Comments on: Yes, Macs are Vulnerable Too.

By: Neil MacDonald

Neil MacDonald — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:25:11 +0000

@BS,

Take a look at the posts again. This is not a Windows versus Apple discussion. The question any Mac user should ask is “Is Apple doing all it can to produce secure code?” . The data shows that the number of vulnerabilities is real.

It doesn’t matter whether its Windows, Linux, Mac or any other OS. If its written by human beings and is operated by end-users that download and install arbitrary code, are tricked into clicking on links they shouldn’t and so on, the system is vulnerable and will be attacked.

The fact that most users run as standard user on a Mac helps, but as I pointed out, this doesn’t protect from financially motivated and targeted attacks that go after user data.

Take a look at this interesting article:
http://www.threatpost.com/blogs/apple-malware-bounty-infect-mac-earn-043-125

By: BS

BS — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:09:10 +0000

–Sigh– Yet another security “expert” who uses flawed logic to defend his pet OS — Windows — for its inherent shortcomings in the security department.

Fist of all, how many of these vulnerabilities listed are rated Critical by SANS? I will guarantee M$ has more critical vulns every year than OS X and Linux.

Secondly, how many of these vulns are a result of third party applications that come bundled with OS X and Linux? I would bet a significant portion of them. As we all know Windows doesn’t come bundled with much of anything.

Thirdly, I wonder how many vulnerabilities in Windows we never hear about? That is, vulnerabilities that M$ does not release to the public that are found in house? I would bet many.

Fourthly, I wonder how quickly M$ patches their vulns on average compared to Linux? I KNOW the answer to this question — Linux smokes M$ is this department. (I can’t speak for Apple).

Fifthly, and most importantly, if OS X and Linux are just as prone to viruses, then the salient question we must ask is “Where are they?” Linux has been around 17 years and OS X, for what, a decade? Why do we not even see a few viruses out in the wild spreading around? Just one? Where are they? OS X is 10% of the desktop market and Linux DOMINATES the server market, yet we still don’t see any viruses in the wild.

By: [gartner] Yes, Macs are Vulnerable Too. - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

[gartner] Yes, Macs are Vulnerable Too. - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:11:42 +0000

[...] as to not attract too many trolls. I just wanted to share this with the security-minded. source: http://blogs.gartner.com/neil_macdon…ulnerable-too/ September 25th, 2009 [...]

By: Three Things for Thursday: A Big Week

Three Things for Thursday: A Big Week — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:16:31 +0000

[...] ← Yes, Macs are Vulnerable Too. [...]

By: Yes, Macs are Vulnerable Too. | I AM OSX

Yes, Macs are Vulnerable Too. | I AM OSX — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:28:46 +0000

[...] See original here: Yes, Macs are Vulnerable Too. [...]

By: Scott Olson

Scott Olson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:54:47 +0000

Good article Neil. This is actually one of my main concerns with my Macs. The big problem is that there isn’t really a viable security solution for Macs yet.

Given the lack of a viable business market for the anti-virus vendors with Macs and their already diminishing effectiveness at protecting against new attacks, I am left with hoping for the best and patching every time Apple has a new update.

Until there is a viable Mac security solution I still get nervous every time I click on a shortened URL or my machine runs slow.