say that 99% of the people that do know something about computers, use pc's and hate mac, myself included. Is it just me or does anybody else remember that just a few years ago macs big marketing scheme was that all you had to do was plug it in and you didn't need to know anything about computers (not true by the way)? I am sure that mac's have their use, I haven't found it yet, I know I will upset a few people with this, but anything graphically that can be done on a average mac ($2000 give or take) I can do on a higher end pc ($2000 give or take) and chances are it will look exactly the same, not to mention I will be free to use whatever software I want because it will be reverse compatible. As for viruses, I admit because the OS is based on Unix it is harder to get a virus but as someone else said they can still carry them and infect other computers even if they are not affected themselves.
Seriously, why are mac users so arrogant? They pay double for hardware that is the same as or less powerful than a pc counterpart. They claim to be technically savvy because they know how to use Photoshop. In fact, macs are FOR non technical people...that's the appeal of macs. How many mac users actually built there own mac. Probably not many as it's almost impossible. Also, macs are increasingly moving to the PC market. Mac users....get off your high horse.
Now look at the average user of a zombie pc. They are usually a soccer mom or a boy/girl obsessed teen that downloads warez and music from P2P networks.
There are some P2P activity on the mac but it is nowhere near the percentage of the user base as with windows users. Mac users tend to be careful about where they get their software and generally look a the reviews on versiontracker or macupdate "before" downloading anything.
Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
Well, there were fewer viruses for the Mac until this article was posted on Slashdot. After the article, every virus writer in the world that was offended by those filthy rich, OS X techno-elitists decided to hunker down and create the ultimate bruisedEgo trojan, demonstrating once and for all who is better, although no one and no thing is actually better than anything else, of course.
So how would this ultimate virus wreak havok amongst the Starbucks sipping, secure shell using, Photoshop editing, iTunes listening crowd?
Sorry, but that is possibly the worst analogy I've ever heard. Stationary and lighters and small shit like that isn't a business you could possibly used FUD campaigning for, so of course Bic isn't going to use FUD tactics through published papers or otherwise, because, well, WTF would they say? "WARNING!! Lots of rain spreading across the midwest, matches won't be enough to light your smokes!!" Or maybe "Caution, consumer! You may die alone and depressed if you don't carry enough pens and paper with you at all times to write down a possible life partner's number when first meeting them!"
Honestly now, I don't mean to offend, but this is a matter of common sense. The reason that those kinds of businesses don't use the kind of ultra-capitalist tactics that security companies use is because they can't. I'm sure some companies have tried it before, but quickly realized that you're not going to scare someone into buying a fuckload of your ultra-durable coffee cups or chairs.
Ex nihilo nihil fit.
The blogger who wrote this has a severe case of his ego up his ass.