“Security tools that work with Windows Vista have failed tests to see if they can detect viruses circulating online,” BBC Bews reports. “Microsoft’s Windows Live OneCare security tool was one of four products that failed independent tests carried out by the Virus Bulletin.”
“The security testing group found that Live OneCare missed far more active viruses than any other program tested,” the Beeb reports. “When Vista was launched on 30 January, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates claimed that it was “dramatically more secure” than other operating systems.”
Microsoft’s Windows Live OneCare “missed some wild viruses, polymorphic programs and file infectors” and was left “vulnerable to 37 separate malicious programs,” The Beeb reports. “Other anti-virus products that failed the tests included G-Data AntiVirusKit, McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.51 and Norman Virus Control 5.90.”
Full article here.
Related articles:
Bill Gates has lost his mind: calls Apple liars, copiers; slams Mac OS X security vs. Windows – February 02, 2007
Microsoft’s Windows Vista: Five years for a chrome-plated turd – January 30, 2007
McAfee: Microsoft ‘taking security risks’ with long-delayed, oft-pared-down Windows Vista – October 02, 2006
Why is Apple’s Mac OS X so much more secure than Microsoft’s Windows? – October 01, 2006
Apple Macs are far more secure than Windows PCs – September 26, 2006
$399 for Windows Vista Ultimate?! (Hint: Get a Mac) – August 29, 2006
Oxymoron: Microsoft security – August 12, 2006
With exploits in wild, Microsoft Windows braces for yet another critical worm attack – August 11, 2006
Symantec researcher: At this time, there are no file-infecting viruses that can infect Mac OS X – July 13, 2006
Sophos: Apple Mac OS X’s security record unscathed; Windows Vista malware just a matter of time – July 07, 2006
Sophos Security: Dump Windows, Get a Mac – July 05, 2006
Apple: ‘Get a Mac. Say ‘Buh-Bye’ to viruses’ – June 01, 2006
Symantec CEO: We think more people ought to buy Apple Macs – May 15, 2006
FBI: Viruses, spyware, other computer-related crimes cost U.S. businesses $67.2 billion per year – February 01, 2006
Security company Sophos: Apple Mac the best route for security for the masses – December 06, 2005
16-percent of computer users are unaffected by viruses, malware because they use Apple Macs – June 15, 2005
No surprises here. Someone forward this to Billy boy and make him eat his words.
Vulnerability less than a week after release… This is what Bill meant when he said “you’ve never seen this before in an operating system.”
The Wow is Now! or Cow or bull…
What? Bill Gates was lying? I don’t believe it.
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stellar work, Microsoft. Now this will be a huge story right up until Apple releases Leopard. Hehe.
I believe some stogy old geezer in Redmond needs to rephrase his “blah blah blah people break the Mac every single day” vomit before someone does it for him.
I hope Gruber does it. Don’t know why, I just do.
You call this a balanced report? I only trust the fair and balanced studies that come out of Redmond. They’re just jealous of Microsoft’s improvements and want to sell software that adds no additional protection.
Your potential. Our passion.
Pc People should use AVG free version for viruses and Ad-Aware for spyware. Because the Onecare sucks badly and the Windows Defender is Total Junk at detecting spyware. It dont detect None at all. Although the beta antispyware by Microsoft did detect spyware b4. They went downhill with Windows Defender it sucks badly at detecting spyware. Bye
sorry, that would be stodgy. Bill Gates is not a cigar! Although he is probably just as unhealthy…
PC Guy is probably in a coma after his upgrade surgery.
Microsoft: We strive for mediocrity. So far we’ve consistently failed to meet our low expectations of ourselves.
The honeymoon is over…
The bad news about Vista is as yet just a trickle. In a month it will be a steady stream, and by next quarter it will be a torrent.
