Lol. This is the sad truth of the matter as the antivirus
companies have been responsible for the proof of concept assertions
that turned into rampant rumors about viruses for the Mac in the past.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED] net
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, DANCING DOTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED
On May 2, 2006, at 4:32 PM, Dane Trethowan wrote:
I'm in no doubt that Symantec would lead you to believe that the
world is to be full of viruses for your Mac soon so by Symantec
Anti Virus plus whatever else we can offer to fill up your hard
disk with now before its too late, the question then arises what
will do most damage, any possible virus or the Symantec products
themselves <smile>
On 03/05/2006, at 6:27 AM, JOHN PANARESE wrote:
As I have said and others, anything is possible, but I have
read of several false alarms and a few issues that can be simply
avoided by user attentiveness. Undoubtedly, someone will find a
way to make a Mac virus, but just because it is known people are
trying, does not mean the success will come rapidly. I've read
several accounts of "rewards" being offered to hackers to do so
without any success as of yet.
Nevertheless, the antivirus companies might, some day, have
business from Mac users. I will be willing to bet that it will be
nothing on the scale as Windows has, though.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED] net
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, DANCING DOTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND
VISUALLY IMPAIRED
On May 2, 2006, at 4:07 PM, David Poehlman wrote:
Mon May 1, 2:27 PM ET WASHINGTON (AFP) - Security threats are
rising for users of
Apple Computer's line of Mac computers, even though risks remain
lower than for those
using Microsoft Windows systems, a computer security center said.
The SANS Institute, a Washington-based computer research center,
said in its updated
list of "Top 20 Internet Security Vulnerabilities" that hackers
and virus writers
are increasingly targeting the Apple operating system.
In its update, SANS cited "rapid growth in critical
vulnerabilities" being discovered
in the Mac operating system.
The Apple software "still remains safer than Windows, but its
reputation for offering
a bullet-proof alternative to Windows is in tatters," the report
said.
"The reason it is such a problem from a security perspective is
that users feel invincible"
with Apple computers, said Ed Skoudis, a SANS security analyst
who briefed journalists
on the latest threats.
Skoudis said many hackers use Apple computers because of the
"cleanness of the interchange,"
and as a result are increasing their search for flaws in the
operating software.
Apple's decision to switch to Intel processors may also
contribute to the trend because
"the bad the guys know the assembly language for the Intel chips."
SANS experts said hackers are finding ways to attack alternatives
to Windows including
the open-source Mozilla Firefox browser, which is gaining in
market share against
Internet Explorer.
But they indicated that threats remain high for many PC users who
fail to use updated
security protection.
"I think it's almost time to rename the Internet Explorer to
'Internet exploiter'
because the chances of being exploited (by hackers and viruses)
are much higher,"
said Rohit Dhamankar, a security research and editor of the Top
20 list.
Skoudis noted that some Windows alternatives may appear safer but
only they have
fewer users and are thus a less attractive target.
"We have just as many vulnerabilities in Mac or in Firefox as
with Internet Explorer
and Windows, but the bad guys really focus on market share and
where the money is."
"So you're probably safer (using these alternatives) but not more
secure," Skoudis
added. "You're not impervious, don't think you have some shield
of invincibility
because you're not using Windows."
Skoudis said experts are concerned about the growing threats of
"malware," such as
viruses and spyware, aimed at financial gain, such as stealing
passwords or account
information.
This is a shift from the viruses that were strictly nuisances,
with profit being
the main motive.
"You've seen the rise of a malicious code industry," he said,
adding that "the industry
has its own research and development arm."
