Mac Security Section?

[yellow]

It is reassuring to note the emormous amount of confidence that Mac users have in the inherent security of their systems. And I look forward to the next security update from Apple.

To some extent, ignorance is bliss. This is true of the Windows world as well. I would not apply it to other flavors of UNIX (or UNIX-like) OSes, as they require some level of technical ability to install/maintain/understand.

 

[frankblundt]

Most of my feelings on the subject derive from the endless threads started around the LEAP trojan, of which many were "panicky" (ie based on fear and ignorance), implying that a virus was on the loose and OSX was entering a new era of Windows-like virus doom, which it isn't. Two incidents (one still unclear) in the last how ever long, don't make for a big deal in my book.

Yes, people should post their queries and i think they get pretty good responses, but just because the site went nuts over one incident for a month doesn't create a need for a new forum. Yes, people, whatever their OS, should pay more attention to how they do things and how it works, but then this forum does a pretty good job of helping with that already, as it is.

 

[Seasought]

If the main purpose of a new section here at MR is to relieve other threads than I suppose there isn't a demand for a "Mac Security" section.

I just thought it would be nice to have an outlet for security discussion in general. Not just problems that exist for the Mac OS, but tips and advice concerning firewalls, security software and means of securing email, VNC, using VPN, SSH Tunneling etc.

My request wasn't in reponse to the "trojan/virus" panic that broke out a short time ago, I'm just interested in security with regard to what is one of the more notoriously secure operating systems that makes up OS X.

Until then, I'll just have to post in other semi-related threads.

 

[UKnjb]

This business will not get itself out of my head. I do still think that a Security sub-forum along the lines that Seasought proposed is desirable and --- well, necessary.

If I knew how to do it, I would start a Poll that would canvass the members of this community if they would welcome such a sub-forum. A simple yes/no/don't care one. Um - how do you start such a poll? They all seem to be initiated by Administrators of this site. Does one have to PM one of them to get it approved or what?

I have looked in the FAQs and most every other place I can think of and --- er, cannot find anything. Probably my ignorance. Help, please?

Edit point here: I have recently learned that one of the things that may get up the seasoned members' noses is that newbies, or relative newbies like me, rush headlong into asking about starting polls ...... so, I will ask everbody who might have wanted to, NOT to answer or even read this post. In fact ----- just ignore everything. It's been a bad day and I wish I hadn't written this.

 

[mad jew]

I just thought it would be nice to have an outlet for security discussion in general. Not just problems that exist for the Mac OS, but tips and advice concerning firewalls, security software and means of securing email, VNC, using VPN, SSH Tunneling etc.

Granted, that'd be great. However there's nothing stopping people posting tips in other forums (general OSX forum for instance) already. Also, the nature of this place is that people generally rock up with a problem and an attempt is made to fix it. Although it still happens, threads made for the purpose of providing a tip are unfortunately quite rare (apart from threads telling us about GUI keyboard shortcuts).

Edit point here: I have recently learned that one of the things that may get up the seasoned members' noses is that newbies, or relative newbies like me, rush headlong into asking about starting polls ...... so, I will ask everbody who might have wanted to, NOT to answer or even read this post. In fact ----- just ignore everything. It's been a bad day and I wish I hadn't written this.

I can't speak for all of us ol' salts, in fact I don't even know if I qualify as one but the problem isn't with newbies starting polls but rather starting threads asking how to create a poll. Don't worry about us grumpy ol' regulars.

 

[OutThere]

I can't speak for all of us ol' salts, in fact I don't even know if I qualify as one but the problem isn't with newbies starting polls but rather starting threads asking how to create a poll. Don't worry about us grumpy ol' regulars.

I think the sheer amount of time you've spent here exceeds that of those of us who've been registered longer than you...you're an old salt as far as most of us are concerned.

As for the newbie-poll thing: I think the problem is newbies repeatedly asking how to do stuff, when there's countless pages of reading material easily stickied all over the place, on how to do anything you could dream of on the forums. People seem to be blind to everything but the "New Thread" button, and prefer posting "HAY GUYZ I HAV TEH PROBLEMZ" to reading the FAQ.

 

[UKnjb]

As for the newbie-poll thing: I think the problem is newbies repeatedly asking how to do stuff, when there's countless pages of reading material easily stickied all over the place, on how to do anything you could dream of on the forums. People seem to be blind to everything but the "New Thread" button, and prefer posting "HAY GUYZ I HAV TEH PROBLEMZ" to reading the FAQ.

Okey dokey. I am here right now feeling rather ignorant, stupid and battered, and I admit defeat. I agree with everything that you say about so much stuff being here to help us find our way around the forums. I do always use the search facility to see if what I need is already out there, fully posted. I also use the FAQs on the various points of order.

In this instance - not wanting to pursue this business, but merely to find out - I went into everywhere I could on the site to find out how Polls (from within the MacPolls Discussion Forum) were initiated; they are all started by Macrumors. Not one thing could I find. So can you tell me how those polls are started - just to satisfy my curiosity?

Thanks in advance.

 

[OutThere]

Okey dokey. I am here right now feeling rather ignorant, stupid and battered, and I admit defeat. I agree with everything that you say about so much stuff being here to help us find our way around the forums. I do always use the search facility to see if what I need is already out there, fully posted. I also use the FAQs on the various points of order.

In this instance - not wanting to pursue this business, but merely to find out - I went into everywhere I could on the site to find out how Polls (from within the MacPolls Discussion Forum) were initiated; they are all started by Macrumors. Not one thing could I find. So can you tell me how those polls are started - just to satisfy my curiosity?

Thanks in advance.

When you start a new thread, check the "Create a poll" option below the text field, and you'll be given options for what to put in it.