From Apple eNews, June 1, 2006:
It’s really sad that so many people have to be wary about opening email, visiting websites, chatting with presumed “buddies,” or downloading music, photos, movies or other files over the Internet.
No one should have to zealously guard their computers against spyware, viruses, trojan horses, or various other types of malware. Or run a bewildering assortment of (quickly obsolete) virus-protection apps. And no one should have to run a computer to a nearby computer store, so it can be “cleaned” on a routine basis.
Do you know why people put up with that? If their cars didn’t drive where they wanted to go; their TVs didn’t play what they wanted to watch; or their phones didn’t connect to the party they called, how long would they keep using them?
Apple provides more info online about Mac’s lack of viruses here.
By the end of 2005, there were 114,000 known viruses for PCs. In March 2006 alone, there were 850 new threats detected against Windows. Zero for Mac. While no computer connected to the Internet will ever be 100% immune from attack, Mac OS X has helped the Mac keep its clean bill of health with a superior UNIX foundation and security features that go above and beyond the norm for PCs. When you get a Mac, only your enthusiasm is contagious. – Apple’s “114,000 viruses? Not on a Mac.” webpage.
Subscribe to Apple’s free eNews: http://www.apple.com/enews/subscribe/
Read Apple’s eNews online: http://www.apple.com/enews/currenteissue/
MacDailyNews Take: Finally, Apple’s gloves are off. Let’s go!
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Related articles:
Apple Macs and viruses: Fact vs. FUD – May 26, 2006
Mossberg: Is there a virus threat for Apple Macs? – May 11, 2006
Macs and viruses: the true story – May 02, 2006
FUD Alert: Viruses don’t catch up to the Mac – May 01, 2006
Gartner: Boot Camp won’t expose Mac OS X to Windows viruses or worms – April 13, 2006
The Idiot’s Guide to Mac Viruses For Dummies 101 – February 24, 2006
Atlanta Journal-Constitution asks: Is ‘Mac virus’ all just propaganda from Mac haters? – February 20, 2006
FBI: Viruses, spyware, other computer-related crimes cost U.S. businesses $67.2 billion per year – February 01, 2006
Microsoft apologists and why Apple’s Mac OS X has zero viruses – October 24, 2005
Hackers already targeting viruses for Microsoft’s Windows Vista – August 04, 2005
Finally. People will know the truth. That the weakness for viruses comes from the OS, Winblows!
hahaha…YES…Let the games BEGIN!
the thing is – the average user is told day in day out that all sorts of things from windows to internet access are ‘safe or secure’ so why would they believe anouther company saying it. there used to being let-down.
Unfortunately that message is via Apple E newsletter. They are preaching to the choir. This needs to be the core of a print ad campaign in PC magazines.
Stupid, Apple.
A lot of hackers have never HEARD of a Mac or how secure their design is. But now, if they are on Apple’s mailing list, they will get taunts like these. They would just love the challenge of breaking a secure design instead of the leaky bucket of Windows.
I know Apple doesn’t want to bow down to fear and hackers, but seriously, is selling more Macs worth the risk of appearing on hackers’ radar?
BTW, I know Macs are more secure by design. I’m not afraid of any big problems like Windows has. But if we can avoid even SMALL occasional problems, all the better.
It’s ON!
I’ve had people look at me with bewilderment whenever I tell them that my Mac is virus free and will continue to be virus free without any sort of anti-virus program loaded on to it.
It’s like reliving Plato’s (or Socrates) Allegory of the Cave all over again….
Spark,
Try clicking the link MDN provided… Oh, here:
http://www.apple.com/enews/2006/06/01enews1.html
eNews is also online.
And on the next page http://www.apple.com/getamac/macosx.html Apple has a link to Where Vista Fails!
Ow.
But that’s the direction Apple should be taking. Attack Microsoft, not hackers. Microsoft won’t retaliate like hackers might try to do. (MS would love to but it would be illegal.)
I tell Windows using friends that I don’t use virus protection, never have adware or spyware/virus worries and they Do Not Believe me. Honestly, people are just brainwashed to think this is the way things are and they’re prepared to live with it.
Ophah, Good Morning America and Regis and Kelly need to get the word out to the public.
So sad, but sooo true.
It burns!!!!: A lot of hackers have never HEARD of a Mac or how secure their design is.
