Macs and viruses? - Page 2

smknSRT8 · 10-22-2008, 07:08 PM

I do not believe there are affiliated with Apple in any except that they are certified to make repairs and do warranty work. Here is their website.

Londonrockz568 · 10-23-2008, 01:09 AM

Why is it impossible to get a virus or even code one for a mac?

monkeysrock0622 · 10-23-2008, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by Londonrockz568

Why is it impossible to get a virus or even code one for a mac?

Because Apple puts so much time into making every single part of their operating system so secure that it doesn't get viruses (yet) that way they have another advantage over windows.

And technically its not impossible, its just very very VERY hard.

Londonrockz568 · 10-23-2008, 01:39 AM

But we keep saying "yet" So its only a matter of time before that hard creation of a virus becomes easy?

I thought it was such an annoying and tedious process to make a virus for a mac no one bothered.

Why is it so hard? isnt code... code? regardless of platform?

FlwrPwer · 10-23-2008, 07:21 AM

Another reason there are no viruses is because the intent behind creating a virus is to hit as many users as possible. There are more windows users than mac users, so it makes more sense to write a windows virus. It'll affect more people and companies.

Why waste your time writing a virus if it's not gonna cause as many people pain? (not my opinion, just the idea behind creating viruses for macs).

JoeT · 10-23-2008, 08:21 AM

Oh, stop. FlwrPwer is almost right - the malware quotient for OSX is low because of low adoption figures and malware authors want high ROI like everyone else. But to draw a line to a low RISK of vulnerability is a scary one. That's like saying that the US is not vulnerable to terrorism because we haven't had an incident since 9/11 - the abscence of something does not prove that it does not exist.

The fact is that vulnerabilities in OSX have existed, been exploited, and have been patched, and that cycle is likely to continue as it does with other operating systems. Google "OSX vulnerability" and read a while, and you'll realize that if anything, you have security by obscurity.

Here's just one link to read: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Apple/Apple...al-OS-X-Flaws/

Londonrockz568 · 10-23-2008, 07:50 PM

Yeah but the whole goal of a virus is to "rape" multiple networks....what about the other viruses such at trojans, keyloggers...these are the things that steal info, get into the system and record your Credit cards, bank logins passwords. Most viruses just corrupt files, others are out to sneak in and steal info.

Also to say that apple is not as widespread as windows is a horrible statement. Apple is all over colleges/schools/ many design firms etc. We are young im sure if sum1 wrote a virus it would cause alot of havoc.

People have the same view of apple like people had of the Titanic. OH it wont sink, or viruses are hard to make for OSX. Titanic...well we all know what happened, but for Apple, just because it's never had a major breach dosent mean it couldnt happen. Many schools are pretty much teaching hacking, when they teach us advanced code and stuff in class.

FlwrPwer · 10-23-2008, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Londonrockz568

Also to say that apple is not as widespread as windows is a horrible statement. Apple is all over colleges/schools/ many design firms etc. We are young im sure if sum1 wrote a virus it would cause alot of havoc.

It's not a horrible statement. It's a true statement. Just look on this forum. Most users who have the iphone here are running Windows machines, not macs. And while most design firms/film studios use macs....most regular businesses use windows.

Londonrockz568 · 10-23-2008, 08:06 PM

Lol.... I stand corrected. sorry.

Lincoln · 10-24-2008, 08:53 PM

Nobody stated that there aren't any trojans and malware for OS X. There's plenty of that. Just a few months ago a poker game was discovered that, when downloaded, asked you to type your admin password because a necessary component wasn't installed. The app then sent that password to the developer of the app.

You can't say that Macs have even near the market share of PC's. It's much smaller. But it's growing constantly. Yes, OS X is a very secure operating system. No, there are not any viruses for it right now. But as market share grows and there are more users to target, people will try harder to create viruses for the Mac. Many will fail. Some may succeed. Only time will tell.