“The December issue of Consumer Reports magazine features Apple’s new iMac G5 on the front cover along with the caption, “Unspectacular results for Intel’s new processor. Plus 59,940 reasons to reconsider Macs. “Inside the issue, Consumer Reports writes, ” In this atmosphere of low expectations, Apple Computer has actually raised its support satisfaction for desktop computers over the past three years to levels well above all competitors, while offering the most reliable desktop hardware. […] Another factor working in Apple’s favor: Macs are vulnerable to few viruses and little spyware because both target mostly Windows-based users,” MacNN reports.
Full article here.
Memo
To: IBM
Increase your yields. A lot.
Steve.
I have been a Mac user since 1984. In all that time I have only been hit by 1 virus. Although I cannot recall, I was probably running Mac OS 8.1 or maybe even a 7.x. My antivirus software picked it up immediately…a klaxon type audible alarm went off, and I immediately deleted the infected file. I remember that because the alarm scared the bejeezus out of me.
That being said, colleagues of mine using various flavors of Wintel boxes wrestle with malware (virus/worm/trojans/spyware) on a seemingly never ending cycle.
I still use AV software on my Mac (OS X 10.3.5). I keep up to date with Security Updates, run routine backups, never enable root, almost never run admin account (system maintenance only), run my main account in standard user mode, never install dl’d software system wide, and finally only surf trusted sites. If I must surf to an untrusted site, I am lucky enough to be able to do so on another mac box, that does not have network access (I suppose you could also enable another user account for general web surfing, limiting that account’s privileges).
It’s getting to be a very dangerous world for computer users. Yes, Mac’s are more secure, but they are not invulnerable.
zac
User since 1984 – Only two viruses for me. nVirus and WDEF. Come to think of it, I don’t recall any of the “Classic” viruses being malicious. Although there were probably one or two.
I challenge windows users to remember the names of all the viruses they caught over the years.
Having worked for one of the world’s top 20 Mac using companies some years ago (they are now all Wintel and dealing with viruses all the time) we never had a virus problem.
In fact, I dont recall anyone ever getting one despite having more than 4000 machines deployed all over the world
GOD DOG – ummm….. educate-yourself dot com is talking about constructing practical counteractive devices to prevent mind control from cell phone towers… somebody’s got a screw loose on their gyroscope.
The security through obscurity argument doesn’t wash- because Apple’s share of viruses isn’t even close to proportionate with their market share.
If we go by numbers posted by “mike” Apple has 5% of the users of MSOSs and OSX has 3%.
So if 60,000 viruses is right, all of Apple’s share should be
3000 viruses for all Macs
1800 viruses for OSX
And we all know that number isn’t even close. All Apple OSs have 2% of the viruses you might expect, just going by market share numbers.
OSX has 0% of the 1800 viruses you would expect.