“Apple has been selling a lot of computers to former Windows users this year. At least 1 million buyers switched from Windows to new Macintoshes in the last nine months, according to an analyst for the financial forecasting firm Needham & Co.,” Al Fasoldt writes for The Syracuse Post-Standard. “Apple’s clearly on a roll. Yet the reasons many Windows users cite for switching to an Apple computer greater online safety and freedom from viruses and spyware haven’t convinced some others. Many Windows users are worried about finding software to replace their familiar programs. Others say they are wondering if Apple’s computers will soon be just as dangerous as Windows PCs; after all, they say, wouldn’t the virus and spyware writers go after Macs, too, someday?”
Fasoldt covers some basics, such as Mac OS X vs. older, now-discontinued versions of Mac operating systems, and also writes, “As of now, there are no viruses or spyware for OS X. There are, however, two dozen viruses for the discontinued Mac OS operating system. This is why you’ll sometimes hear about ‘Macintosh viruses’ if this important distinction isn’t made. A Mac OS virus can’t infect an OS X Macintosh. No one has yet reported spyware for OS X, either. Sophos, an anti-virus firm, has counted 103,000 active Windows viruses. Spyware totals are unknown, but the math is frightening; 30,000 Windows PCs are infected each day by zombies alone, according to Symantec. What will happen if the bad guys start targeting OS X? Not much. Unlike Windows, Mac OS X does not allow programs to take over central operations of the computer, nor does it let a program (or even a user) install software without permission.”
Full article here.
For more useful information for switchers, read The Wall Street Journal’s highly-respected technology guru Walt Mossberg’s recent article, “Tempted by the Apple?” and, of course, Apple’s “Switch” pages here: http://www.apple.com/switch/
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Related articles:
16-percent of computer users are unaffected by viruses, malware because they use Apple Macs – June 15, 2005
Survey shows Apple Macs owned by nearly 10 percent of US small and medium-sized businesses – February 17, 2005
More people use Apple Macs than you think; 8-12 percent of homes use Macs – March 31, 2004
10 percent of computer users use a Mac; 3 percent is Mac’s approximate quarterly market share – February 10, 2004
Syracuse Post-Standard: 3 percent is a false stat; Mac holds ’10 to 12 percent of the market for PCs – August 27, 2003
Apple’s Mac OS X, Safari web browser show market share gains – December 03, 2005
Want to switch to Mac? Mossberg answers common questions – November 10, 2005
Why people are switching from Microsoft’s Windows to Apple’s Mac OS X – November 09, 2005
Windows PC retailers face tough holiday season, meanwhile Apple stores are packed as Mac sales surge – November 09, 2005
Analyst estimates over a million Windows to Mac switchers during 2005’s first three quarters – November 07, 2005
Windows sufferers: It’s not your fault, but it is your problem – switch to Mac – November 07, 2005
Tech writer: Windows PCs highly vulnerable to zombie hijacking; get an Apple Mac instead – November 06, 2005
Windows switchers, now’s your chance: Apple Mac mini with Mac OS X Tiger for $379 – November 03, 2005
Computer columnist: anti-virus software purely optional for Apple Macs, not so for Windows – November 01, 2005
Microsoft apologists and why Apple’s Mac OS X has zero viruses – October 24, 2005
MacGrumpy:
This is really serious. We are getting new users to the Mac world. A few are not savvy and do not realize legitimate corporations are trying to highjack our right and IMHO violate our right to privacy.
Think about the damage to the Mac reputation when new users become infected with the spyware AND the MS press gets a hold of this. The headlines will be all over the fact that spyware IS on Mac’s and they’ll try to take away one of the strongest arguments abut Mac OSX – safety.
Col. Angus:
Thanks for the suggestion, but all of the articles I have found just say it exists for Mac’s. There are more articles about the effects, removal, etc for the PC/MS side. Do you know of any actual articles about the spyware for the Mac?
MacDailyNews:
We need someone to push this and get it out inn the open. As we get converts there will be greater risk that someone will unknowingly get infected. We just need a few to cause FUD and we will lose the press war that we are safer to use than MS Windows.
We need a repository of information in one place to educate and prevent this from exploding negatively against OSX.
MacDailyNews: Help!!
Cherry Picker:
Didn’t Walt Mossberg tell us that the iMac G5 is the best consumer desktop available?
Wall Street Journal: relatively unknown too?
Why does it matter that small people recognize how great the Mac is? At least the ones who are really big recognize it too.
I’m tired of Windows.
Hey Cherry Picker – the PC can have all the geewiz hardware you can stuff in to that big beige box. With all of the viruses, spyware and that blue screen of death Windows users get the privilege of, it’s nothing more than a boat anchor if it’s not functional.
I’ll keep my Mac and get some work done. That’s real computing power.
Didn’t Walt Mossberg tell us that the iMac G5 is the best consumer desktop available?
Wall Street Journal: relatively unknown too?
