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OOPS OSX not virus free anymore...

ImNoSuperMan

ImNoSuperMan

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 1, 2005
1,221
66
OK. I`d heard that OSX had some securities flaw but didnt know that someone has already been attacked. Here`s the story. So does it mean no more bragging to my XP using friends "It`s virus free. What else could you ask for after that."

And it doesnt look like that this is a one time issue. The article says that Macs could be prone to viruses as much as windows in the near future.
 
You needn't be too worried. Unlike Windows, Mac viruses need user interaction to activate. All this means is that you've got to be careful when surfing around the 'net. On Safari, you should uncheck opening safe files, in the preferences, to prevent *infection*. When downloading stuff, you should press comm+I to find out what the file really is, and you should be fine. If you are really worried, I suggest going to Terminal's preferences, and setting Terminal to execute the login command when opening a new Terminal window. I don't think there's anything more you can do, 'cause frankly, if you see the downloaded file is an executable, open it, and type in your password in Terminal to allow it to mess about, you're so stupid you deserve to get infected :rolleyes: lol.
Remember: I could send you a *virus*, but unless you're foolish enough to open it, you won't get *infected*.
 
vikas soni said:
...it doesnt look like that this is a one time issue. The article says that Macs could be prone to viruses as much as windows in the near future.
Click to expand...
No, Apple is much more secure than Windows ever will be. Unix is the oldest and more secure OS out there.
 
Terrible AP Article

I was going to start a new thread on this, when I read that the Intel transition would prompt more viruses for Mac OS X. Nothing like a little bad press every here and again. Apple had better release something good on Tuesday to stomp this out. ;)
 
EricNau said:
No, Apple is much more secure than Windows ever will be. Unix is the oldest and more secure OS out there.
Click to expand...

There's a blanket statement if I've ever heard one...

I wouldn't say more secure, just different. Fortunately, many approaches to things on OSX make it difficult for something like a worm to propagate, or get root access. Of course, it is not impossible. I think we will see more "attacks" in the future, but I don't think we'll see it on an epidemic scale like we see now with Windows.
 
Okay... so there are a few viruses for the Mac. A new Windows virus emerges every 18 seconds. That's a fact too. I'll find the source if somebody really wants it.

Daniel.
 
Superdrive said:
I was going to start a new thread on this, when I read that the Intel transition would prompt more viruses for Mac OS X.
Click to expand...
Except that particular security problem affected only PPC Macs, not Intels.
 
BurtonCCC said:
Okay... so there are a few viruses for the Mac. A new Windows virus emerges every 18 seconds. That's a fact too. I'll find the source if somebody really wants it.

Daniel.
Click to expand...
Ya, I'd like the source. Not because I don't trust you but because my Windows friends won't trust me when I tell them. ;)
 
vikas soni said:
OK. I`d heard that OSX had some securities flaw but didnt know that someone has already been attacked. Here`s the story. So does it mean no more bragging to my XP using friends "It`s virus free. What else could you ask for after that."

And it doesnt look like that this is a one time issue. The article says that Macs could be prone to viruses as much as windows in the near future.
Click to expand...
This is a story that I have now seen on three news outlets. It is based on the claims of two people and a whole lot of conjecture. The description sounds nothing like a virus. How many times have we read reports of new Mac viruses that turn out to be nothing of the sort. Prudence dictates that we withhold judgement until we get some facts. As things stand, we have none.
 
EricNau said:
Ya, I'd like the source. Not because I don't trust you but because my Windows friends won't trust me when I tell them. ;)
Click to expand...
There are around 53,000 computer viruses in existence, with a new one detected every 18 seconds.

Look at the fact that the 53,000 virus count was last updated in November of 2004... if anybody wants to do the math on what that means we're at now, I'll buy you a drink.

Good thing I still had my bibliography on the speech I gave about why Windows sucks. I got an 105% and my professor bought a Mac the next week.

Daniel.
 
plinden said:
Except that particular security problem affected only PPC Macs, not Intels.
Click to expand...

Just to say a little bit about that article. :rolleyes: The terrible thing about the media is people read it as fact. Not everyone is an expert in every field, so this kind of stuff isn't the best news to be read.
 
Has anyone mentioned yet that it wasn't a virus?

Look at the first sentence in the article...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Benjamin Daines was browsing the Web when he clicked on a series of links that promised pictures of an unreleased update to his computer's operating system.
Click to expand...

I wonder where our friend Ben was browsing. And what the fracking hell is a 'picture of an unreleased update'?

Sounds like Ben is an idiot. And macs while often being foolproof will never be idiot proof.
 
The irony is of course that it all started on macrumors and it was the 'enthusiastic' mac lovers trying to download pictures of their new operatig system (and not porn) that got them in to trouble. Some prompt damage control by a mod could have prevented the whole thing blowing up into what it did.

