“Technology commentator Bill Thompson is worried about the lack of herd immunity among his fellow Apple Mac users,” Thje BBC News web site states.
“These days Apple users are almost unbearably smug when the subject turns to malware. I was invited to appear on Radio Four’s You and Yours this week to talk about viruses and other malware and our focus was on issues with Windows since it is the most commonly used operating system,” Thompson writes for BBC News. “After the show we got dozens of e-mails from complacent Mac users pointing out that they were safe and suggesting that people simply abandon Windows if they want to be secure.”
“Mac users demonstrate an indefensible smugness when it comes to the dangers of having their systems compromised by malicious software and opened up to exploitation by others
It would certainly be wonderful if the Macintosh computer and its operating system were immune to attack but this is just wishful thinking. Mac OS is certainly a lot better than Windows, but being better isn’t nearly enough,” Thompson writes. “Mac OS may not have the gaping holes that let viruses spread, but worms, spyware and even keyloggers are out there. They can’t spread as easily, and most would only be installed by a careless user clicking ‘Accept’ on a dodgy install dialog, but the regular stream of security fixes from Apple’s software update service makes it clear that there are real dangers. After all, Mac OS is built on top of the Unix operating system and it, like its close relative Linux, has many well-known security problems that can allow it to be compromised.”
“There may not be any Mac viruses at the moment, and the way the system handles user accounts and security means that they are unlikely, but we need to take steps to safeguard ourselves against other malicious software. As things stand, the Mac community has no herd immunity because most users seem to assume that they don’t need to take preventive action,” Thompson writes. “The Mac ships with a good firewall, and it should be used. There are tools to scan your system for known malicious programs or to check whether it has been hacked into, and they should be used too. Mac users demonstrate an indefensible smugness when it comes to the dangers of having their systems compromised by malicious software and opened up to exploitation by others. It’s time they started behaving a bit more responsibly.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take:
By SteveJack
Another boring “Mac OS X warning” in a stream of articles from various sources that just magically seem to pop up following a severe, long-standing, and stupid Microsoft Windows critical vulnerability. Without accusing Thompson, are some of these articles mere coincidence? Misdirection plays? Writers with nothing original to say? A bit of electrical fence to keep the herd contained? Without hearing the Radio Four program, I’ll assume Thompson and Co. failed to mention that the viruses and malware they were talking about all affected Windows. I’ll also assume that they never made mention of the Mac option, which is probably why Mac users emailed them. I would’ve done so, too.
Yes, Mac OS X users, use your firewall. Use your processor cycles to run AV software to protect Windows users against themselves, if that floats your boat. Don’t run as root. And, yes, don’t act smugly if you don’t want other to consider you smug.
While I’m at it, don’t be smug either, fish, of your immunity to fire – if a volcano happens to explode under the sea and less than .0000000000000000001% of you fish get burned, well, you won’t be such smug fish then, will you? Quick somebody ring up The Beeb! Fish smugness due to fire immunity needs to be highlighted in order to make other so-easily-burnable species feel better about themselves. Smug fish everywhere should be fitted with asbestos suits. Who cares if they can’t swim as fast in protective suits, or that they’re really not at risk? They’ll be safe from an underwater volcano fire and they won’t be so damn smug!
The analogy almost works, except in the Windows vs. Mac case — unlike the fish vs. burnable life forms idea — the “herd” actually has a choice to be safe from fire without wearing a protective suit, and 85% of them still make the wrong choice! Straight into the inferno they walk, clad with torn and ineffective protection, mainly because they have a herd mentality. Actually, to blame them for making the wrong “choice” is incorrect; most don’t know they even have a choice.* They’d instantly fertilize the pasture if they were actually told that tens of millions of people happily use Apple’s Mac OS X machines daily without AV software “protecting” them and without a care in the world. The herd would probably fall over sideways if you told them that many Mac users are 100% Microsoft-free.
