“Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and co-founder of security company Kaspersky Lab, believes that Apple is ’10 years behind Microsoft in terms of security,'” Tom Warren reports for The Verge.
“Citing the relative success of the Flashback infections in an interview with CBR, Kaspersky predicts that cyber criminals will progress to create ‘more and more’ malware in the future,” Warren reports. “Apple appears to be heading in the right direction though. Mountain Lion, the company’s upcoming OS X operating system due in summer, includes a new Gatekeeper feature that, by default, restricts applications from running unless they are from the Mac App Store or identified developers. There is an optional switch to enable all apps again, but it’s clear this timely feature is designed to prevent malware from executing.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Gee, an antivirus peddler claims you need to buy antivirus software.
Shocking.
By “10 years behind,” he must mean it’d take at least 10 years for Mac users to catch up to the sheer number of infections – if, of course, they were stuck with a shiteous OS such as Windows XP with its sieve non-security for an entire decade.
Windows is garbage. It spawned an entire market of chicken-little, wolf-crying leeches like Eugene Kaspersky who are constantly looking to gin up new customers. Unfortunately for him, Mac users are smart.
So, as we have for many, many years, we’ll be ignoring this particular AV peddler’s bullshit bid to sell unnecessary, cycle-robbing, performance-hitting, money-wasting software, too.
And, now, without further ado, we’re going to prove a point. Please see related articles below.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Security experts: Apple did OS X Mountain Lion’s Gatekeeper right – February 16, 2012
OS X Mountain Lion’s Gatekeeper slams the door on Mac trojans – February 16, 2012
Apple releases OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview; public release coming in late summer 2012 – February 16, 2012
The Microsoft Tax: Critical Windows flaw affects millions of high-value PCs with self-replicating attacks – March 13, 2012
The Microsoft Tax: Virus infects Windows PC control systems of US Predator and Reaper drones – October 8, 2011
The Microsoft Tax: ‘Indestructible’ botnet attacks millions of Windows PCs; Macintosh unaffected – July 1, 2011
The Microsoft tax: Stuxnet computer worm infects Microsoft’s porous Windows OS; Mac unaffected – September 27, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: New undetectable Windows trojan empties bank accounts worldwide; Mac unaffected – August 11, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: Windows zero-day flaw exposes users to code execution attack; Mac unaffected – August 09, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: Critical flaw lets hackers take remote control of Windows PCs; Mac unaffected – August 07, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: New attack bypasses every Windows XP security product tested; Mac unaffected – May 11, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: McAfee correctly identifies Windows as malware; Macintosh unaffected – April 21, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: DNS Windows PC Trojan poses as iPhone unlock utility; Mac and iPhone unaffected – April 15, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: 1-in-10 Windows PCs still vulnerable to Conficker worm; Macintosh unaffected – April 08, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: 74,000 Windows PCs in 2,500 companies attacked globally; Mac users unaffected – February 18, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: Widespread attacks exploit Internet Explorer flaw; Macintosh unaffected – January 22, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: Windows 7 zero-day flaw enables attackers to cripple PCs; Macintosh unaffected – November 16, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Windows 7 flaw allows attackers to remotely crash PCs; Macintosh unaffected – November 12, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Windows virus delivers child porn to PCs, users go to jail; Mac users unaffected – November 09, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Worms infest Windows PCs worldwide; Mac users unaffected – November 02, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Banking Trojan horse steals money from Windows sufferers; Mac users unaffected – September 30, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Serious Windows security flaw lets hackers to take over PCs; Macintosh unaffected – July 07, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Windows Conficker worm hits hospital devices; Macintosh unaffected – April 29, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Conficker virus begins to attack Windows PCs; Macintosh unaffected – April 27, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Conficker’s estimated economic cost: $9.1 billion – April 24, 2009