Microsoft have lost their shine and the knives are out. “An embarassment” says Time magazine about Vista…
The first Mac / PC ad to poke fun at Vista is quite benign. The boys at Cupertino are going to have a lot of fun this year…
@ Zune Tang
Great job! Some of the other Zune Tang posts have been disappointing, right down to getting the “Your potential. Our passion.” part wrong. Too many Zune Tangs have been capitalizing the wrong words, or forgetting the periods, but you nailed it. I think this post captured the essence of Zune Tang.
I’ll take the night off from this one. Nice work.
Your potential. Our passion.
“Live OneCare caught 99.91% of the known active viruses it was tested against. This left it vulnerable to 37 separate malicious programs.”
Would you pay Microsoft an annual fee for Live OneCare if you were guaranteed that only 37 of 41,111 viruses would be capable of infecting your PC? Exactly how much money do PC users have to shell out each year for Live OneCare anyhow? It should be pointed out that Apple does not charge an annual fee to provide protection from malware.
“Other anti-virus products that failed the tests included G-Data AntiVirusKit, McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.51 and Norman Virus Control 5.90.”
Apparently, Microsoft is not the only company that cannot provide a 100% guarantee against malware. I can only think of two known programs reported to have infected OS X: Leap A and Oompa-Loompa. Have recent updates to OS X eliminated these threats? How can Mac users identify and delete any malicious software on their machines?
Zune Tang is as funny as a kick in the balls. Same post over and over, Apple bad, Microsoft good. Go back to Redmond and kiss Ballmer’s ass you troll. Why do you hang around if you have no interest in Apple? Screw off.
NOT!!!
Windows Vista Live OneCare = Wise coward innovates evil.
Nonsense. The reason so many viruses got through is because there is such a high majority of Vista users compared to the small installed base of Mac OS X users. More users = more viruses, simple as that.
Hackers aren’t interested in the tiny fraction of Macs when they can go for the big prize and have the biggest impact and notoriety: Vista.
@ Grandma’s Tattoo
What are you talking about? Having another Windows virus is harldy news, Vista or not. Hackers, virus and other malware writers would love to have the coveted Mac virus trophy. Especially with how loud Apple and its users tout security and the fact that there are zero, zip, nada viruses for the platform. Using the market share angle is completely unjustified and false as has been proven by numerous articles. Search the MDN forum for artiles refuting that argument.
Mac OS X is built on a rock solid UNIX foundation that is tried and true. While nothing is perfect, OS X is isn’t even in the same ball park as any version of Windows. Windows security is the most astounding oxymoron on the face of this planet. It’s a blight on our society and the number one hinderance on human intellectual progression.
“Hackers aren’t interested in the tiny fraction of Macs when they can go for the big prize and have the biggest impact and notoriety: Vista.”
Mac Os X is based on Unix. So its hard to crack Mac OS X since its based on Unix. Bye
You truly believe that there’s currently MORE VISTA users than Mac OSX users?!?! True, there WILL be–but to use that defense for VISTA’s failing a virus test doesn’t hold water. Also, think of this… You say hackers don’t even ATTEMPT to hack into Mac’s due to Mac’s much lesser used platform worldwide. So why even try? THEY WOULD TRY BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE INSTANTLY FAMOUS for being the one that did! Would you rather be one of HUNDREDS of no named vista hackers, or THE ONLY mac hacker? They hack for personal insecurity/inferiority complex They want ATTENTION! They’d get more with a mac hack–believe me, they’re trying.
You truly believe that there’s currently MORE VISTA users than Mac OSX users?!?! True, there WILL be–but to use that defense for VISTA’s failing a virus test doesn’t hold water. Also, think of this… You say hackers don’t even ATTEMPT to hack into Mac’s due to Mac’s much lesser used platform worldwide. So why even try? THEY WOULD TRY BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE INSTANTLY FAMOUS for being the one that did! Would you rather be one of HUNDREDS of no named vista hackers, or THE ONLY mac hacker? They hack for personal insecurity/inferiority complex They want ATTENTION! They’d get more with a mac hack–believe me, they’re trying.
