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Secunia: Apple software has the most vulnerabilities

Discussion in 'TechSpot News and Comments' started by Jos, Jul 23, 2010.

  1. Jos TechSpot Staff

    Apple computers have generally been regarded as being 'secure' against major viruses and hacking efforts in the past. In part, that could be attributed to the fact that their Mac OS X install base isn't as enticing to malware coders as Microsoft's Windows. But with the rise of Mac market share and the growing popularity of Apple's mobile platforms, it seems very likely that the company' products will become major malware targets in the future.

    Read the whole story
  2. Zilpha Newcomer, in training

    I think arrogance comes into play somewhat on Apple's part. Steve Jobs really has a superiority complex and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't devote a whole lot of resources to testing for these vulnerabilities.

    It will be interesting to see how the next few years unfold, since Apple has "surpassed Microsoft as the most valuable Tech company" - let's see what happens when all those hackers start going in a new direction: toward Apple.
  3. It doesn't matter the platform, it's the ***** user that doesn't know how to update their software, clicks on every link that is on a website or e-mail, ...
  4. Zilpha Newcomer, in training

    Gues - you know that's not always the case. I'm working with a client right now who was fully patched to SP3, had Avast Pro fully updated and running, Windows Firewall active, and she uses Firefox browser and still managed to somehow get infected with some malware.

    Just saying that the "user is invariably an *****" is a rather close-minded way to view the problem. This is everyone's problem.
  5. Burty117 TechSpot Chancellor

    Zilpha and Guest your kinda both right, Yes the user was smart enough to update their software but obviously accesses websites that are not secure or clicked on an email the user didn't trust.

    A company can only protect its products and customers to a certain extent but if a user refuses to learn about computer security (apple fanboys) then they are going to get a virus.
  6. Vrmithrax TechSpot Paladin

    Wait for it... Wait for it... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    And Apple's smug "we're more secure" mantra gets demolished. I really shouldn't be this pleased, but with Apple and Jobs' recent attitudes and behaviors, I can't help but relish when reality bitchslaps them.
  7. maestromasada Newcomer, in training

    it doesn't really matter what the user do, the OS is alwyas at fault. Logging as a user (of course, never as an admin like we all do with out boxes) a virus/malware/such should never take any files on the computer at all, it is just how the OS has been designed, and so far, hate saying that, MaxOS has a much better/robust design than M$, don't you think???
  8. kyosuke Newcomer, in training

    ha first Apple hacking is beyond easy to the point that it has no interest in the world (so I am told)

    Second I'm sure if you ever got a virus on a mac (which I gotten from Tekserve's website a few times) Steve Jobs would just blame us saying it is our fault that we were hacked.

    Also There are a wide range of iPhone, iPads, and iPod touches viruses openly known that have yet to be fixed

    Don't get viruses get Apple but get Microsoft if you really want to have a chance to protect yourself
  9. dummybait Newcomer, in training

    PEBKAC.... enough said...
  10. kyosuke Newcomer, in training

    tekserve*
    yourself*
  11. jobeard TechSpot Ambassador

    lol; bet she's running a browser from the Admin Id; q.e.d.: sadly there's no one providing guidance to new users
  12. jobeard TechSpot Ambassador

    T.S. is 99.9% PC users so someone will always bash the other platforms :grin:
  13. jink Newcomer, in training

    Narrow Views

    This makes total sense as Apple/Apple users are typically less insecure with less they feel the need to hide (other than trade secrets that is) and, as a result, more open creatively.

    Therefore, from a "SECURITY! SECURITY!" perspective, they would show as more vulnerable.

    When we choose safety, we reinforce fear - and fear is the mind-killer. Hence why Apple is the mover and shaker in the marketplace at the moment and Microsoft is struggling so. Positive change can only happen when we are open (vulnerable).

    Microsoft has been in "lockdown" mode for years now while Apple has been the innovator.
  14. Zilpha Newcomer, in training

    I don't really know what thought you are trying to express here, but we traced the problem to apparently something on Facebook that she clicked. Unfortunately, she works for a town that has voted to create a Facebook page in order to become closer to the community, and she doesn't have a choice but to use the social networking site.

    Whether she was running under an account with administrative privileges or not, the fact still remains that this one managed to slip through the "More Secure" Firefox and also hid itself from Avast's resident scanner. In this instance and in a lot of others, users really do have good intentions. It's a VERY poor customer service attitude to take the position that the user is invariably an *****, and I can't imagine that it would attract much business.

    It's not like it was 10 or so years ago when this was still in its infancy - virus writers and hackers are getting smarter and as a result, the malicious software is also getting smarter. Some of this stuff is downright brilliant.
  15. tengeta Newcomer, in training

    I'd assume Apple devices have become the largest target, you can hack a ton of Windows PC's and use them as a botnet, but if you hack 20 iPhones you probably end up with at least 10 peoples financial information which is worth a lot to amateur hackers.
  16. jobeard TechSpot Ambassador

    ok,

    And that's because there is and never will be a silver bullet in A/V technology - - can't be - - virsus' written today will not have an A/V signature or remove technique for several days.

    more plainly: Users accessing the internet while logged on an Admin account
    have a death wish. That account has rights to everything and with the wrong things being access, it is trivial to infect the whole system. Users using an LUA or UAC account have 99.9% less chance of being infected.

    Clear?
  17. Archean TechSpot Paladin

    That is one brilliant piece of advice one can give, using this basic precaution not only reduces your chance of getting infected with anything, but also another aspect is ordinary users installing everything or anything they like, without bothering to see whether it is from an reliable source or not, whether they need it or not, which can cause lots of instabilities and security issues, obviously.
  18. Darth Shiv TechSpot Enthusiast

    Well considering there will *never* be a shortage of *****s, I think a foolproof OS is more likely scenario (remote but more possible granted)...