Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The good news is it proves that Apple can learn from Microsoft or any competitor if they are open minded. If done properly, it will raise Apple's credibility.

They have already learn't from Microsoft's issues on the PC side with the App Store. A controlled, secure and safe method of software distribution.
 
I have been saying troubles with computer attacks are real for Mac..and got bitched at and fluffed off by many here..........but it is a part of reality.......I expect to hear many of you crying in your beer having to eat the words that Mac's are not affected. Then I can and will say I told you so...and that stuff about it's not a virus, or malware, or a Trojan..means nothing. It is a glitch that got to the computer and what you call it does not matter. Mac will have the same issues as MS as they get more of the market value. Here is a site to read.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/...ignore-the-dinosaurs-and-get-protection/12857

You are still wrong. I remember your old threads and you panic over nothing. No offense but you don't know that much about computers. This thing isn't even an issue, and anyone who thinks it is doesn't understand as much about computers as they think they do.

Although it could be considered a scare ware, its also more of a phishing scheme. Its not a program that secretly installs itself, replicates itself, and turns your computer into a spam bot or honey pot or any number of terrible things.

Heres the thing, anyone who gets it only has themselves to blame. They see a pop up saying their Mac has a virus. An uneducated user says "Oh no!" and clicks to download the antivirus software because for some reason they think a web page will scan their machine for a virus. They download it, it installs and bam. They get hit with scareware. Its 100% the users fault.
 
They have already learn't from Microsoft's issues on the PC side with the App Store. A controlled, secure and safe method of software distribution.

Yes, what a glorious day it will be when Macs are as locked down and restricted as iPads and iPhones. :rolleyes:
 
Yes, what a glorious day it will be when Macs are as locked down and restricted as iPads and iPhones. :rolleyes:

I just spewed my dinner all over the table.

Then I saw the :rolleyes: and realized that you not advocating a "walled garden" for the Apple OSX - but instead quite the contrary.
 
Yes, what a glorious day it will be when Macs are as locked down and restricted as iPads and iPhones. :rolleyes:

Truth be told, it might be better for the Developers to have a platform where they can afford to charge a buck for an app, sell a million copies, and make profit, instead of the pirate happy days and have to charge 10 bucks an app, never to see tangible fanfare/recognition/profit. Even then, the security and ease of use/ update is just phenomenal. I guess when I ran out of time to care about every nook and cranny of the software dev world, I realized that the closed system meant I could just use the product. Period.

Not to knock on your point- if they dumb down the OS too far, I'll boot linux; but the ad-hoc days of computing might be better realized in virtual machines, where there's less chance that anything would interfere with the stuff on the machine that turns around and makes me money (so I can buy :apple: , but thats besides the point!)!!
 
The Mac App Store can become a big security benefit, much like Linux uses repositories, but only if it becomes more popular.

Does Apple host the downloads for software after it is included in the store?

If not, this is a big deterrent for any developer that wants to provide free software to the Mac community because of the fee associated with listing software in the MAS.

This only adds to their costs which is not always supplemented by returns via donations.

But, I am beginning to notice many great free apps appearing in the MAS. It would be great if most of the options for Mac software were available via the MAS.

The MAS is no where near the "walled garden" of the iOS App Store, but it still has a balance in the benefits that it offers.
 
The Mac App Store can become a big security benefit, much like Linux uses repositories, but only if it becomes more popular.

Does Apple host the downloads for software after it is included in the store?

If not, this is a big deterrent for any developer that wants to provide free software to the Mac community because of the fee associated with listing software in the MAS.

This only adds to their costs which is not always supplemented by returns via donations.

But, I am beginning to notice many great free apps appearing in the MAS. It would be great if most of the options for Mac software were available via the MAS.

The MAS is no where near the "walled garden" of the iOS App Store, but it still has a balance in the benefits that it offers.

The MAS as "secure" would only work as well as the vetting is for the apps submitted. And given that the iOS app store has had their share of issues, it's not proof-positive that something like MacDefender couldn't just as easily happen in some other format.

Also - I don't think anyone should be excited or think that the MAS should be the only way to buy software for the Mac for very obvious reasons.
 
Is Microsoft removing Antivirus 2011 and it's variants from Windows PCs via Windows Update?

Every month Microsoft pushes out an updated version of their Malicious Software Removal Tool via Windows Update, which then scans the PC in the background automatically and removes any malware that's detected.
 
The MAS as "secure" would only work as well as the vetting is for the apps submitted. And given that the iOS app store has had their share of issues, it's not proof-positive that something like MacDefender couldn't just as easily happen in some other format.

Also - I don't think anyone should be excited or think that the MAS should be the only way to buy software for the Mac for very obvious reasons.

What malware issues have occurred via the iOS App Store?

Are you referring to the Handy Light hidden tethering feature? Where the user had to use certain settings then click a specific sequence of light colors to allow tethering.

Every month Microsoft pushes out an updated version of their Malicious Software Removal Tool via Windows Update, which then scans the PC in the background automatically and removes any malware that's detected.

I made the connection to MSRT after making that post while reading another thread. But, thanks for the info.
 
Last edited:
What malware issues have occurred via the iOS App Store?

Are you referring to the Handy Light hidden tethering feature? Where the user had to use certain settings then click a specific sequence of light colors to allow tethering.



I made the connection to MSRT after making that post while reading another thread. But, thanks for the info.

There have been Apps in the App Store that have been - how shall we say - less than secure - offering up private information. Well documented. And the App Store is vetted by Apple. Do the math. If something can slip by in an iOS App - surely it can also slip by in MAS app...
 
There have been Apps in the App Store that have been - how shall we say - less than secure - offering up private information. Well documented. And the App Store is vetted by Apple. Do the math. If something can slip by in an iOS App - surely it can also slip by in MAS app...

Examples?

The private information disclosure was more inline with tracking for the purpose of advertising much like Google does with its browser. Apple allowed it to occur because Apple benefited from it. It didn't slip by Apple. It was users that disliked the practice. I agree that users should have a choice in being tracked in this manner.

But, it was in no way similar to malware, such as a keylogger.
 
Examples?

The private information disclosure was more inline with tracking for the purpose of advertising much like Google does with its browser. Apple allowed it to occur because Apple benefited from it. It didn't slip by Apple. It was users that disliked the practice. I agree that users should have a choice in being tracked in this manner.

But, it was in no way similar to malware, such as a keylogger.

I didn't say it was malware. There have been apps that have been in the appstore that were eventually pulled because they used outside APIs, or were calling home with data which went against the TOS. If that already happens with iOS apps - it can also happen with MAS apps.
 
I didn't say it was malware. There have been apps that have been in the appstore that were eventually pulled because they used outside APIs, or were calling home with data which went against the TOS. If that already happens with iOS apps - it can also happen with MAS apps.

Which apps pulled for calling home with data against TOS? Not that it matters. Still not malware.

It is still more secure than the alternative. No system is perfect. But, the better it is then the better it is.
 
Last edited:
I didn't say it was malware. There have been apps that have been in the appstore that were eventually pulled because they used outside APIs, or were calling home with data which went against the TOS. If that already happens with iOS apps - it can also happen with MAS apps.
Is this a threat somehow? Greater than the threat iOS apparently is to you?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.