The herd line up to get burned because:
• they’re worried that they won’t be able to get “free” (pirated) software from their office and friends if they get a Mac (since the rest of the herd has Windows)
• they don’t know they even have a choice*
• their company has shortsightedly shackled themselves and their workers with some Windows-only software
• they use their computers for games
• they believe the myths (no software, too expensive, incompatible)
• they’re too cheap for their own good
• they think the blue “e” is the Internet
• they can’t believe Mac machines have been virus-free for half a decade and counting and, when they see pieces like Thompson’s, they feel better about owning Windows machines, even though they didn’t choose Windows.* As they skim Thompson’s piece, you can almost hear them exclaim, “Oh, Macs are vulnerable, too! Whew! I just knew it couldn’t be true that they had no viruses.”
I’ve surfed the Internet and have gone to any website I damn well pleased for over half a decade on Mac OS X machines without any antivirus software installed. I have not had one virus or bit of spyware that affected my Mac OS X machine. If that makes me “smug,” so be it; my “smugness” is completely defensible. And if some of us Mac users do get a Mac OS X virus that magically propagates without requiring the user’s permission to install and actually is harmful to Mac OS X users’ data, then it will be one (1) Mac OS X virus to Windows’ 100,000+. I, for one, will still be “smug.” Although, after the mainstream (Windows-centric) tech media are finished with it, you’ll think it was a tie game at best for the Mac.
*Mac users almost invariably have used Windows (at work, at the very least) and, yet, they choose to purchase Macs with their hard-earned money. Very few Windows users have used both Windows XP and Mac OS X. Those that have, of course, are most likely Mac users now. Most people have not consciously chosen Windows over Mac, many aren’t even aware there is a choice to make.
SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.
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Related MacDailyNews articles:
97,467 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – April 05, 2005
BBC= Big Bloody Con.
This ‘article’ by Bill ‘Idiot’ Thompson looks like it was written in 1998.
My Magic Word should be pathetic, but in fact it is beyond.
Like the song goes,
“It’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in everyway…”
MDN SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.
And Bill Thompson is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the BBC Technology section.
This guy is on our side. The article comes down to “Keep your Macs up to date with patches”. What’s the problem?
In the original programme – a very boring consumer affairs magazine that I was unfortunate enough to catch on the car radio – this bloke (and a couple of others) waffled on and on about the terrible security problems faced by computer users. I never heard them mention Macs and they certainly implied that all computers were vulnerable. Presumably ‘one or two’ Mac users subsequently sent some messages to the programme’s editors and this is their very defensive response. Rather typical of certain sections of the BBC, I’m afraid.
BBC is the epitome of SMUG, with a pinko tinge.
Dave H,
It’s as SteveJack stated. The problem is: “Another boring ‘Mac OS X warning’ in a stream of articles from various sources that just magically seem to pop up following a severe, long-standing, and stupid Microsoft Windows critical vulnerability.”
Bullshit. If he’s so pro Mac then, why does he stoop to insult Mac users everywhere? It’s that sort of backhanded journalism that causes people to have a major problem.
It’s not called being “smug,” it’s called being realistic. It’s a fact that Mac users don’t have to worry about security like Windows users do. If that ever changes, then we’ll address it again at that time.
But for now, Mac OS X has been going strong for 5 1/2 years now without a single virus in sight…and that’s a hard and true fact, not an arrogant claim.
MDN has done it again! I just read this article on the BBC website, and I feel that Thompson full of hot wind.
The reason I say this is because these hackers and crackers love to cause a lot of trouble and such. They go after easy targets and Windows is very vulnerable.
The question is where are ANY Mac viruses, spy ware and such? Where?
Seems that someone would write a virus for the Mac to show everyone how clever they are and how vulnerable us Mac users are.
Our computers here get port scanned every minute of the day from overseas, yet we have NO security problems in the form of break-ins, viruses or what ever.
Are Mac users smug about security? Damn right and with good reason.
Mr. Thompson, where or where is your proof?