Wall Street Journal: I read it daily for financial news on this and other world markets, not hardware reviews. Of course, if you need someone to “tell you” what determines the best consumer desktop based on pure subjectivity, then no wonder drones like you fall head over heels for MDN’s cherry picking….and it seems MDN’s cherry picking is all you refer to spread this FUD.
You think Apple would have included The New York Times roundup of desktops/laptops?
Pound for pound, Apple Macintosh systems are still pricier than many PC’s. The recently introduced Mac Mini, which lists for $500 to $700, is only a good deal if you already own a monitor. The DVD-burning eMac is a surprise bargain at just under $1,000. For iBooks, the performance sweet spot is around $1,300; for iMacs, it’s more, about $1,500.
http://tech2.nytimes.com/mem/technology/techreview.html?res=9400E5D71E3FF930A3575BC0A9639C8B63
And while CNet certainly thinks the iMac G5 is an outstanding machine, it is not “best of breed” as MDN’s cherry picking would have you believe.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Apple_iMac_G5_2_1GHz_20_inch/4540-3118_7-31556109-4.html?tag=sub
A similarly priced PC yields a far more powerful processor (Athlon FX-57) and graphics card (7800 GTX) with much more flexibility. MDN likes to manipulate perceptions with “try pricing a PC with similar iMac options…”, well do exactly the same for the iMac.
“Hey Cherry Picker – the PC can have all the geewiz hardware you can stuff in to that big beige box. With all of the viruses, spyware and that blue screen of death Windows users get the privilege of, it’s nothing more than a boat anchor if it’s not functional.”
And it’s absurd rehashed garbage statements like that above with no substance and 100% ignorance (blue screen of death? LOL) that keeps people like you the laughing stock of the rest the world. Leave it to mac zealots to overemphasize “virii and malware” beyond the threat they actually pose, since any PC with basic security measures easily solves that problem. You should pay more attention to your OSX security flaws that need patching every few weeks.
I don’t buy my computing eXPerience by the pound.
I see that the M$ Zealots do.
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Speaking of ‘basic security measures’; is it possible to not boot into Admin/Root while booting-up XP the very first time?
Will the novice/intermediate/pro-XP owner, intuitively know this?
Is it possible that much of Windows troubles – which are VERY REAL too many people – is caused by the fact that clever virus writers use this continuing flaw in Windows OSes to create havoc? Or, is this an urban legend fabricated by the MS/Hater-MacZealot Jihad?
Anyone with “basic security measures” would suggest the latter. Virii vulnerability in windows is a non-issue for anyone running a basic firewall/anti-virus app. Windows by default will enable firewall and remind you persistently to install an AV program if connected to the net. Annoying? Yes. Bothersome enough to abandon the PC world for an inferior hardware platform with far less flexibility? No, and no amount of mac zealot doom and gloom will change that for most people.
Go to any general PC forum. Mention virii vulnerability and many will simply laugh and exploit the obvious bias you insist upon perpetuating. It is a mountain out of a mole hill issue for people like yourselves. PERIOD.
The real threat these days arent viruses, its “ad supported” apps (spyware) that exists for both platforms, and even worse security flaws…..something which OSX has in spades:
http://news.com.com/Apple+releases+OS+X+security+patches/2100-1002_3-5976718.html
Oh, you MS Apologists make me laugh.
[inferior hardware platform]
The ‘Official IT-Endorsed REAL Business Computer’, who’s main feature is that it has a greater selection of video cards – too play FSCKING video games. For several years now, the few differences between a Mac and WinPC have been OS and video cards. Nearly everthing else hardware-wise is the same. Ferchristsakes, even you’re beloved two-button mouse is supported on a Mac.
[Go to any general PC forum. Mention virii vulnerability and many will simply laugh and exploit the obvious bias you insist upon perpetuating.]
Why go there, when I can be amused by the desperate WinPC bias from the likes of you, here. You MS-FreedomFighters are here EVERY day trying to convert us. I think the only thing I could learn there, would be how many successful conversions any one of you had. Are you close to earning your free MS Toaster?
[(spyware) that exists for both platforms]
Name ONE Mac OSX spyware. Please, don’t make-up something. And FWIW, repeating that fiction — ad infinitum — won’t make it come true.
Oh BTW, you’re link is cute, but a wasted effort at diversion. MS ‘patches’ dozens and dozens of flaws every month – hardly equal. But, what’s most important here is there are still ZERO exploits for OSX. NOT BECAUSE IT’S NOT POSSIBLE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS FAR, FAR MORE DIFFICULT. (Or, maybe it’s your market-share excuse – whatever, huh?)
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with some clever side-stepping of this point — for a second time.
Anyway, the MacUsers that you so vilify aren’t as clueless as you’d like everyone – including US – to think we are.
Oh, you MS Apologists make me laugh.
As do you loyal mac cultists
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The ‘Official IT-Endorsed REAL Business Computer’, who’s main feature is that it has a greater selection of video cards – too play FSCKING video games. For several years now, the few differences between a Mac and WinPC have been OS and video cards. Nearly everthing else hardware-wise is the same. Ferchristsakes, even you’re beloved two-button mouse is supported on a Mac.
