Apr 27 2009
Anti-Macintosh Propaganda
By: Jon UPDATED 12:18AM EST **ADDED EMAIL FORM**
Gales [AIM: jonknee41]
Vnunet.com,
a UK Technology site has recently posted two anit-Macintosh articles. I neglected
to post the first one the day it came out, cut the author a break. I don’t give
second chances. His second installment is just as quirky as the first.
The first article
supposedly debunked the "myth" that Macs are safer than PC’s running
Windows. My analysis follows quotes from the articles. It would help to read
the articles first. The
second article is chock full of responses from "actual" Mac users
(due to the fact that Apple wouldn’t comment).
FIRST PROPAGANDA PIECE REBUTTAL:
"Mac users are no safer from the threat of viruses than Windows
users, according to experts who have just shattered a long standing myth."
With a thesis statement like this I had high hopes for the article. In fact,
I was hoping to learn a few things (and pass them along to you). Now you have
to realize that the rest of the article doesn’t do anything to support the
above quote.
"Antivirus firm Symantec said that over three quarters of Mac users are
under the illusion that they are not a target for virus writers and hackers."
Their "experts" are only interested in selling Symantec software
– their business. Objectivity is no where to be found. A more suitable
"Expert" might have been an independent security consultant that
has no vested interest in the purchasing of security software. This pretty
much makes the rest of the article fiction. Sorry but next time get an "expert"
that doesn’t profit off of scarring Mac users!
"Obviously there are more PC-only viruses out there, but there are still
over 7,000 macro viruses which can hit either Mac or PC platforms."
Mac’s don’t come with Office (needed to run the mentioned viruses). It
needs to be installed – and only after that can a user be dumb enough
to run a macro. Most PC viruses attack a default Windows install.
"Another big problem Mac users don’t think about is that they make perfect
incubators for Windows viruses," said Chapman. "
Yep… the other day I
got an email titled "Look at these file Jon Gales" and the attachment
was a .exe… The first thing I did was send it to all of my closest friends
that I knew were on Windows. I didn’t really do that (but you knew that) but
think about it – without the virus sending out itself automatically what’s
the danger? 99% of viruses are carried in email (and automatically send themselves
to people in your address book).
"At the time of going to press Apple was unavailable for comment."
Enough said.
SECOND PROPAGANDA PIECE REBUTTAL:
"Despite numerous requests for comment from Apple in both the US and
the UK, the company has not yet provided a spokesman to comment on the issue.
"
Still… I have no comment.
Enough said.
"Readers pointed out that there are plenty of Mac viruses out there,
not just the macro viruses affecting Microsoft Office installations, but AppleScript
and Macintosh file infectors. "
Sounds like some good ol’ PC users writing in. I’ve been a Mac user all
my life and have never had a bit of data lost. I don’t think I’m lucky, I
think I’m average. Try taking a survey among Windows users of at least 5 years
– you’d find someone that hasn’t had a virus to be VERY rare. Even
if there are a lot of Mac viruses they must not get passed around well…
All the ones in my inbox are .exe’s. A smart worm could scan only @mac.com
addresses but that wouldn’t do too much – Apple filters all e-mail.
"I’m a Mac user
since probably around 10 years ago and I’ve found OS/9 is crap. It lacks all
the generic features for a ‘secure’ operating system, as much as Windows, but
probably even worse."
Two things:
* OS 9 is a dead OS. Apple has even said so. We don’t comment on the security
of Windows 98 since it’s well just not being shipped.
* He’s not a Mac user – there is no chance. If you’ve read the Naked
Truth [review]
the comments about detecting PC users will come to mind. If he was really
a hardcore Mac user (you have to be to last 10 years) he wouldn’t trash his
OS. Also – it would never be compared in an inferior way to Windows.
It’s just not done by one of our own.
"On the one hand
this article should be commended. Mac users should not believe they are invulnerable
and should practise safe computing just like their Windows counterparts do.
[But] the Macintosh as a platform is safer, chiefly because it hasn’t been as
attractive a target as Windows machines."
Is the Mac OS safer because
it’s not used as much, or does it have better code? Is a Lexus safer because
their are fewer of them (and thus you are less likely, statistically, to get
into an accident with one) or because Lexus has put more effort into research
on safety? The Screensavers
ran a Capture
the Flag contest during one of their shows. They had both a Mac, and a
Windows machine on the network waiting to be hacked. The Mac needed no updates
while the Windows machine needed several security updates. At the end of the
show no one managed to "win" by placing their contact info in a
folder but someone did succeed in restarting the PC. Interesting if the Mac
is really that insecure.
Now, there were a few real
(or at least pretty good fakes) Mac users that wrote into the author after the
first article was published but overall the BS monitor was off the chart. I
hunted down the author’s email address (James_middleton@vnu.co.uk)
off of their site. Using my custom software that I wrote a while back
I have made a form that will allow you to email James right now. You will also
recieve an email when James opens your message! Tell James what’s up!
. If you have the "Let MacMerc publish" button