The saddest part about it is that when the story broke it exposed mac users for what they were - not smug, feeling safe in their own world zealots but rather people who rather look at a new UI than a woman's breasts. Damn there goes our credibility.
 
BurtonCCC said:
There are around 53,000 computer viruses in existence, with a new one detected every 18 seconds.

Look at the fact that the 53,000 virus count was last updated in November of 2004... if anybody wants to do the math on what that means we're at now, I'll buy you a drink.

Good thing I still had my bibliography on the speech I gave about why Windows sucks. I got an 105% and my professor bought a Mac the next week.

Daniel.
Click to expand...

By my calculations there will be a total of 2,529,800 computer viruses by midnight tonight (give or take). That seems to high (or does it?), did I do something wrong?
 
I love charts! And Secunia, the most oft-quoted security company in just about every discussion of OS security vulnerabilities, does not disappoint.

Here''s a chart of OS X advisories compiled by Secunia covering the period from 03-06 on a monthly basis. It reports a total of 66 advisories.

graph


Now here's the chart for Windows XP. It reports a total of 111 advisories. Almost double the pleasure, double the fun...

graph


Well, how well is Apple and Microsoft responding with patches for the above vulnerabilities you ask? The chart for Apple, if you please...

graph


It reports that only 2% remain unpatched. Impressive. And now, ladies and gentleman, the same chart for Microsoft....

graph


It reports a whopping 20% remain unpatched. :eek: And since there are, as we all know, very real exploits for Windows XP in circulation, only one word comes to mind: ouch!

But what does all of this mean for the average user? Are their systems really at risk? What's the "impact?" Can someone gain access to their system? Or render it useless with a DOS (denial of service) attack. Once again, with all due trepidation, lets have a peek at the chart for OS X...

graph


According to Secunia, 21% of Apple's system vulnerabilities (which we have already seen are largely patched) could have lead to system access and 17% could have lead to a DOS. Geez, thank God Apple is paying attention to this stuff. But what about Microsoft's largely unpatched vulnerabilities in Window's XP? How bad are they? Well, for the brave amongst you, here is the chart. For Microsoft's apologists, it's time to close your eyes...

graph


Good God, 50% could lead to system access. 20% could lead to DOS. And as noted above, Microsoft still has their work cut out for them, 20% of its vulnerabilities remain unpatched. And you wonder why there are so much malware on Windows? Probably one of the finest assessments I've ever read regarding the security issue for Windows versus that of OS X is Jon Gruber's Broken Windows article, which still holds true today. And it nails the main issue pertaining to Microsoft that none of the Security firms seem the least bit willing to discuss.
 
Didn't this virus expire at the end of February anyway?

IIRC the person that made it made it expire so the code did nothing.
 
jimN said:
The saddest part about it is that when the story broke it exposed mac users for what they were - not smug, feeling safe in their own world zealots but rather people who rather look at a new UI than a woman's breasts. Damn there goes our credibility.
Click to expand...
heHEHEhe. I think I have downloaded more p0r9 in these last 4 months(since I switched) than my 8 years with PC. Macs are the safest way to find porn on the web. I m just assuming but still I think more than 60% of viruses on XP are downloaded while surfing porn sites. Since, in general, people are more likely to click on a link saying FREE S##,FREE ADULT MOVIES,LIVE WEBCAMS than some other stuff. So it made sense for me to use my iBook for such stuff than my PeeCee.
GimmeSlack12 said:
Ooops... this was posted all over the web about 2 months ago.
But the Intel machines still run the same OS, that has little to do with it.
Click to expand...
Now I know this was all over the web 2 months ago. Me too read it on MR. But the actual point of this article is that even thogh the loopholes were reported to apple 2 months ago, they still havent been fixed. Thats the biggest concern. Nothin is perfect. Nothin can ever be perfect. But if apple had fixed it in time, I wudnt have any problem at all. I m 100% sure we`ll see much more macs in the future(thnx to bootcamp) than ever before. Thereby much better(read bigger) target for hackers/virus coders. There will be definitely more attacks on OSX now. Hackers will try to exploit even the smallest of opportunities. So if Apple takes this long to patch security flaws then I doubt OSX will ever be the same it used to be.

G99 said:
You needn't be too worried. Unlike Windows, Mac viruses need user interaction to activate.
Click to expand...
I agree. That is the case till now. But who knows what will happen next. May be someone will be able to find a way around. Thats my biggest concern. Apple has to react quick. I know it`ll be a tough job. But still this is expected. That was the biggest difference between OSX and XP till date. I wonder by the time we see 10.6 and Vista SP1, OSX may well become another windows. OK that wud be too much. But still anythings possible...
 
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