You can hear the original programme here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/02/2006_02_thu.shtml
You know, I’ve only been using a Mac since the early 90s. I still leave my machine on all night long & I surf the web with no problems. But saying this, I don’t wanna sound like an idiot, but what are Viruses/infections/spyware/trojans/adware? And if it’s such a big problem, why do so many people like it? If I brought a new car & the wheels were wobbly, I would want it fixed, or my money back. Then, if they couldn’t fix it, I seek an alternative. What is up with these people who can’t speak up & except the wobbly wheel?
As a former Windows user, and almost total Mac convert, I somewhat agree with Thompson, and with SteveJack.
So far, we Mac users have had it really good. Yes, I surf the web with nary a care in the world. I use my Mac to do things, not to run scans daily or weekly. At work I finally convinced my boss to get me a PowerMac G5 and Virtual PC so I can still support the Windows users on our ISP. Even the versions of Windows I run on my G5 are safer than the most secured versions running on a Dell box or custom machine. I think Mac users in general feel more than a little vindication when we hear the constant complaints from our Windows using friends, especially after they rail on us for our “stupid choice” of buying a Mac. So if we feel a little smug, yeah, it’s our right. We’ve earned it.
But Thompson is partially right. Yes, someday someone is going to come up with some ingenius way to infect Mac OS X. They may even figure out a way to get it to spread from Mac to Mac, maybe even through Windows Machines to Macs..but so far, it hasn’t happened. SteveJack is correct that this would still be 1 OS X virus compared to nearly 100,000 Windows maladies. It’s a situation that is still 100,000 times safer than Windows. The Mac community is one of the most unique I’ve ever belonged to. When there is a problem, we’re a tight knit group, and solutions start coming in from all corners, if we know where to look. If there ever was a real virus, the news would spread through the Mac using community faster than the virus itself. Herd immunity? Not exactly, but it’s more like “Family Ties”. But we shouldn’t get complacent. We’re supposedly the smartest computers users, aren’t we? We should continue to act smart.
There is no need for Mac users to purchase any Anti-virus software yet. There are free OS X virus scan tools for us, ClamX comes to mind. Why should we keep Windows users safe? Because sometimes the problems that are caused by Windows machines can affect Mac users too. If a Windows based DDoS attack takes out your ISP, it doesn’t matter if you’re running Windows, Linux, Unix, or Mac OS…you’re not going to get online. If it takes out Amazon or Ebay or another online site you like to shop at, no one, no matter what OS you run, will be able to get to it. If some infected Windows computer gets your Email address, even though you’re a Mac user, you’ll still get flooded with Spam or Rejection notices from postmasters.
It’s a small thing for us to do, but every little bit helps. I know some of you will say “Hey, if they’re using Windows, they deserve every problem that comes their way”, but that’s the wrong attitude to take. Yes, we can be smug about the secure nature of our OS, but not at the expense of our safety, or the stability of the Internet we use, too.
Thanks Bert, I was having trouble sleeping but 3 minutes of listening to these boring old farts sent me away to counting sheep!
As for smug, who cares? We are deservedly smug. Half the fun of having a Mac is going “nyah, nyah, nyah-nyah, nyah” to all of my Windows using friends every time a new virus or critical vulnerability comes out.
“They can’t spread as easily, and most would only be installed by a careless user clicking ‘Accept’ on a dodgy install dialog”
So it takes an act of a stupid user to actually *install* the virus/spyware/whatever. Is this expanding the definition of viruses or has Windows always fallen into this category since that is how it gets installed by morons. Oops – sorry… WIndows isn’t a virus because a virus usually works!
This one at the end is particurarly funny: ” It’s time they started behaving a bit more responsibly.”
I immediately though of Windows-users and of Microsoft itself. It is time Windows-users started behaving more responsibly by switiching to more secure systems.
It is time Microsoft started behaving more responsibly by switiching to more secure systems.
