this doesn't pertain to cars...but i need your help

[wood_e]

Its all about architecture. It is rather difficult to make a virus for a Unix based operating system. It is really easy ot make one in windows as Outlook express executes things within the application's background. People should just stop using Outlook/Outlook express because macro viruses are run within emails as scripts and can run in the background and such. Its really the arrchitecture of windows that is the issue. Microsoft knows this, but isn't donig a whole lot to fix it. Sure XP is stable, but theres enough ot go wrong as wo where it can be a real mess. Microsoft is losing corporate business because of this. Their next major OS revision will have a new architecture... but who knows when that will be out.... I bet 2006...

 

[dzervit]

Don't kid yourselves thinking Macs are safe. They've had their share of security issues, and will continue to have them - OS X is based on UNIX, and UNIX takes knowlege to harden it. The reason your 'safe' for now is most PC's are obviously Windows based and a much easier target (more opportunity to exploit an unpatched system). You could make the same arguement about Linux... no major viruses for Linux variants yet. That's what you get when you have 90% plus of the desktop market...

Bottom line - HARDWARE firewalls and cautious web browsing is the key. And don't forget to install those patches and have a solid a/v program with auto updates!

 

[dzervit]

Its all about architecture. It is rather difficult to make a virus for a Unix based operating system.

Not true, man. Plenty of patches are released weekly/monthly (just like MS) for UNIX-based OS's and the programs that run on UNIX (I can't even count as high as their are SENDMAIL security issues. Joe Computer User doesn't hear about all the nasty Unix/Linux holes since it's not widely used nor well advertised (the general media fins UNIX/Linux viruses/worms boring). Windows code is EVERYWHERE and used by everyone... of course it's going to be a big target!! One MS worm can get control over millions of PC's in hours, while the same Unix/Linux/Mac worm would only round up hundreds of thousands. And when you launch your DoS attack on someone, you want millions of hosts to do your bidding, not a puny 150,000+.

 

[wood_e]

Don't kid yourselves thinking Macs are safe. They've had their share of security issues, and will continue to have them - OS X is based on UNIX, and UNIX takes knowlege to harden it. The reason your 'safe' for now is most PC's are obviously Windows based and a much easier target (more opportunity to exploit an unpatched system). You could make the same arguement about Linux... no major viruses for Linux variants yet. That's what you get when you have 90% plus of the desktop market...

Bottom line - HARDWARE firewalls and cautious web browsing is the key. And don't forget to install those patches and have a solid a/v program with auto updates!

Well it IS safer than windows. All OSes are rather safe if you know what you are doing. As with anything ignorance is bliss. I think linux has huge computing implicatins. It has a large core network of developer users that won't write viruses because they don't want to destroy what they've worked to create.

The security issues in UNIX/LINUX aren't as serious IMO as in Windows. They are there though.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

i have a Apple IBook, i like the security measures, its good, no problems EVER

 

[epj3]

i have a Apple IBook, i like the security measures, its good, no problems EVER

What's that matter? I have a windows xp machine, and a redhat 9 machine and never ever had a single problem in my entire life with spyware, viruses, etc. and I have never touched virus software.

All comes down to how much of a comptuer n00b you are.

 

[dzervit]

What's that matter? I have a windows xp machine, and a redhat 9 machine and never ever had a single problem in my entire life with spyware, viruses, etc. and I have never touched virus software.

All comes down to how much of a comptuer n00b you are.

Amen brother!! I've never had any virus on any of my PCs over the years, and every network I've managed has never succomb to a virus or worm attack... and I've never owned a Mac (but I wouldn't mind getting one).

 

[Millreef]

The two best decisions I've made in the last year were getting a Mac - and getting a Bimmer! For those who are computer literate (and careful), viruses can be managed....BUT for a large number of people who have computers (but know as much about them as they do about their toasters [???1], viruses are a constant problem. I help run an online company that has about a million registered users....and our customer relations department is constantly dealing with people who have, unwittingly, been infected by a virus, spyware, etc.... All we can really do is to try and educate them on anti-virus software, spyware removal tools, etc....

 

[epj3]

I wouldnt mind having a mac just to fool around with. I'm going to school for networking next year and, well, nobody really cares about mac's in the real business world. I know graphic design artists, like vlad, use them all the time, and so do music and video companies, but other than that, companies use microsoft and *nix products.

 

[xLibelle]

i have to laugh at everyone and anyone that gets viruses and popups. You people SUCK, HAHAHA.
I dont use virus protection and have never gotten a virus, nor do i have crap spyware or popups at all (other than the site-scripted crap). I dont use pop-up stopers or any particular software to keep me free from annoyancies. (i do scan for adware once in a while)
You just have to know what you are putting on your computer/what you open up/and what to do in case of problems.

 

[mclarensmps]

suffering from viruses and adware?

STOP BROWSING AND DOWNLOADING PORN [fake]

jk... but all it takes is a little care with what youre doing and you shouldnt have a problem with these things.

 

[Cabra]

Google Tool Bar & Lavasoft Ad-Ware !!!