You truly believe that there’s currently MORE VISTA users than Mac OSX users?!?! True, there WILL be–but to use that defense for VISTA’s failing a virus test doesn’t hold water. Also, think of this… You say hackers don’t even ATTEMPT to hack into Mac’s due to Mac’s much lesser used platform worldwide. So why even try? THEY WOULD TRY BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE INSTANTLY FAMOUS for being the one that did! Would you rather be one of HUNDREDS of no named vista hackers, or THE ONLY mac hacker? They hack for personal insecurity/inferiority complex They want ATTENTION! They’d get more with a mac hack–believe me, they’re trying.
One way to spot a fag…. they end their comment with “Bye”
“One way to spot a fag…. they end their comment with “Bye””
Very Funny
Right on, Jatt.
People who does not know about the internals of an OS keep blaming Windows virus problems to the volume.
Reality check: It’s not about QUANTITY, but QUALITY.
Windows internal architecture is a mess, regardless how nice the GUI looks like. While UNIX structure has been (and still is) much more solid and secure. It’s about the guts, not the volume of people. UNIX is a much robust OS.
It’s no coincidence that not only Mac OS, but Linux, Solaris, IRIX and name any other UNIX in the market is by far less vulnerable than Windows.
Well, Linux is not formally UNIX, but, you get my point…
Guys, I think Grandma’s tattoo was being sarcastic. Just like ZT is.
Mac OS X is far more secure than Windows Vista. The reason is NOT because Mac OS X is the “minority” OS. If that was the reason, there may be fewer instances of malware on Mac OS X, but not effectively ZERO cases of real world (in the wild) malware. It’s not 40,000+ versus 4000 or even 40. It’s 40,000+ versus ZERO.
What it means is that Mac OS X is truly more secure. Vulnerabilities may exist but they are difficult to exploit into anything useful for the hackers. So the security through obscurity myth is debunked.
However, Mac OS X is partly more secure because of Windows. With Windows sitting there like a duck waiting to be shot (an easy target), why would hackers want to bang their heads against the Mac OS X wall? Perhaps it is possible, but why bother trying? Thank you Microsoft. With Windows Vista just being released, Mac users should feel smug and secure for years to come.
Very
Insecure
System for the
Totally
Apathetic.
Welcome to Gates’ Hell.
If you can’t trust BBC Bews, who can you trust?
Micro$haft. Your frustration. Our failure.
MW: Was that “mean” of me?
No, just about *average*
(sorry Ampar, wherever you are)
Hey hey hey…who is going around using Buster as his (or her) name? I feel…..violated somehow. Though I confess, the comment is something similar to what I would write.
Maybe I have a split personality?
Or maybe I do?
From the article: “Live OneCare caught 99.91% of the known active viruses it was tested against. This left it vulnerable to 37 separate malicious programs.”
Since a lot of windoze users live by the credo “good enough”, they might just be satisfied with this. Hey 99.9%! LOL
37 / (1 – 0.9991) = 41,111 viruses.
Welcome to the social, indeed!
could all those ‘commentators’ who were slagging the BBC off as being shills for M$ please stand up, take a bow and explain how this could get through the editorial filters?
thank you
@ Grandmas Tatoo: “Hackers aren’t interested in the tiny fraction of Macs when they can go for the big prize and have the biggest impact and notoriety: Vista.”
I think I can live with that.
@Failure is not an option: “How can Mac users identify and delete any malicious software on their machines?”
Viruses are very difficult to write for Unix. Rootkits are another matter, but to get one of these installed you would have to load it up yourself. Provided you take normal commonsense precautions you are most unlikely to get any malware. Don’t open unsolicited attachments. Be careful with shareware and only get it from trusted sources. There’s a lot of Mac help out their, contrary to popular myth we are not a bunch of snooty elitists and really like to help each other if we can.
