“While the small batch of Apple iPods infected with a Windows virus pose no threats to iMacs or the iPods themselves, the fact they were infected at all is a big worry. Now, the potential for virus and malware writers to start targeting Mac OS X in a bigger way cannot be ignored, and should be a massive wake-up call to Apple and its users: owning a Mac does not mean you’re invulnerable,” Alex Zaharov-Reutt writes for iTWire.
“It’s only a matter of time before a big outbreak on Apple systems occurs, similar to the ‘Code Red’, ‘I love you’ virus, ‘Nimda’ and other attacks that swept the PC owning world over the past few years,” Zaharov-Reutt writes.
“What will Apple do if and likely when a big virus outbreak occurs on the Mac, potentially resulting in problems for internet connected Macs around the world? …Given that Microsoft now offers their own One Care anti-virus, firewall, spyware detector and backup service for Windows XP and Windows Vista PCs at an additional cost, it’s time that Apple did something similar, or give their full backing to a company, or select group of companies, for rock-solid and reliable protection.”
“Users demand security these days, and if they all aren’t, the new virus hiding on a small batch of iPods may just make them start to worry,” Zaharov-Reutt writes. “With the coming release of Mac OS X 10.5 next year, let’s hope Apple has made as many improvements to security as possible, especially while they still have time before the new OS X is released to the world market. Apple, we want to see more proactive leadership on security, no ads on TV that seem to make Macs appear invulnerable and no more viruses on iPods… so that an Apple a day really does keep the doctor away.”
Full article here.
A Windows virus on a small batch of iPods that originated from an iPod subcontractor’s infected Windows PC, is a “massive wake-up call” for Apple and Mac users? Alex Zaharov-Reutt is a true moron. Does iTWire have an editor to vet articles before publication? If so, he/she is a true moron, too. This article descends to levels of stupidity and ignorance previously visited only by the likes of the iMac-in-earthquakes-phobic Rob “Microsoft Wrote the First Mac OS” Enderle.
Contact: editor@itwire.com.au
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McAfee: Microsoft ‘taking security risks’ with long-delayed, oft-pared-down Windows Vista – October 02, 2006
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The last time I needed a massive wake-up call was after reading Microsoft’s Zune press release!
As for the supposed immanent threat of an avalanche of viruses for the Mac, I’ll believe it when I see it. I’d like to point out that while Mac users are intellectually honest enough to admit that it is possible to create a Mac virus, PC users cannot admit that there is no evidence that guarantees there will be a Mac OS X virus. I just wish they could fess up and admit that a real virus for OS X may never come to be, just a we admit that it’s not impossible that one could.
Windows Virus Delivered via Email Should Be a Wake up Call to Mac Users
Man Gets Herpes from Whore Should Be a Wake up Call to All Hetero Men
Child Dies from E Coli in Spinach Should Be a Wake up Call to All Vegetable Eaters
Toonie says…”Who edits MDN? Does anyone stop to read what the morons here write before publishing?”
Writing the MDN take on an article (which would involve editing), and user responses are two different things, Toonie. I’m sure the editor edits his stuff before posting, but the editor does not edit user comments. That’s not the way things work on forums, bro. You’ve heard of forums, right? Or are all your forums, edited, Toonie? I’m curious now. Where do you usually post?
“Calling everyone in the world a moron who doesn’t explicitly bow down before the Mac God-head has to rank among the more base-type of activity anywhere. “
Oh yeah. That’s worlds worse than pornography, working as an abortionist, being the top sniper in Al Quaeda, burning churches, raping, murdering, and drawing pictures of Mohammed, right? Saying words — oh my geez. Someone get Dan Rather. This free speech thing must be stopped!
“Jeez, you guys would have fit right into the communist mold just fine. “
Are you sure? There wasn’t any free speech under the Soviets.
“Give you a gun and a badge and anyone not wearing an Apple armband would have their computer seized, their name blackballed, and something tattooed on their forehead to shame them in public, etc, etc.”
Really? No-one’s posted anything of that sort on MDN. Only certain mindsets think that liking something and disliking something else translates into violence, property destruction, and control of society. Those folks of course can’t seem to find any words to describe what actual death-cults do, however.
“You guys are way more effective at anti-Apple marketing than anything Microsoft could ever do.”
One lone pro-Apple site beats all of Microsoft’s advertising budget! Film at eleven! *rolling eyes* All we do is make trolls like yourself run for the Prilosec. Next?
Toonie is a LOONEY!
BTW, Mr. Toonie (if that’s your real name), we are watching you and we KNOW WHO YOU ARE!
/please insert dramatic orchestral score here.
//would be better if I knew how to make flashy HTML marks.
///doesn’t matter – he won’t get it anyway.
////oh, how I waste my intellect on the humorless.
/////I like pie.
It should be a true wake up for Windows users to switch to Mac, so they don’t have this problem. Steve Jobs should require iPod manufacturers to do their work on a Mac so this doesn’t happen in the future.
It should also be a true wake up call to Windows users who were thinking about switching. Now more than ever, they should jump off the Windows tugboat and climb aboard the Apple Yacht.
Fishin’ for hits.
MDN Magic Word: WHO is this guy? And why should ANYone listen?
Based on the excerpts, that’s a pretty amazingly inept article. I refuse to visit it and help the hit count any – I can’t stand that kind of poorly-reasoned nonsense.
Yeah, it’s a wake up call to Mac users – but too late.
