Apple admits anti-virus needed

[killadoob]

http://www.mybyte.co.za/blog.php?user=busidiko&blogentry_id=1337


It’s official: After years of claiming that its operating systems were immune to viruses, worms and other malware, Apple has conceded that its Mac computers are indeed susceptible to the threats which permeate the internet. Rising to this challenge, Phoenix Software is introducing Antivirus and Internet Security solutions for Mac to the South African market over the next few weeks.

O well there goes that argument.

 

[chickenbeef]

The only reason they were "immune" to viruses and worms was because the user base was so small

Whats the point in creating a virus for Macs that will only affect 10 people when you can create one for Windows and it will affect 1000 people

 

[StbA]

The difference between Apple viruses (there's about 5-15 that I'm aware of) and Windows viruses (ITS OVER 9000!!|)is the following.

Viruses written for OSX need your permission to install,
Viruses written for WIN dont need your permission to install.

 

[killadoob]

Well there are a 900 odd million people using windows if not more and 20 million maybe less using mac so of course your virus ratio will be lower.

As silverlight says.

 

[StbA]

ITS OVER 9000!!

|

 

[killadoob]

LOL well atleast you can make some cash now, scare your clients saying virus's are being released daily and they need protection which is not really a lie just a stretch of the truth.

Look it as a way of making money

 

[StbA]

ClamXav_1.1.0_TigerLeopard_e92
It's free.

 

[Ou grote]

Norton released an antivirus for macs many many many years ago.

 

[StbA]

Norton released an antivirus for macs many many many years ago.

And it does exactly the same thing it does on Windows, it's slows down the Mac dramatically. Norton software is the worst, bloated, pieces of crappy software ever written.

 

[killadoob]

Yea norton is about the worst piece of software i have ever seen in my life.

When i hear people have norton on their pc's i feel sorry for them.

 

[PeterCH]

http://www.mybyte.co.za/blog.php?user=busidiko&blogentry_id=1337


It’s official: After years of claiming that its operating systems were immune to viruses, worms and other malware, Apple has conceded that its Mac computers are indeed susceptible to the threats which permeate the internet. Rising to this challenge, Phoenix Software is introducing Antivirus and Internet Security solutions for Mac to the South African market over the next few weeks.

O well there goes that argument.

‘since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, antivirus software may offer additional protection’

They don't say it's needed. They say an AV may be useful.

Secondly, Macs aren't susceptible the way Windows PCs are. Mac malware are trojan horses deployed using 'social engineering' - you need to install a program from a rogue website and then give it permission to do whatever it wants. On a PC, viruses can infect your machine just by reading your email in Outlook or opening a Word document or by putting in a USB stick with auto-run enabled, ie no interaction from user.

AV will probably not protect you from trojans either as many are 0 day or unknown. So if you don't download dodgy programs AND authorise them you are still 100% safe on the Mac.

 

[w1z4rd]

The difference between Apple viruses (there's about 5-15 that I'm aware of) and Windows viruses (ITS OVER 9000!!|)is the following.

Viruses written for OSX need your permission to install,
Viruses written for WIN dont need your permission to install.

OSX at recent hacking comps was the easiest OS to compramise. Its carp. In the one hacking competition they brought out three laptops. One with OSX another with (I think) Windows Vista and the last with a distro of Linux.

On day one OSX fell. The other two were were fine until certain hacking restrictions were lifted.. and then Vista fell. Linux came through that one bullet proof.

OSX is closed source. Its carp.. most Apple software is like that. *kof* Iphone sms *kof*.

 

[StbA]

You do realise there's a diff between "Hacking" and "Viruses" right?
Hacking the OS on a Mac can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be, I can lock down a mac so much that any hacker who hacks it would have to restart after every system change they make and after each reboot the mac is restored to it's original state. Insert loop here.

 

[killadoob]

Peter either way you want to say, it now recommended you use anti virus software for your mac.

Say it whatever you want but that is the fact man.

Apple has conceded that its Mac computers are indeed susceptible to the threats which permeate the internet.

 

[w1z4rd]

You do realise there's a diff between "Hacking" and "Viruses" right?

Erm :erm:.. they both exploit a weakness in the code to compramise the system.

Modern day malware s are not really designed to destroy systems but to compramise them for identity and data theft or to be used as a zombie on a botnet. The virus`s today basically automatically hack your system...

Hacking the OS on a Mac can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be, I can lock down a mac so much that any hacker who hacks it would have to restart after every system change they make and after each reboot the mac is restored to it's original state. Insert loop here.

You can also unplug the network cable. That will stop them as well. However the balance between functionality, ease of use and security is a very fine one.

 

[PeterCH]

You do realise there's a diff between "Hacking" and "Viruses" right?
Hacking the OS on a Mac can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be, I can lock down a mac so much that any hacker who hacks it would have to restart after every system change they make and after each reboot the mac is restored to it's original state. Insert loop here.

BSD is open source too. I don't know what Wiz is on about but Mac OS is between Windoze and Linux based OSes in terms of Open source.

Also most 'hacking' on PCs is done with malware (keyloggers, malware which opens ports, etc) things which won't work on a Mac unless you download and authorise them.

 

[w1z4rd]

BSD is open source too. I don't know what Wiz is on about but Mac OS is between Windoze and Linux based OSes in terms of Open source.

Erm:erm:

What about my post was not clear? Its pretty straight forward and I didnt even mention FOSS.. just that a distro of Linux was used.

You are going to either have to reread my post .. though its hard to see how you were confused or point out to me.. where you are unclear on what I am going on about.

I simply pointed out the reality of the OS`s. OSX is not FOSS.

Afaik only parts of Darwin were based on BSD.. ?

 

[StbA]

The easiest way to exploit a mac is thru Java, Apple controls the java updates and security and they aren't always on the ball

 

[d0b33]

More BS being spread... OSX does not need a virus scanner it may be useful but it's still safer than winblows.

 

[w1z4rd]

The easiest way to exploit a mac is thru Java, Apple controls the java updates and security and they aren't always on the ball

Its never Apples fault