Lack of viruses/spyware

So I've been trying to inform others of the relative merits of owning an Apple system. (Most notably, family)

But when I come across the topic of no spyware and no viruses, I always get asked, "How can that be?"

To which I have no answer.

Is it due to just lack of motivation? (Windows viruses would hit a bigger target so they don't bother with Mac viruses?)

Is it due to the operating system? On the Apple website it says something about Unix but I'm not entirely sure how that protects a system from malware. I also remember being prompted for a password each time I installed something so perhaps there's another reason?

Anyone care to educate a dummy?

Thanks

 

Apples take up a very small percentage of computer users. If someone took the time to make one it would effect a very small percentage of users.

That is really the only reason.

When there is one that does hit, most users will be quite sorry they never scanned any files. Still be in the habit of doing so

 

i read an article where the percentage of virus/spyware is approximately in comparison to windows and mac users. don't know if it was true or not but it does make sense. there's a much larger windows user base so we hear about that more.

 

Viruses that infect Macs are possible, but I'm not aware of any that exist outside of proof-of-concept programs.

 

passive101 is correct. This is way linux and mac can make such boasts. However no system is bug-free. There are always exploits and security threats in any OS. The difference is a hacker/virus maker's main intent, which is to infect or exploit as many computers as possible, since mainstream is Windows, thats what OS they focus on. A mac representative at my universities laptop showcase actually had the balls to say that it was IMPOSSIBLE to get virus's on MAC's. Boy did my friend go to town on him.

But yes, Linux (and maybe MAC, never used, studied one, anyone else?) use root password protection on all system files making it much harder for unwanted files getting in important folders.

 

For the love of god it's Mac not MAC.

To the OP:
In general Unix(on which OS X is loosely based) is more secure than Windows. The major factor, though, is that the user base is just to small right now. I expect, though, that with all the recent hype we'll start to see a couple of OS X viruses popping up soon.

 

I think that's right too. On unbiased/independent Mac blogs, websites, etc. there appear certainly, news as to possible security exploits in OSX.

Here's one example, comparing vulnerability stats for Vista/XP with Tiger/Leopard over 2007; the result is somewhat "surprising":

http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=758

Let alone malware, MacOSX already has rogue cleaning applications:

http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001362.html

 

I agree. As soon as Apple's market-share reaches that 'magic number', we'll start seeing nefarious code targeting the MacOS. If I was in Apple's OS department, I would be seriously looking into hardening OS X 10.6.

 

When Mac OS X has 95% market share... you'll see who gets most of the viruses.

Also, historically, Windows has had a more vulnerable default configuration, with running everything as root by default, but that's starting to change with Vista's UAC and IE protected mode.

 

Ughhh, so true. XP defaulted everyone to an admin account. /facepalm

 

Problem .....

Most of the Vista users disable UAC due to annoying popups,so how can they protect from attacks?

I think M$$ wanted to tweak Vista UAC

 

Macs don't get viruses, but they can. Its been proven many times, Mac OS X is vulnerable, and as is with any man-made object on earth, its not perfect. But for now, there are no major viruses in the wild targeting Mac OS X.

 

If I were a moderator on this forum (cough*Sam*) I'd close this topic and never allow talking about viruses on the Mac platform.

It's good that we don't get viruses. We don't need any more attention drawn to it. Yeah, let's just have a 100000 pages thread about how nobody wants to write a virus for OS X, and SOMEBODY WILL.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, there's not enough censorship around here.

 

HEHEHEHE Ain't that the truth.

 

Agreed. Sam, close the thread; better yet, delete it and then ban all these guys who are discussing Mac viruses!












Except me, of course.

 

I got my answer. Please feel free to wipe this thread out.

 

Ha ha, a couple of viruses for OS X? As opposed to over 114,000 on Windows.
At least your post is fair, the Windows fanboys on here that replied are all against the Mac as you can see with their comments. As usual I don't know why the Windows crowd doesn't stay on their forum, they only have negative things to say about Macs and a blind bias towards Windows, I wouldn't recommend taking those comments with a grain of salt.

 

Haha, that's right, MAC is a Canadian cosmetics company .

 

I would....

 

LOL, ya know what I agree with you, I think I said that statement wrong.

 

I would disagree that Apple's market share is the only reason OS X has no viruses in the wild. I would say it plays a role, but the main reason is the user levels in OS X. Look at Vista, it finally has proper user levels and is MUCH more secure than XP.

Also, as for those articles about vulnerability numbers and such, consider the source. Also, consider exactly what they are reporting, patched vulnerabilities, not total vulnerabilities or the number actually being exploited.

 

And iTouch is a keyboard made by Logitech.

 

believe i read somewhere that mac os does random memory loading (for system files, harder for viruses to target.... though Vista 64-bit has this function, few people use 64-bit)

 

I agree. OSX has provided a far more secure operating system by beginning with limiting an account's default privileges