Macs and viruses?

This is possibly the best topic for me, as a current PC user/owner.

I was never too sure with Macs because of their virus protection. When they become more popular (which they will be, with Apple's "new" approach) I'm not sure if OSX will be safe. This is the only reason I haven't switched yet.

(Obviously) I say go ahead and switch. The big reason that there aren't any viruses for OSX is that, yes, it's less popular. But really, OS X is more secure than Windows. It's simply harder to create a virus for it.

i wouldn't go that far.

anyway, back to the OP... $13,000 reward to the first virus for mac? from apple? Think about it. This is the company that makes developers PAY to be a part of the iphone software dev community.

Why would they encourage the creation of malware when it's their main selling point? Programmers and hackers are not ones to take challenges lightly.

Theres a huge difference between being hacked...and the user hacking his own device for features not originally available.

You can say the same for a PC user. My friend hacked his own PC to create opaque/transparent start menu, file folders, windows. There would be a large difference if someone hacked his computer and obliterated system files.

Interesting, I knew macs were virus resistant, but I didn't know they could "not" get a virus at all. Do they get popups or ebombs which aren't viruses?

Yes, i agree Napoleon, this makes more sense then OSX being impervious to viruses. The whole point of writing a virus is ego driven, not much glory in the minority.

LMAO!! That would be sooooo funny if someone thought thats what it meant, and ended up with a $1000 dollar brick:tounge::tounge:

As if Apple is going to be so naive and just sit back and let it happen. They'll prolly step up their really good security they already have.

How do you make a virus lol:gasp:

except it'll go the other way around. exploit found... patched. another exploit found... patched. etc.

Apple is nothing special when it comes to security, in my eyes. It's had its fair share of lock ups from what I've heard.

Honestly, I agree with the idea that when OS X becomes more popular, Macs will be more virus-prone. Hackers really don't have incentives to develop virus' for a small time OS. Give it time.

And btw, let's not they hope they pull an "iPhone" when that happens. "What's that? You have a virus? We won't address it till the next Mac"

Haha oooh that would suck:tounge:

Exactly this is what will happen. Better hacking leads to better patches it'll only get harder. Its a cause and effect cycle. Better patches leads to better hacking rinse and repeat.

Im sure the if you take the device into the apple store and be like i have a virus, they will run a diagnostic and see that there is a virus. They will politely give you a brand new device and ship the old infected one off to Apple engineers for code reversal and apple will patch over it with the next firmware update.

It happens, but apple isnt going to just sit on their laurels and wait. If you can prepare just a bit so the small crap doesnt do carnage then you can concetrate on the large threat and how to fix it so it dosent happen again.