“Never one to compete in high tech’s bargain basement, Apple nonetheless recently introduced the $500 Mac mini, a petite machine that is roughly the size of a cigar box. The catch is that the mini comes without a monitor, keyboard, mouse or speakers. To outfit the Mac mini, figure you’ll spend another $170 for very basic peripherals — equivalent to those that come with the Windows machines,” Jeff Bertloucci writer for Kiplinger.com in an article that pits Apple’s Mac mini against three “dump trucks” (Bertloucci’s description) of Windows PCs from various box assemblers in an article about $500 PCs. At the end of Bertloucci’s article, Jessica Anderson is credited with “research.” Jessica obviously sat on her ass and did pretty much nothing as you’ll see.
Bertloucci writes, “Although Windows PCs may be cheaper, they are also susceptible to some things you don’t want: computer viruses and spyware, which are programs that steal information about your Web-browsing habits and sometimes your personal financial data. And as any Apple user will tell you, viruses rarely infect Macs. That’s because the Mac operating system is more secure against hackers than Windows, and the delinquents who write viruses prefer to attack the more common Microsoft operating system.”
MacDailyNews Take: The Mac mini runs Mac OS X. Bertloucci is wrong. Viruses do not “rarely” infect Macs running Mac OS X, unless by “rarely,” Bertloucci means “never.” There are zero (zilch, nada) Mac OS X viruses. None.
Bertloucci continues, “Apple aficionados won’t have to look further than the Mac mini for a bargain. And we suspect it’ll capture a passel of Windows users who are tired of battling viruses. The Mac mini, however, doesn’t come with security software. Why? Apple says it doesn’t need it, which is a bit of hubris. Viruses are written for Macs, although they are much rarer than PC viruses. Mac users can buy security software, such as Norton AntiVirus 9.0 for Macintosh ($70).”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Viruses are NOT written for Mac mini’s Mac OS X. Mac OS versions prior to Mac OS X, meaning — literally — last century, had a total of about 20 or so viruses that were not “macro viruses” (viruses that used Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel to infect older pre-Mac OS X machines). Apple’s Mac OS X, released in September 2000 (that’s almost FIVE years ago), has had zero viruses. Mac OS X currently has 15 million active users; clearly Mac OS X personal computers are inherently more secure than Windows and it has precious little or nothing to do with numbers of users and most everything to do with how Mac OS X is designed for security in a connected environment.
Just because some company makes a Mac virus product does not mean Mac users need it or should buy it, especially if it comes from Symantec.
[Note: Mac OS X users who care should use a virus protection application to avoid passing viruses along that could infect Windows PCs.]
New ‘highly critical’ Office flaw embarrasses Microsoft – April 13, 2005
97,467 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – April 05, 2005
Symantec details flaws in its antivirus software – March 30, 2005
Motley Fool writer: ‘I’d be surprised if Symantec ever sells a single product to a Mac user again’ – March 24, 2005
Symantec cries wolf with misplaced Mac OS X ‘security’ warning – March 23, 2005
Symantec’s Mac OS X claims dismissed as nonsense, FUD – March 22, 2005
Symantec warns about Mac OS X security threat – March 21, 2005
Apple’s Mac OS X is virus-free – March 18, 2005
68,736 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – March 12, 2005
Microsoft tries to turn its own security flaw into commercial gain – February 25, 2005
Cybersecurity advisor Clarke questions why anybody would buy from Microsoft – February 18, 2005
Microsoft’s Gates espouses homogenous operating system environments for better security – February 07, 2005
Windows’ mounting security problems make some consumers eager to purchase Macs – January 03, 2005
Windows Media songs and videos found to carry Windows malware payloads – December 30, 2004
Anzae/Inzae worm affects all Windows versions after 3.1; Macintosh unaffected – December 28, 2004
Unlike Windows users, Mac OS X users surf the Internet without a care in the world – December 28, 2004
Multiple unpatched Windows holes crop up; Windows systems compromised within minutes in experiment – December 24, 2004
Windows spyware mess is out of control, get a Mac and surf with impunity – December 21, 2004
New Microsoft Internet Explorer exploit spoofs Web sites on fully patched Windows XP systems – December 17, 2004
Microsoft may charge extra for Windows spyware protection software – December 16, 2004
Detroit Free Press: Windows malware problem getting worse, it’s time to get a Mac instead – December 16, 2004
Sick of spyware, adware headaches? Get a Mac and surf the Internet freely – December 13, 2004
Mossberg: Windows PCs plagued with problems, Apple’s Mac is ‘rock solid, elegant and affordable’ – December 09, 2004
Security expert: Don’t use Microsoft Windows, Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer – December 09, 2004
Security test: Windows XP system easily compromised while Apple’s Mac OS X stands safe and secure – November 30, 2004
Sick of spyware, adware infecting your PC? Don’t fret, just get a Mac – November 01, 2004
