Apple Scales Back Marketing Language on OS X Security Following Flashback

[Sackvillenb]

Hmm, well that's very interesting. I really do hope they start taking their security seriously, since it's a main selling point, and since Macs are getting more and more popular (and so become bigger targets for malware). They need to stay on top of security issues!

And, they really should avoid saying PC viruses, and should say Windows viruses. I know a lot of posters bust people's balls and say "a Mac IS a PC", and while that's completely true, misusing that term PC in general language is not something I'm very picky about, but using it in an official statement on your website, now that requires some more accuracy.

 

[Augure]

This is critical.

I'm sure most of you who use OSX know what makes it success: you get your Mac out of the box, light it up, and use it without having to tweak, install or change anything.

If I have to use any antivirus or firewall software on my Mac that is not naturally and discretely already included in OSX without me having to do anything, then this is another sign of the end of the real Apple (by real I mean the one in the 80s in the one in the 2000s with Steve Jobs)

 

[gnasher729]

If someone looks hard enough, they will find a hole in any OS (often through a third party program),

That's what sandboxing is for. The developer splits their app into parts that handle the dangerous outside world but have no rights to do anything that affects your computer, and the parts that don't need to handle any data coming from the outside and are therefore safe from attack. So even if the attacker finds a hole in your application, they are stuck in a sandbox that they cannot leave.

 

[kps]

Safety. Built right in. Except the part where we log people's passwords in plain text, and don't bother to release a patch for three months.

 

[Nunyabinez]

I'm glad they changed their language. "It doesn't get viruses" is false. "Safeguard your data, by doing nothing" is also a fallacy.

Here's hoping they continue to take security seriously. Security-by-rarity is not the way to go considering how popular Apple products are becoming.

Please provide me with the name of the last Mac virus to hit. And if you say Flashback, please ask your nearest coworker to slap the back of your head for not knowing the difference between a virus and malware. And contrary to what posters here have said, it makes a difference.

A majority of people in the US believe that dinosaurs and humans lived simultaneously, but that doesn't' mean that they are right. So, who gives a crap if the "average" person doesn't know the difference between a virus and malware.

No OS can protect against a user installing malicious software. The point is that Macs have been impervious to being attacked without the users' express actions authorizing the attack. That hasn't changed.

 

[Ajones330]

Well I'm glad this was a big story and Apple will stay on top of the security issue. One of the big reasons I got a Mac yrs back was because they were not targeted but with success comes heighten security...

 

[brdeveloper]

Lay off the porn and you'll be alright!

Buy a PC only to watch porn and let it screw it up.

----------

Times change. Big change in tune from
Apple, did not expect this .

Now we should see hundreds of posts defining what a virus is and what malware is.

Yep. Beginners even know what is a malware. Virus, although incorrect, is a more generic term for defining malware than malware itself. I would even say that this differentiation between virus and malware is more of an excuse from Apple fans. When you buy an antivirus software, actually you're buying an anti-malware software. The classical virus, that assembler app that screwed up your PC is rare these days.

 

[paradox00]

That's what sandboxing is for. The developer splits their app into parts that handle the dangerous outside world but have no rights to do anything that affects your computer, and the parts that don't need to handle any data coming from the outside and are therefore safe from attack. So even if the attacker finds a hole in your application, they are stuck in a sandbox that they cannot leave.

Those have been broken before too, but you're absolutely right, that is the intent and it's a great security feature.

 

[that1guyy]

Well I guess that's one more pro thing that Mac users can't say anymore when arguing about Macs vs. pcs.

Don't worry I'll thumb down my own comment. You don't have to.

 

[hkenneth]

Buy a PC only to watch porn and let it screw it up.

----------



Yep. Beginners even know what is a malware. Virus, although incorrect, is a more generic term for defining malware than malware itself. I would even say that this differentiation between virus and malware is more of an excuse from Apple fans. When you buy an antivirus software, actually you're buying an anti-malware software. The classical virus, that assembler app that screwed up your PC is rare these days.

You don't even need to buy a PC. You just need to set up a virtual machine, and set it to be read-only~

 

[Bubba Satori]

You ok?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQb_Q8WRL_g

 

[jroadley]

Just download free av from Sophos

Simples

 

[brdeveloper]

You don't even need to buy a PC. You just need to set up a virtual machine, and set it to be read-only~

Good idea

 

[D.T.]

You don't even need to buy a PC. You just need to set up a virtual machine, and set it to be read-only~

Already there ...

 

[kustardking]

The inevitable price of increasing success.

Yes, and for that being a first post I applaud the Apple community for finally recognizing, though under duress at the edge of the cliff, that there is NOTHING inherently special about OS X's security environment. It is, in fact, apparently more holey and less holy at the same time. I'm glad the scripture has become more self-conscious.