I’ve been almost 7 years on Macs and yes, Norton AntiVirus caught one tiny virus once way back in the time of Mac OS 8x. It didn’t do anything what I noticed, but it was there.
What was more serious was when Norton SystemWorks started to behave like a virus some time later! That was the only time I actually had to reinstall the system – and that taught me a lesson; shy everything Norton!
Well, that was my virus-history…
Do I sound smug? I am just referring to facts.
Hi guys and gals,
Does any one know what kind of numbers we are looking at for current OSX userbase?
Thanks
Almost 8 years, actually … how time flies!
Y’know, years ago I used to run virus software… System 6, System 7, System 8. I saw a virus ONCE, in 1991 or 1992. it became obvious that there was little reason to do so. I set up Virex to scan downloads. That was it.
I stopped bothering even under OS 9, because there was little out there to worry about. I believe that the number of reported viruses for the ENTIRE history of the Macintosh platform, BEFORE Mac OS X, was something between 50 and 60 viruses. That’s it!
yes, we Mac users ARE living happily and virus, spyware (iTunes 6.0.2?), malware free. If suddenly there are virus problems, I’m sure we’ll adapt and take proper protective measures.
Until then, I’ll laugh at Windows users who sheepishly cling to their bug and virus ridden platform of “choice”. Then, I’ll recommend they leave the miserable world of Windows and buy Macintosh.
Steve Jack: “Most people have not consciously chosen Windows over Mac, many aren’t even aware there is a choice to make.”
Apple, some advertising, please!!!
DakRoland: “Why should we keep Windows users safe? Because sometimes the problems that are caused by Windows machines can affect Mac users too. If a Windows based DDoS attack takes out your ISP, it doesn’t matter if you’re running Windows, Linux, Unix, or Mac OS…you’re not going to get online. If it takes out Amazon or Ebay or another online site you like to shop at, no one, no matter what OS you run, will be able to get to it. If some infected Windows computer gets your Email address, even though you’re a Mac user, you’ll still get flooded with Spam or Rejection notices from postmasters.”
If this happens to me, I will contact the ISP, or Amazon, or whomever, and complain about their unwise choice to use the Windows platform. But I will not protect computer users who are too stupid to practice safe computing. Let ’em buy their own electronic condoms!
MW: full. I’m full of piss and vinegar today.
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Thompson said, “I was invited to appear on Radio Four’s You and Yours this week to talk about viruses and other malware and our focus was on issues with Windows since it is the most commonly used operating system.”
Perhaps he shares some of the blame for the “smugness” he objects to and the show should have been more generic and about “security best practices” which are wise for anyone – regardless of platform – to follow. Being in the habit of security consciousness is is merely cheap insurance.
I don’t really have a problem with the thrust of his article, but the tone annoys me. If there is a problem with complacency (and I think there is), I don’t think name calling is the way to address it.
Hey MDN, stop being so smug, there is highly documented malware for MacOS X, it all came on 2005 Sony/BMG music CDs.
Still the question is: “Where is Thompson’s proof?”
If this guy knows what he’s talking about he should be able to back up what he says with the facts.
All these Mac security nay-sayers, know it alls have yet to produce ANY facts to back up their claims.
The MDN 2-cents take is longer than the article….again.
zzzzzz.
We already know the MDN take…do you have to keep repeating it over and over? Just list your links, we´ll not read them, too.
I am sick and tired of hearing that its all because of the Mac userbase. WE have damn well plenty users of the Mac OS to merit viruses, (common, even some spyware!!)
The Windows user esperiennce already sucks, but hackers make things worse for those poor people. But the Mac user experience is great; don’t you think hackers would want to ruin it by getting a virus into our systems?
It’s not because they don’t bother because we barely have a market compared to the Microsoft behemouth– but it’s because they simply can’t.
So we have a right to be “smug” about having the superior security. I’m perfectly certian that if you Windows folk had the better security, you would be equally, if not more, “smug.”
The security holes in your OS are a warning sign, make a switch to something better-