The wake up call is DON’T US WINDOWS!
We MACINTOSH users got the call a LONG time ago – you Dolt.
This is a WAKE UP call to Windows users.
“Hello! Stop using Windows.”
“Give you a gun and a badge and anyone not wearing an Apple armband would have their computer seized, their name blackballed, and something tattooed on their forehead to shame them in public, etc, etc.”
Sounds good to me.
Idiots like Zaharov-Reutt don’t even realize that iPods ship formatted for Windows use (FAT) from the factory. That has absolutely nothing to do with OS X have any vulnerability to a Windows only virus.
Apple’s solution to the problem would be to ship iPods formatted for the Mac (Mac OS Extended) instead. Then if they are purchased by a Windows user, they’ll just need to restore them using the Windows version of iTunes first before they can use them with their Windows PC.
I love how BustingTheSkullsOfIdiots slipped Porn and abortions into his list of evil comparisons
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”raspberry” style=”border:0;” /> That was good for a chuckle!
Good work my propagandist pal!
Hello!!!
All Mac users:
==============
We need to nip this in the bud “NOW”.
This FUD will get out an if un-opposed AND will confuse those MS Windows users that don’t understand the difference.
The author writes that virus are being made for the Mac. While I’m sure people are trying, the writer gives the impression that there’s going to be a massive infection any minuite.
This article is going to be picked up by other press outlets and be repeated as truth not for the FUD it is.
We need to write the editors to get a correction made – ASAP.
I wounder if this is an attempt from the MS Zune crowd to try to position Zune as superior to iPods?
Makes you wonder since Zune is due to release in a month from now. Coincidence?
SO JUST WHAT IS THIS GUY SMOKING ANYWAY?
PC TYPES JUST DON’T GET IT!
THEY WILL PRINT ANYTHING TO TRY TO CAST A SHALLOW UPON A SUPERIOR PRODUCT
THIS GUY SHOULD STICK WITH HIS PC CAUSE I’M SURE HE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE EFFORTLESS OF A MAC OR IT’S OS X
I’m a little concerned here. The author wrote that ” Windows virus pose no threats to iMacs or the iPods themselves”…what about my powerbook and mini….oh no! Am I in trouble?
How about, “no threats to machines running OSX”, since a Mac running Windows could be infected.
To the idiot who wrote this article,wake up for who? It was a Windows virus that doesn’t effect Macs. So your warning is null and void unless you’re a PC user then I suggest using iTunes and resetting your new iPod before using it.
ron
thanks for the big friendly “duh”.
Yeah so what i didnt read the entire article, all it does is confirm what I and many other Mac users know happened here.
Thanks for being such a great guy and pointing out that i didnt read the ENTIRE article. Whoop a dee doo. Give you a cookie.
A note to you and your staff; a virus is a file, files can be copied to any
storage medium that can store files. The fact that this needs to be pointed
out is agonizingly hilarius. (HILARIOUS)
Chances are against there being any major outbrake (OUTBREAK) for OSX; but albeit its (IT”S)
possibly possible.
OSX is INHERANTLY (INHERENTLY) SAFER THAN ANY VERSION OF WINDOWS yesturday (YESTERDAY), today and
tomorrow.
All I see in the article is stupidity and buzz words.
I suggest Alex Zaharov-Reutt not write anymore. And I also suggest you brush
up on your common sence (SENSE).
How about brushing up, just a little, on spelling?
The man is a muppet. OSX users can sleep comfortably
Toonie says:
“Give you a gun and a badge and anyone not wearing an Apple armband would have their computer seized, their name blackballed, and something tattooed on their forehead to shame them in public, etc, etc.”
Wow.
Wouldn’t THAT be fun!
Jeez, I have several viruses on my Mac right now. All I have to do is open my email client and look at the various emails that I get from time to time by Windows users machines who have been compromised and start mailing out their infected files.
While I have never gone so far as to double click on any of the attachments, any storage device (which has been pointed out many times here), such as the iPod, is capable of harboring any sort of file.
Apple, though, should really step up and offer a free license to some AV software for those iPod purchasers who were affected. (Yes, I know they posted links to freeware AV software, but some users feel more comfortable with a Commercial option). It was after all their quality control that let this through.
Wake up call? A Mac user friend of mine got his wake up call a while back when someone emailed him a Windows virus and he forwarded it on to someone running a PC who got infected by it.
Then he rolled over and went back to sleep. Said to wake him when there’s something valid to lose sleep over.
Evan Borat write better!
Spell gooder, to!
If 150,000+ Windows viruses are not a “massive wake-up call” for Windows users, how can ONE Windows virus on a few iPods be a “massive wake-up call” for the totally unaffected Mac users?
Mac users get Windows viruses all of the time via email and PC friends’ CD-ROMs. These infected iPods are no different.
If anything, it is a “wake-up call” for people to stop using Windows around Macs. Windows doesn’t know how to play well with others.
Just because your family is highly dysfunctional is no reason to assume that my family is (or ever will be) dysfunctional.
Chill everyone. This guy is another Microsoft shill, one of the recent many.
Either:
1. The PC fanboy mouthpieces are seeing the light (the same way deer see headlights), and are down to spreading FUD, or:
2. MS is playing extremely dirty, running a grassroots smear campaign as part of Vista’s launch.
Sorry, FUDers. You’re as transparent (and as lame) as your long-awaited Aero Glass windows.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Windows can suck a viral shlong!