Millions of Windows PCs taken over by hackers, including UK and US gov’t machines; Macs unaffected – April 22, 2009
Conficker worm hits University of Utah’s Windows PCs; Apple Macs unaffected – April 13, 2009
Windows Conficker kicks into action, able to steal data from infected PCs; Macintosh unaffected – April 10, 2009
Windows Conficker worm awakens, updates via P2P, begins to drop payload; Macintosh unaffected – April 09, 2009
Millions of infected Windows PCs set to go off on April 1; Macintosh unaffected – March 31, 2009
Millions of infected Microsoft Windows PCs face doomsday on April 1; Macintosh unaffected – March 24, 2009
Windows data-stealing ‘Tigger’ trojan infects stock trading firms; Macintosh users unaffected – March 10, 2009
French navy fighter planes grounded by Windows worm; Mac-based naval systems unaffected – February 25, 2009
Houston courts shut down due to Windows virus; Macs unaffected – February 10, 2009
Windows virus knocks out Vancouver school computers for three weeks and counting; Macs unaffected – January 31, 2009
Massive Windows virus with mystery payload continues to spread rapidly; Macintosh unaffected – January 26, 2009
Massive Windows virus continues rapid spread, also affects Vista, Windows 7; Macintosh unaffected – January 21, 2009
Windows PC worm infection numbers skyrocket; Macintosh unaffected – January 19, 2009
Dangerous new sleeper virus exposes millions of Windows PCs to hijack; Macintosh unaffected – January 16, 2009
Zero-day attack targets all versions of Internet Explorer; Mac users unaffected – December 12, 2008
Windows worm loose on International Space Station; Mac-using astronauts unaffected – August 27, 2008
Microsoft inflicts Internet Explorer 8 Beta; Mac users unaffected – March 05, 2008
Gathering ‘Storm’ superworm poses grave threat to Windows PCs; Apple Macs unaffected – October 19, 2007
Windows virus cripples Florida newspaper; Mac-based publishers unaffected – March 02, 2007
Insidious Windows virus threatens business networks worldwide; Macintosh unaffected – March 01, 2007
Windows ‘Storm Worm’ rages across globe; Apple Macintosh unaffected – January 19, 2007
Sony, Gracenote sound alarm over Microsoft flaw; Macintosh unaffected – September 19, 2006
PowerPoint zero-day attack compromises data in infected Windows PCs; Mac OS X unaffected – July 21, 2006
Windows PC users infected with worm face loss of all Microsoft, Adobe files; Mac users unaffected – January 31, 2006
Microsoft Windows’ Zero-Day WMF flaw threats widespread; Macintosh unaffected – December 29, 2005
Microsoft Windows virus spreads rapidly; Apple Macintosh unaffected – November 28, 2005
Windows users fall victim to huge ID theft ring, 50 banks in danger; Apple Mac users unaffected – August 25, 2005
Quickly spreading Microsoft Windows worm affects CNN, ABC, NY Times; Apple Macintosh unaffected – August 16, 2005
‘Zotob’ worm rapidly infects Microsoft Windows; Macintosh unaffected – August 15, 2005
16-percent of computer users are unaffected by viruses, malware because they use Apple Macs – June 15, 2005
Microsoft warns of critical Windows flaws; unaffected Mac users just continue working – June 15, 2005
Michael Jackson suicide spam hides Windows virus; Macintosh unaffected – June 10, 2005
Windows Sober.p poised to attack this Monday; Macintosh unaffected – May 21, 2005
Microsoft Windows Sober.P worm shows ‘epidemic’ spread; Macintosh unaffected – May 03, 2005
Anzae/Inzae worm affects all Windows versions after 3.1; Macintosh unaffected – December 28, 2004
Windows Mydoom worm variant spreading in the wild; Macintosh unaffected – November 09, 2004
Windows XP worm speaks to users as it deletes their files; Macintosh unaffected – September 13, 2004
Millions of Windows PC’s hijacked by hackers, turned into zombies; Macintosh unaffected – September 08, 2004
Windows ‘Zindos’ virus spreads, attacks Microsoft.com; Macintosh unaffected – July 29, 2004
New Windows Bagle virus variants spread; Macintosh unaffected – July 16, 2004
Windows Lovegate worm variant renders computers useless; Macintosh unaffected – July 08, 2004
Windows Scob virus collects passwords, financial data; Macintosh unaffected – July 05, 2004
Windows ‘Scob’ virus designed to steal financial data, passwords; Macintosh unaffected – June 26, 2004
Windows users warned of infectious Web sites that take over computers; Mac users unaffected – June 25, 2004
Windows Korgo virus ‘aggressively stealing’ credit card numbers; Macintosh unaffected – June 04, 2004