If you really feel you need a comfort blanket with an anti-virus program then whatever you do don’t use Norton as it will screw your system. Intego’s Virus Barrier seems to cause the least difficulties. YMMV.
That said there is no such thing as 100% security on *any* OS. The fact that nothing has appeared in the wild does *not* mean that something won’t.
Those of us forced to use PCs at work should at least use the best antivirus protection available. ESET’s NOD32 has never missed an “in the wild” virus in the entire time it has been tested by Virus Bulletin. No one else can say that. Virus Bulletin is a highly respected information security publication, whose tests are among the most difficult to pass around. Next to them, the ICSA (TruSecure) certification tests are a joke.
I should know, I used to work for an AV company that passed ICSA, but miserably failed at the Virus Bulletin tests.
Your potential. Our passion.
Your potential. Our passion.
Your potential. Our passion.
Your potential. Our passion.
Your potential. Our passion.
Your potential. Our passion.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
You can take the MDN out of Tang, but you can’t keep Tang out of MDN.
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Your potential. Our passion.
What this tells us is:
1. Hackers don’t even need to find new viruses for Vista, they can just recycle. Recycle, reuse and
Or:
2. Vista (with less than a million users to date) is only targeted because everyone uses it?!?!
Nope. It’s hacked because Microsoft is rubbish.
WHAT?
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You might fancy yourself as the MDN court jester, but we are getting really bored of your one and only regurgitated joke.
Take a break and say something constructive for a change.
ROFL!
Microsoft at it’s best.
Bill Gates “We are one of the best software companies in the world”.
‘cough’ BOLLOCKS ‘cough.
You silly bunt.
A classic skit.
The difference between Windows and a Virus is that the Virus Works!!! 😀
I think that the old excuse for Windows saying that Mac OS X is not targeted because of it’s small market share should be put to rest. I can’t believe that it is still around. Anyone who knows a little about programming knows, that this is not the case. Mac OS X is a modern OS, built with Internet in mind and have a solid foundation of Unix. When Windows was created Internet was still just a scientific experiment. It is not biult to survive in the wild.
Unix has been developed and perfected for years to offer a trouble free networking. That’s why almost every financial institution or any other relying on a database is running on Unix.
Just go and browse the net for more information before you post the same old excuse for Windows.
Even the BBC is right once in a blue moon. However, being right rarely does not mean that the BBC is to be trusted usually. Children, use your logic.
One way to spot a closet fag:
Fag spotting
Just for you Zune Tang.
You’re potential. Hour passion.
…right?
All mac user are wankers, I mean what is their share of the maket 3% why bother, mac users are just sons and daughters of whores. When they have over 90% of the market then they can comment, it is only because of them being jealous, the only use for a mac is on a bonfire.
@C Howard or whoever posted this in your name…
What is BMW’s share of the car market?
What is Zegna’s share of the men’s business suit market?
What is Hennessy’s share of the alcohol market?
What is Tag Heur’s share of the watch market?
Mac sales were up 71% in January, year over year…
Mac sales were up 72% in February, year over year…
Stay tuned for Q1 results in 2 weeks time…
As for bonfires: reminds me of ashes. And cricket… (speaking of sons and daughters of whores…)
Don’t you speak english, SydneyStephen, perhaps I should teach you English, you dumbass.
Mac Sales might be up but their share of the market isn’t, do you want me to explain in a language that your small brain can understand?
Obviously your are one of them Mac wankers who has more money than brains, if you were not so bothered by how good pc’s were you would not be complaing so much, and Mac users are all mouth with no trousers, just like their mac and operating sytems.
Com back when you know what you are on about, and when you have some intelligence.
@C Howard
“Mac Sales might be up but their share of the market isn’t”
Yes, please explain in a language that I can understand. English, preferably. And please use actual sentences, with the words spelled properly, if you can manage it.
Include facts to support your view in lieu of foaming at the mouth – which merely serves to demonstrate you have none of the things you say you require of me.