Really? You don’t actually believe this, do you?
Do you really believe that this was a “stupid” move by Apple — that by saying this they’re going to draw a lot more attention (and hacking attempts) from hackers?
MW: “want”
As in “I want PC users everywhere to see this.”
It burns – please note that “security through obscurity” is not the reason that Macs are safe and virus free. It’s the design. I don’t think that there is a hacker in the world that “never heard of Macs”. I have no doubt that there are hackers out there that have never tried to hack a Mac, or create a Mac virus. Yeah, maybe more will start. But that doesn’t mean they’ll succeed.
I agree that this is a great move for Apple, but as mentioned above, they really need to get this into print, onto TV, onto radio, in tattoos, billboards, cereal boxes, newspapers, comics, and anything else that people will read.
114,000? no there is one more now
New kind of virus, extortionware.
It encrypts your files, makes you buy drugs online in which you get the password to unlock your files.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5038330.stm
Um, this is Apple eNews not CNET. They are preaching to the choir. This message needs to get beyond those ALREADY using macs!
Advertisers, advertisers, advertisers, advertisers, advertisers, advertisers, advertisers, advertisers, advertisers, advertisers…
Notice how this was released about the same time Windows Vista beta 2 stated making waves?
A little late uh Apple?
“Notice how this was released about the same time Windows Vista beta 2 stated making waves?
A little late uh Apple?”
You’re talking about Vista and saying APPLE is late? *chuckles politely*
So, It Burns, “A lot of hackers have never HEARD of a Mac or how secure their design is,” eh? Please . . . run, DO NOT WALK, to your nearest community college and enroll in some kind of programming course, OK? Perhaps Coding 101 will help you realize how absolutely ludicrous such a statement is.
There’s not a hacker on this planet or any other in this solar system that hasn’t worked with–OR AT LEAST HEARD OF–the UNIX operating system. And with that code base lying at the very heart of OS X, an evil-doer discovers all too quickly how much more difficult the Mac OS is to bust open without user assistance.
Jeez, It Burns, think before you write, OK?
My Dad (who is in his seventies) was given a PC laptop from his company for emails and sending P.O.’s, sending quotes, etc.
He barely knows how to use the thing.
He has to send it to his Corporate IS Dept. to get it “CLEANED” every couple of weeks…sereiously. It’s hard to teach a 74 year old to be on constant vigilance AND how to use virus protection, etc.
I wonder what the productivity for that company would be if ALL the outside sales force were using a MAC.
Instead, the sales team SENDS in their laptops for CLEANING on a regular basis.
Boggles the mind.
Macs are as vulnerable to viruses as Dells are.
There, I said it.
But wait… before you jump all over me screaming and shouting, let me finish.
It’s not the Mac that is free of viruses, it’s Mac OS X that is free of viruses. Run Windows on a Mac (it’s still the same hardware) and you are wide open to Viruses.
Oh, by the way, didn’t Microsoft just announce it’s protection ware? Where you pay them to protect you from their lame software?
BTW.
I remeber the days of OS 7.
I would run NORTON anti-virus or DISENFECTANT (remember that form Northwestern U?) and they would hardly EVER find a infected file…and this was in the 80’s and 90’s when the MAC had viruses.
I think I recall finding a TROJAN HORSE once on my MAC.
I use to use DISENFECTANT to find corrupt fonts. It was GREAT for that.
Looking back, I probably didn’t need virus protection back then either.
DJ,
“I would run NORTON anti-virus or DISENFECTANT (remember that form Northwestern U?) and they would hardly EVER find a infected file…and this was in the 80’s and 90’s when the MAC had viruses.”
Yes, me too. Occasionally something was found, but I don’t recall any of the found viruses reeking any havok, even when they had resided on the Mac for quite some time. Good ‘ole System 7.6.1
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“When you get a Mac, only your enthusiasm is contagious.”
Well, o.k., that and the open sore on your face. But that’s it. Oh yeah, and the neighbor’s kid who hasn’t learned how to wipe his nose with anything but his sleeve. And that’s it. Oh, and Katie Couric’s infectious smile. And your enthusiasm and that’s it. Promise.
LOL Ampar!
Static Mesh said: “Notice how this was released about the same time Windows Vista beta 2 stated making waves?
A little late uh Apple?”
Put down the your crack pipe!
Now back to our regularly scheduled program…