 

[Old Muley]

Now if it could just prevent all those "Mac Keeper" ads from popping up, I'd be a happy boy.

 

[kustardking]

please provide me with the name of the last mac virus to hit. And if you say flashback, please ask your nearest coworker to slap the back of your head for not knowing the difference between a virus and malware. And contrary to what posters here have said, it makes a difference.

A majority of people in the us believe that dinosaurs and humans lived simultaneously, but that doesn't' mean that they are right. So, who gives a crap if the "average" person doesn't know the difference between a virus and malware.

No os can protect against a user installing malicious software. The point is that macs have been impervious to being attacked without the users' express actions authorizing the attack. That hasn't changed.

my bad!

 

[throttlemeister]

I understand that they're just trying to protect themselves but, a Mac really doesn't get PC viruses. I think there was nothing wrong or incorrect in the original text.

I mean, do you consider a trojan to be a virus? I certainly don't.

And exactly how many viruses have been there for PC the last few years? A virus is rare these days, regardless of platforms. It's a he'll of a lot easier to create a Trojan or worm, as the general user is fundamentally stupid and will click anything, regardless of platform.

 

[ChazUK]

Sometimes it's not about that. Recently popular web sites were injected with malicious code, anyone who went there on a PC with IE that did not have a certain patch was infected immediately. Without the user even knowing anything had happened. But hey, if sticking your head in the sand is how you like to deal with things, more power to you.

LOL.

Unlikely to happen to my PC on Linux. Like I said, common sense (not using IE on Windows) goes a long way.

 

[dokujaryu]

That's an brilliant marketing and advertising idea. Market OS-X as the safest consumer OS available.

Don...what do you think?

Image

Don Draper Approved™.

Shooped. He's not drinking.

 

[iReality85]

My Windows friends are still constantly infested and my Mac friends are not—bearing out the same stats we see in the world.)

It’s like PCs are box of cobras and and Macs are box of turtles, and you’re deciding which one to put your hand into. And the PC people say “both turtles and snakes can theoretically give you salmonella—so choose the cobras for long life and health!”

Then your friends continually participate in questionable web surfing and downloading. It is true that the vast majority of malicious code is created to interact with PCs. That said, you don't just 'get' a virus/trojan/worm. People act as if malicious code crawls around the internet actively looking for machines to infest. 99% of the time, the initiation of malicious code is due to the user. Whether it's opening spam/fraud email, downloading from file sharing sites, roaming porn sites, or opening .exe programs when the source is unconfirmed, all these stem from bad user habits. Truth is you can have the best AV running, or use OS X, and still get malicious code.

It's the exact same as sleeping around. Those who do, and constantly- take a huge risk of contracting something. They eventually reap what they sow.

As a 27 year old who has used many Apple products and has built lots of PCs for himself, I can safely say I can count on one hand the number of times I've ever had really bad malicious code on my machine. It's not about being 'book smart' and having technical knowledge to avoid these things. It's about being 'street smart'- on the internet.

 

[iAshley]

Seems to me they're rewording it to be more positive... "Doesn't get viruses" in a marketing sense isn't as good as "built to be safe"
Looks more like they're doing away with negative associations than protecting themselves.

 

[Max_Walker]

OS security - Class action

Apple probably changed the lingo because some born again litteralist might bring a class action because the advert told them they wouldn't have to do anything and they would never get stung by a virus

 

[TennisandMusic]

You are clueless.

Macs ARE linux, and both do not get viruses, because they are secure Operating Systems, unlike Windows.

Not to say they'll never get one, but they're MUCH MORE secure than Windows.

The irony is absolutely crushing.

 

[Renzatic]

Did someone mention the words "security" and "OSX" in the same sentence? I know! Lets quibble over the various definitions of malware for 16 pages!

vi·rus   [vahy-ruhs]
noun, plural vi·rus·es.
1.
an ultramicroscopic (20 to 300 nm in diameter), metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals: composed of an RNA or DNA core, a protein coat, and, in more complex types, a surrounding envelope.
2.
Informal . a viral disease.
3.
a corrupting influence on morals or the intellect; poison.

Macs don't get viruses because they don't have an organic compound to infect. Nor do Macs have morals. I know this for a fact because I once saw a Mac shoot a man in Reno just to watch him die. Now he listens to trains.

tro·jan/ˈtrōjən/
Adjective:
Of or relating to ancient Troy in Asia Minor: "Trojan legends".
Noun:
A native or inhabitant of ancient Troy.

Macs are designed in Cupertino, California, and constructed in various factories in and around China. They have absolutely nothing to do with Greece.

mal·ware/ˈmalˌwe(ə)r/
Noun:
Software that is intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems.

This. Macs get malware. Because Macs are computers and malwares are against computers. Macs do not get viruses or come from ancient Troy.