Microsoft: The safest way to run Windows is on your Mac – October 08, 2004
Spyware plagues Windows users while Mac users surf Net with impunity – November 01, 2004
Ballmer blames Windows users for not upgrading systems as Microsoft’s biggest security problem – October 22, 2004
Windows users line up to pay for spyware removal; Mac users surf Web with impunity – October 18, 2004
Microsoft: The safest way to run Windows is on your Mac – October 08, 2004
Windows users’ security woes spark interest in Apple’s secure Mac OS X – October 06, 2004
Windows desktop monopoly threatened by secure, safe Apple Mac OS X – October 04, 2004
Even Bill Gates can’t avoid Windows malware; Mac users surf the Web freely – October 03, 2004
Cyber-security adviser uses Apple Macintosh to avoid Windows’ security woes – September 27, 2004
Information Security Investigator says switch from Windows to Mac OS X for security – September 24, 2004
Mossberg: Apple iMac G5 ‘powerful, affordable, virus-free with better, more modern OS than Windows XP’ – September 23, 2004
USA Today: people are switching from Windows to Mac because of security issues – September 21, 2004
Windows besieged by hackers; number of Windows viruses soars by more than 400% – September 20, 2004
USA Today columinst angry about Windows viruses, adware, spyware – September 15, 2004
University of Chicago recommends all students patch Windows at least once a day – September 14, 2004
Windows XP worm speaks to users as it deletes their files; Macintosh unaffected – September 13, 2004
Security is top priority in Apple’s Mac OS X – September 12, 2004
Millions of Windows PC’s hijacked by hackers, turned into zombies; Macintosh unaffected – September 08, 2004
Mossberg: Dump your Windows machine and get an Apple Macintosh to free yourself of spyware – August 25, 2004
Tired of patching patches to patch Windows patches? Writer suggests getting a Mac – August 03, 2004
Windows ‘Scob’ virus designed to steal financial data, passwords; Macintosh unaffected – June 26, 2004
Gartner: Worms jack up the total cost of Microsoft Windows – May 07, 2004
Spyware, adware plague Windows users online; Mac OS X users surf freely – April 19, 2004
SmartMoney: Long-suffering Windows users can only dare to dream of Mac’s ease-of-use – February 12, 2004
Mac OS X has no viruses; what’s wrong with Windows? – February 11, 2004
Gates: Windows ‘by far the most secure’ system; tries to use ‘Mac OS X secure through obscurity’ myth – January 27, 2004
Columnist tries the ‘security through obscurity’ myth to defend Windows vs. Macs on virus front – October 1, 2003
New York Times: Mac OS X ‘much more secure than Windows XP’ – September 18, 2003
Wall Street Journal’s Mossberg on making the switch from Windows to Mac – September 18, 2003
Fortune columnist: ‘get a Mac’ to thwart viruses; right answer for the wrong reasons – September 02, 2003
Shattering the Mac OS X ‘security through obscurity’ myth – August 28, 2003
Is Mac OS X really inherently more secure than Windows? – August 26, 2003
Chicago Sun-Times columnist: Windows ‘many holes in its security’ but ‘none of my Macs have ever been affected – August 26, 2003
Sick of worms and viruses? ‘Move to Mac OS X’ suggests Chicago Tribune columnist – August 25, 2003
Virus and worm problems not just due to market share; Windows inherently insecure vs. Mac OS X – August 24, 2003
Never heard of RAM being called a “lubricant” before.
Hmm…
OK, MDN makes some good points. I often wonder if anyone at MDN (not including readers) ever writes to the authors of these articles and tells them where they are wrong, or do you leave that up to your readers? I believe that MDN has a better vantage point from which to write. You have all of the articles to back up your claims, and you are less likely to use vulger language when writing.
Go get em MDN.
IT seems that this writer, Bertloucci, got kick-backs or staigth up paid by Norton anti-virus
Please Bertloucci show us, direct us and lead us to these rare virues for MAC OSX
LOL
wow! what a crock!.. why doesn’t he provide any examples of successful attacks on the mac os platform.. why? damn it.. I guess rhetoric is worth something.
hmm.. what was that article for, anyway, it was pure approximation and suggestion. woohoo!
throw in some mistruths, lies and fairy tales, add a couple cheques signed “Big Bad Ballmer” and all of a sudden, Mac users are running to the stores picking up “Norton Why are You Buying This 2005”
I hope Best Buy’s still got a few left…
*door slams..
You’re all full of shit… especially you MDN!!
I found my new G5 had a virus on it!!
Internet Explorer…
No security software ? How about a properly configured firewall ? How about parental controls that prevent access to the kind of sites that might have nasty stuff on there, or restrict email to only a few select people ?
Personally I don’t run any anti-virus software. If I pass on a virus in an email to a PC user, that’s their lookout.
Actually I recently discovered that my firewall was completely turned off. I think this probably happened during some update that switched off brickhouse. So I was 24×7 on broadband with no firewall and I’ve still not had any problems on my Mac.
Wish I could infect her PC.
@ mike, on Panther RE: “”Norton Why are You Buying This 2005″”
Never heard that one. LOL!
Yo! I need some more lubricant for these widgets!
