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Home > Archive > alt.certification.a-plus > October 2003 > Mac Security vs. Windows Security
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Mac Security vs. Windows Security
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| smackedass 2003-10-27, 4:24 pm |
| Hello
I've heard people say that Macs are more inherently secure than Windows
boxes because the Mac OS is better designed than a Windows OS and allows
fewer security flaws. On the other hand, I've heard it said that the only
reason that Macs are less prone to viruses and other hostile code is because
nobody wastes their time trying to defeat Macs; it would be a waste of time
attempting to attack so few computers.
Any thoughts?
Thanks.
smackedass
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| Pat and Leo on tech tv agree that the reason is there are more pc's than
Mac's so the hackers go after the one withn the most bang for the buck. As
more people start using Macs the chance of getting a virus goes up.
"smackedass" <nospamkema@capecod.net> wrote in message
news:KHfnb.6470$X22.1982@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Hello
>
> I've heard people say that Macs are more inherently secure than Windows
> boxes because the Mac OS is better designed than a Windows OS and allows
> fewer security flaws. On the other hand, I've heard it said that the only
> reason that Macs are less prone to viruses and other hostile code is
because
> nobody wastes their time trying to defeat Macs; it would be a waste of
time
> attempting to attack so few computers.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks.
>
> smackedass
>
>
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| Tony Sivori 2003-10-28, 2:24 am |
| smackedass wrote:
> Hello
>
> I've heard people say that Macs are more inherently secure than Windows
> boxes because the Mac OS is better designed than a Windows OS and allows
> fewer security flaws.
Anything is better than Microsoft Windows security. Mac, Linux, Unix,
BeOS, take your pick.
> On the other hand, I've heard it said that the only reason that Macs are
> less prone to viruses and other hostile code is because nobody wastes
> their time trying to defeat Macs; it would be a waste of time attempting
> to attack so few computers.
Especially so since they have better security.
Anyway, there is an emerging new breed of malware writer who writes for
profit. They use worms and Trojans to do things like using a broadband
connected PC for a spam server. This type would be likely to cheerfully
attempt to exploit any OS that is numerous. .
The more typical virus / worm creator is an adolescent or young adult male
who does it for several reasons. He enjoys breaking things (vandalizing),
and in doing so he gets an ego boost and the recognition of his peers. But
mostly he does it from adolescent rebellion against authority, ie,
"sticking it to the man."
For that reason, the largest, richest software company on earth which is
headed by the richest man on earth is a natural target and will remain so.
Smaller and decentralized, and no matter how popular it may become, an OS
like Linux is likely to never attract the same disdain of rebellious
adolescents that a rich monopoly like Microsoft does. And there are far
fewer vulnerabilities to exploit in non-Microsoft OSes
--
Tony Sivori
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