First Windows 64-bit virus appears; Macintosh unaffected – May 27, 2004
Windows Wallon virus wipes out Microsoft Media Player on infected PCs; Macintosh unaffected – May 12, 2004
Windows Sasser worm mutates, knocks out banks, EC; Macintosh unaffected – May 04, 2004
Windows Sasser worm severely disrupts UK coastguard; Mac users remain unaffected – May 04, 2004
Windows Sasser net worm spreading rapidly; Macintosh unaffected – May 03, 2004
Sen. Edward Kennedy’s Apple Mac-based office totally unaffected by viruses – March 22, 2004
Five new Windows Bagle virus variants break nasty new ground; Macintosh unaffected – March 19, 2004
Windows worm, virus outbreaks intensify; Macintosh unaffected – March 03, 2004
Destructive MyDoom.F virus deletes Windows users’ files; Macintosh unaffected – March 01, 2004
Netsky-D Windows worm spreading; Macintosh unaffected – March 01, 2004
Windows users suffer five new Bagle worm variants; Macintosh unaffected – March 01, 2004
New MyDoom Windows worm deletes random files; Macintosh unaffected – February 25, 2004
Windows NetSky e-mail worm spreading; Macintosh unaffected – February 18, 2004
Windows virus ‘Bagle.B’ spreading; Macintosh unaffected – February 17, 2004
‘Doomjuice’ worm emerges, targets Microsoft; Macintosh unaffected – February 10, 2004
New version of Mydoom Windows virus appears, attacks Microsoft; Macintosh unaffected – January 28, 2004
Latest Windows virus ‘MyDoom’ sets new infection records worldwide; Macintosh unaffected – January 27, 2004
‘MyDoom’ Windows virus spreads rapidly; Macintosh unaffected – January 26, 2004
New Windows worm spreading ‘hard and fast’ worldwide; Macintosh unaffected – January 19, 2004
Florida students patch 360 PCs in marathon session due to Blaster virus; their Macs unaffected – October 01, 2003
Pennsylvania school district’s PCs infected with virus; their Macs unaffected – October 01, 2003
New ‘Swen worm’ masquerades as Windows Security Update; Macintosh unaffected – September 19, 2003
University of Illinois still patching all Windows machines; Macintosh unaffected – September 05, 2003
Montana school district’s Windows computers offline due to worm; Macintosh computers unaffected – September 03, 2003
A tale of two school systems: Windows schools crippled while Mac schools unaffected – August 21, 2003
SoBig virus variant rapidly inflecting Windows machines; Macintosh unaffected – August 19, 2003
Windows Blaster worm to attack Microsoft on Saturday; Macintosh unaffected – August 13, 2003
MBlast Worm spreads through flaw in Windows; Macintosh unaffected – August 11, 2003
Hackers hijack Windows PCs for porn serving; Macintosh unaffected – July 11, 2003
Palyh Worm strikes Windows users worldwide; Macintosh unaffected – May 19, 2003
Microsoft bug exposes millions to attack; Macintosh unaffected – November 20, 2002
iKarumba! Go get the MicroDozer!
Wasn’t there a mail bomber with that name?
Microsoft is 10 years ahead of Apple in security, which explains why Microsoft still has 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 more infections than Apple and why the only fix for a Windows machine when infected is to start over, since you can never fully get stuff off, no matter how good you think you are.
Yeah. Microsoft is ahead!
It’s not every day you see a sextillion.
Because that little number is too modest.
septillion. a 1 followed by 24 zeroes. 10^24.
Too low? 😛
I remember reading about a particularly humorous episode when Paul Thurrott got a nasty virus that he couldn’t rid himself of despite doing hours of diagnostic work. He ended up doing what 99% of Windows users have to: a clean reinstall.
And this is a guy that runs a blog called Windows SuperSite.
I’ve owned Macs since 1994, and I’ve never owned antivirus software. Like everyone one else that owns a Mac, I surf virus free.
Uhm, yeah, whatever.
Thanks for this great Friday morning humor!
I checked my system for the Flashback virus. My system is clean. (I don’t use anti-virus software.) I’m just careful where I browse and what I install.
I recently went to the website of a food manufacturer whose product I like, looking for coupons. They have coupons, but require one to install a “coupon printer” application. I elected not to, and complained to the manufacturer that customers shouldn’t be required to install “crap-ware” just to print coupons. They sent me some coupons by mail.
Trojan not virus
He means “10 years behind in the profit we would like to make from Mac users”
If you must, use ClamXav.
I’m sure it’s a great product, but the name sounds like a horrible STD.
The guys name means “Joker” in German.
Just looked outside: the streets are running red with hyperbole.
“We have to invent the disease — so we can sell the cure.”
