Slashdot Mirror
Apple Quietly Recommends Antivirus Software For Macs
Barence writes "After years of boasting about the Mac's near invincibility, Apple is now advising its customers to install security software on their computers. Apple — which has continually played on Windows' vulnerability to viruses in its advertising campaigns — issued the advice in a low-key message on its support forums. 'Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.' It goes on to recommend a handful of products." Reader wild_berry points out the BBC's story on the unexpected recommendation.
Hey, if our sales go up by 10% we'll float you a $50,000 hold back check.
Welcome to modern sleazy business.
Is this the end of Microsoft or is Steve Jobs lying again to make it look like someone actually give a crap to take the time to code a virus for their system?
So when can I expect to see a new Apple commercial, apologizing to the Vista guy for ripping about the lack of security of MS's operating system?
Maybe one where the Vista guy is dressed in his kingly garb, and the Mac guy bowing on one knee before him. I'd then expect the Vista guy to whack the Mac guy on the head with his scepter. Take that, Apple!
Attention all planets of the Solar Federation! We have assumed control! - Neil Peart
So, Apple, you have something to tell us?
geh ammprpmp sm
I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. A bit louder please?
Get a vmrs smmmr
It sounds like 'get a...' One more time, please, for everyone to hear.
'Get a virus scanner'. So all this time you convinced us to use you bareback because you were 'safe' was just a lie?
Not always...
Oh that's right, I forgot. You invited Windows into our boot. You said we'd all be safe together. But didn't I warn you that when you boot with Windows, you boot with everyone Windows has ever had contact with? And that's a lot of people. So when did it happen, hmm? When I was taking care of all the little iPods we have together? Who mounter whose file system, hmm? No, don't touch me. I can't look at you right now.
UTF-8: There and Back Again
But, but I thought Apples had no viruses? Can it possibly be that every fanboy biggest argument is actually false? Is Apple's market share actually becoming significant enough for the bad guys to start bothering with exploits for it? Oh the humanity!
Bow before me, for I am root.
if you're taking the time to right a piece of malicious code you generally want it to have the greatest impact possible
Yes, and being the first person to come up with a true Mac OS X self-replicating malware wouldn't have any impact at all, would it?
Please just stop with the stupid 'market share' argument. Not everyone who writes malware wants to run a Windows botnet for fun and profit. There are also a lot of people out there who would looooooooove the notoriety that would be attached to being the first guy to do it on Mac OS X. They've been working at it for nearly eight years and haven't succeeded yet. And Apple is working hard to ensure they don't succeed.
~Philly
Apple freeloads off BSD developers' work. There have not been any viruses on BSD (or Linux) in the wild (active, harmful and self-propagating) to date.
I guess they figure that people dumb enough to pay their high prices are dumb enough to not see this through for what it is - a push tactic to sell software for a new Apple software partner.
That is Macworld for you - smart executives, smart psychologists, smarter marketing staff, adequate engineers married to dumb status conscious users while freeloading off extremely smart open source software developers (not employed by Apple) using a license written by some idealistic people without any rudimentary understanding of human nature.
Yes Apples can get malware (general term) if you are a complete dumb ass.
Is there any other kind of Apple customer?
Plus: cyber crime was worth 400 billion dollars in 2005. Who would want an unobstructed view of 7% of 400 billion dollars every year?
Who would want $28 billion a year, with zero competition. I know I wouldn't.
Seriously, is THIS the best PC Fanboys can come up with? It's a small market? Toyota sells 9 million cars a year worldwide, Ferrari don't sell anywhere near that, so that's why no Ferraris were stolen at all... wait, what? Ferraris ARE stolen? The hell, you say...