MDN Magic word: soviet no joke!
hey, anybody know where I can get a free cannabis screensaver
can anyone send me a virus
I want one so BAD
“Note: Mac OS X users who care should use a virus protection application to avoid passing viruses along that could infect Windows PCs.”
I personally would like to send out viruses to all the people I hate who use PCs, for being on my ‘bad list’ and for being dumb enough to use a PC without virus protection.
Actually at our school, virus software (Symantec) is given away for free and you are even encouraged to install it on all your other home computers. Sure they have a Mac version, but I’ve never heard of anyone downloading it.
DUMP TRUCKS – waaaaahahaha….
That’s the best name for a $500 PC I’ve ever heard,
Spread the word people! We should always use the term to mean cheap PC anytime the subject comes up.
HELP! I HAVE A RARE MAC VIRUS! I CAN NO LONGER TYPE LOWER CASE LETTERS!!! OH, Wait a minute, I had the CAPS LOCK on, nevermind.
Oh by the way.. a small item of note..
The MAC MINI IS FOR SWITCHERS DUMBASS
Buying a Mac mini and then buying a keyboard separately and a monitor, and a mouse.. is rarely an intelligent buy. Get an eMac for the most affordable Mac on earth. The Mini would be for switchers who already have the peripherals..
But the PC press knew that, it was repeated a billion times when the mini was launched; they’re just pretending to be stupid.
And the Oscare goes to…
I bought a mini- to complement my 3 other Macs. They are not just for switchers. Put 1GB of RAM in it ($101 @ NewEgg) and it hums along quite nicely.
If you understand how anti-virus software works you’ll understand why
it makes NO sense to run anti-virus software on a Mac.
Anti-virus software relies on virus definition files to tell the
anti-virus software what to watch out for. They can’t write a virus
definition file until they have a virus to examine. The definition
file is used to describe the characteristics of a particular virus.
Since there are currently no viruses for the Mac, there are no virus
definition files available that describe what a Mac virus would look
like. Until there is a virus for the Mac (a situation I doubt will
ever occur) there is no way for anyone to create a virus definition
file for it.
Not until sometime *after* a virus for the Mac comes along and someone
identifies it, examines it, and produces a virus definition file for
it will the anti-virus software do any good.
That being the case, I don’t understand why anyone runs it on their
Mac today. Even if a virus does come along, your anti-virus software
won’t detect it. Not until *after* you’ve updated your virus
definition files. Since that’s the case, why not just wait until the
time comes? Believe me, when and if it ever does, we’ll all hear
about it.
I found my new G5 had a virus on it!!
Internet Explorer…
… no less than the electronic equivalent of the Ebola Virus.
What about this?
…We were less thrilled with AppleWorks, a package of word-processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software that’s harder to use than comparable Windows programs. (For instance, Microsoft Works 8.0, which comes with the eMachines PC, has a better tutorial feature to help you through complex tasks.) If you want to move files from Windows PCs to the Mac, you may need special software to change their formats to make them Mac-compatible.”
Jimbo-
good point.
But for readers who wish to respond as well, Kiplingers.com has a LOVELY feedback section (follow links from “full article here”, to Jeff’s name, and CLICK!).
For instance, I would guess that KIPLINGER’S oughtta be upset that thier normally good standard would be compromised by a writer, even if because of such technicalities as FACTS.
A letter might go something like….
…re: Jeff Bertolucci’s “The $500 PC”.
Kiplinger’s should be embarrased.
Virus’? MacIntosh? (Apple computers?)
Really. Name one.
You suggest MAC users should install a program such as Norton or Symantec anti-virus.
WHICH virus definitions would those companies include? (Hint-0, the total # of viruses for Mac OSX (a Unix based environment with a Mac interface) taht have “been written for Macs” in the past 5 years.
Windows? Do a ggogle search.
Incidntally, NO special software is required to transfer MS Word (or any) docs- from PC to Mac, in fact the latest variant of MS OFFICE was written, by Microsoft, for MAC.
If your magazine was so widely mistaken on this one subject- what other topics are shoddily researched?
(thanks for the ideas by the posters, here)
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jcw: right on the money.
Anti-virus programs on OS X will NOT save you from the first virus (if it ever comes). They only save you from passing Windows viruses to PCs.
End of story.
If your Mac is not in a networked environment money spent on anti-virus sw is money thrown out to Windows
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“The Mac mini, however, doesn’t come with security software. Why? Apple says it doesn’t need it, which is a bit of hubris”
When did Apple ever make this statement?
I’ve run the sophos anti-virus on an apple and it found a trojan hourse and one virus. So things like that do exist in mac comunity, mac lovers are just too dull to admit it because they are too in love with their apple.
The only thing is that apple is a business, and they do rip you off as much as all the other businesses, so whats the point to be so sad and praise apple like god?
“(For instance, Microsoft Works 8.0, which comes with the eMachines PC, has a better tutorial feature to help you through complex tasks.)”
I used to HATE that on the old version of MS Works I had in my PC days. Darned thing would not let me start with a blank page no matter how I tried!