Wrong. There’s been HUGE differences other than OS and graphics cards, ferchristsakes. Apple’s been playing the catchup game for some time now, for reasons not entirely at Apple’s fault, in CPU, memory, chipsets, buses, etc…
For you to dismiss suc glaring differences is an exercise of pure ignorance and bias. AMD quietly steamrolled ahead while Apple published distorted benchmarks (as usual) to maintain an illusionary lead over its x86 counterparts. AMD introduced integrated memory controllers with DDR2 support nearly a year after its debut, while Apple stubbornly stuch with 400Mhz DDR1. Workstation graphics excelled with PCI express slots (not just gaming). Only now is Apple just beginning to catch up. And as far as quality, Apple has still to match specific aspects found on PC’s (I wouldnt have any other chipset other than Nforce4).
Why go there, when I can be amused by the desperate WinPC bias from the likes of you, here. You MS-FreedomFighters are here EVERY day trying to convert us. I think the only thing I could learn there, would be how many successful conversions any one of you had. Are you close to earning your free MS Toaster?
Blind zealots like yourself need sites with bias like MDN, reality must be a bitter pill to swallow for you, my friend.
Name ONE Mac OSX spyware. Please, don’t make-up something. And FWIW, repeating that fiction — ad infinitum — won’t make it come true.
Don’t get too comfortable…
he SANS Institute last week issued its list of the Top 20 vulnerabilities across all operating systems, including details of what it considers to be critical vulnerabilities in Mac OS X. The company wrote: “Although Mac OS X has security features implemented out of the box such as built-in personal firewall, un-necessary services turned off by default and easy ways to increase the OS security, the user still faces many vulnerabilities.”
The SANS Institute also took Apple to task for not being more specific when issuing patches, thus keeping them from identifying which parts of the operating system are most vulnerable. The firm noted that the Safari Web browser contains “multiple vulnerabilities … and in certain cases exploit code has also been posted publicly.”
http://www.macobserver.com/article/2005/11/29.15.shtml
Oh BTW, you’re link is cute, but a wasted effort at diversion. MS ‘patches’ dozens and dozens of flaws every month – hardly equal. But, what’s most important here is there are still ZERO exploits for OSX. NOT BECAUSE IT’S NOT POSSIBLE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS FAR, FAR MORE DIFFICULT. (Or, maybe it’s your market-share excuse – whatever, huh?)
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with some clever side-stepping of this point — for a second time.
Anyway, the MacUsers that you so vilify aren’t as clueless as you’d like everyone – including US – to think we are.
Zero exploits, eh? I suppose there were zero exploits right before the last security update too, eh…that magically appeared right when Apple posted the patch? I guess Apple will never release a security update in the future, eh?
Talk about clueless.
…the user still faces many vulnerabilities…
…The firm noted that the Safari Web browser contains “multiple vulnerabilities…
…I suppose there were zero exploits right before the last security update too, eh…
Nothing specific though, just conjecture. Typical FUD.
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with even more clever side-stepping of this point — for a THIRD time.
Blind zealots like yourself need sites with bias like CNET, reality must be a bitter pill to swallow for you, my friend. You’ll surely make Symantec richer while you eat your milk and toast.
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with even more clever side-stepping of this point — for a THIRD time.
What exactly is your point here? Explain yourself here, and back it up. Windows gives the option to create non-Admin accounts prior to initial startup.
Nothing specific though, just conjecture. Typical FUD.
Blind zealots like yourself need sites with bias like CNET, reality must be a bitter pill to swallow for you, my friend. You’ll surely make Symantec richer while you eat your milk and toast.
That coming from a self proclaimed mac zealot LOL, residing on probably the most biased Mac site on the planet.
Your arguments concerning Apple’s lag behind the technology curve fell apart, that’s why you’ve conveniently ignored them (after an attempt to downplay). Typical mac zealot denial mode.
And speaking of FUD, you conveniently dismiss all of OSX’s security risks (that even Apple deem critical), as your first sentence clearly shows, all the while clinging on to every minor Windows flaw as gospel. Typical mac zealot making mountains out of molehills.
As of TODAY, name ONE virus that will infect a PC with a basic firewall, and with Norton AV running in the background.
My use of the ‘handle’ MacZealot, was meant to caricaturize and spotlight what you MS Apologists already ‘label’ ALL Mac users. I know it’s difficult for you to recall – what with all your hatred for Apple; Macs and MacUsers – but YOU used the term ‘maczealot’ in your post directly preceding my initial post.
The use of sarcasm is lost on many folks. Don’t feel bad.
And FWIW, you are far too belligerent to actually carry out a debate with. I began my dialog with you, asking some simple questions. You avoided them with feable equivocatation, and demands that I answer to you.
BTW, I’m not personally offended that you PREFER WinPCs, but your reasons for not liking Macs are all artifice.
Maybe I’ll have a debate with your next persona.