It’s like saying that fish immune systems are millennia behind humans for fighting airborne diseases. I moved to Oklahoma from Massachusetts a few years ago, and shortly thereafter switch to Mac as well. It’s very similar. I live in a rural area, with no police department. Is our town 10 years behind OKC or Boston, because we don’t have the constant din of sirens? No. It’s a different culture here, with people accomplishing more, and enjoying the serenity of their surroundings, and no need for the expense of an unnecessary law enforcement agency. Once in a while, we have a problem that is solved by the Sheriff or the State Police — but it’s very rare.
That’s pretty much describes how I feel on my Mac.
A UNIX machine 10 years behind a Microsoft product on security?!?!? REALLY? laughable. I DON`T want whatever he`s smoking.
Have a puff of what I’m smoking… Pretty good stuff. 😉
It’s unfortunate that the topic of computer security discovered in this sort of discourse. Vendors make poor reporters as to the state of the actual problem. Users like to think they’re immune (for whatever ereason). I find that I receive many viruses in email attachments sent or forward by clueless (or innocent) Windows users. To be a good net citizen I run ClamAV and pass my e-mail through it.
Be vigilant. Security by obscurity is a false prophet.
Unix, while more robust against attacks, is still targetable by others.
If only there were a web condom.
If the only exploits are Trojans that need some idiot to give them permission to instal, we non idiots haven’t got too much to worry about.
Unfortunately, with the latest Flashback trojan it reached a point wasn’t necessary for idiot (or genius) user to give permission.
It was installing itself without permission.
A sad state of affairs really… but I still safer using my Mac.
Sheesh! I have got to start using a spellchecker.
Unfortunately, with the latest Flashback trojan it has reached a point where it isn’t necessary for an idiot (or genius) user to give permission.
It was installing itself without permission.
A sad state of affairs really… but I still feel safer using my Mac.
spellgrammar checker.Your spelling looks fine, it was the missing words that threw me.
tbone, why do mac users have to clean up the mess that windows users and MS refuse to fix? I understand being a good netizen to a point, but no matter what mac users do, the problem still exists, and is beyond our control.
Stay MS free. don’t bs me with office word standard crap. Use something else and send PDFs.
Well done MDN!
Based on my understanding, the flashback malware infected your Mac through a “back door”— a method created by the programmer to get access into a system without logging in or a thing, I think.
In the workplace, programers are often restricted from creating these back doors, for security reasons. So, it is not like Microsoft’s Windows OS does not have any back doors, is it?
Anyways, with that out of the way, why did I get more infections with a windows machine than a Mac?
Well, Kapersky got lots of free advertising on that bit of “reporting”.
Microsoft doesn’t even have security, and this clown is saying Apple is 10 years behind them?
How delusional would a person have to be to actually believe him? All it takes is looking at a list of malware for Windows versus a list of malware for OS X to see that he’s totally, utterly full of shit.
And what does he mean by the “success” of the Flashback trojan? Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t it effect a small number of Macs before being rendered completely useless? Did it ever have the chance to even do anything? I don’t believe it did.
Meanwhile, tojans run rampant on Windows every second of every day, logging keystrokes, stealing passwords, and turning PCs into zombies.
Eugene Kaspersky can kiss my Mac ass.
… be able to update my video game (WoW) from the vendor? Or that the vendor (Blizzard) will have to pay to become a developer? OK, I suspect they already have paid … quite a while ago, too … but won’t this tickle the Feds into a false Protection Mode? Just askin …
“The relative success of the Flashback infections”? Relative to what?
The Flashback trojan at its highest level affected less than 10% of all Macs. It was trivially easy to detect and eliminate. Anyone who has allowed Software Update to do its job is clean now. That’s “relative success”?
If that counts as “success” for Mac malware, we have nothing to be afraid of.
——RM
If I’m not mistaken, this Trojan affected around 1% of the Mac install base. It was reported to be affecting around 600,000 but install base is something like 50 million or more.
Eugene Kaspersky is capable of predicting the creation of numerous malware in the near future with pin point accuracy because he his that cyber criminal that is directly involved in the creation of these malware.
Been using the Mac since 1987. I got one virus with OS8 or OS9, I don’t remember. I recently got the flashback trojan. No damage done and was child’s play to remove without stripping my machine down and re-installing everything which almost always happens on a PC.
Ten years behind….yeah right.
Dork
To date the most I’ve ever laughed at an MDN take.
Ask Kasperky this:
If the market Kaspersky claims expertise in is security, why is it that Intego ID’d the malware first and released the information first and protected it’s customers against this attack and all it’s variants?
Notice how airplanes stopped being developed after Wilbur Wright died? And the Ford company just collapsed after Henry died!