Very good and about time someone did that because I'm sick and tired
of people rubbishing one computer operating system or another, all
have weaknesses and strenghs and it just so happens that MS Windows
is particularly weak and vonerable.
On 09/07/2006, at 4:01 AM, JOHN PANARESE wrote:
It comes down to the architecture of Windows. At its core,
it's still Windows, and there are simply inherent security flaws.
This was explained to me by a programer friend a long time back who
sends me technical articles usually well over my head, but that was
one in which I understood the content quite well.
I've heard many people stand by the myth of learning a new OS
is too time consuming and that it would cost too much to switch to
the Mac. There was a link or two posted by someone a while back that
dealt directly with the myths about the Mac and basically took them
apart one by one. Very nice reading.
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 Jul 8, 2006, at 1:49 PM, Tom McMahan wrote:
Hi John, and all.
Every time MS is about to come out with a new OS, they say their
security is going to be better. But simply listen to your am radio
just after, and you hear tons of complaints. The more they
upgrade, it seems tohe worse it gets.
Maybe the sleeping giant will wake up. That sleeping giant being
the marketplace. And let's face it, Apple does have a packaged
product which doesn't require a lot of study to get on a machine
and conduct common transactions for most people. Whereas other
operating systems seem to require a little bit of more learning.
That's why the gas station down the street still runs a Windows
box, not a box with BSD or Linuxon it. Think those are still
nervous about haveing tospend lots of time training their $6 per
hour employees for a new system that they stick with Windows, yes
while complaining, but sticking with Windows. Yet, Apple is
positioned to make some good gains. If they exploit Windows's
weaknesses.
They have been doing it some with the new Mac Intel comercials,
true they are indirect about their slams concerning Windows but
they are making their point. At least I seem to get a laughf out
of the commercials.
73s.
On Jul 8, 2006, at 10:02 AM, JOHN PANARESE wrote:
It is a big part of the reason why many companies and
agencies and even government entities are seeking alternatives to
Windows. Vista will be no different with security issues, and
Microsoft will continue to be a target and easy prey to such
attacks. I've read so many articles and blogs talking about this
that it's becoming hard for even the most staunch Windows
supporters to ignore, like my younger brother.
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 Jul 8, 2006, at 9:56 AM, Dane Trethowan wrote:
You have to wonder just how much money Microsoft may be making
out of all this <smile> I won't go on about it as its off-topic a
little but I read an article in a Technology bulletin this
morning which talked about how someone had written some Malicious
code which replaced the Microsoft Genuine Advantage pthing for
Windows XP, well all I can say is rubb salt into Microsofts
wounds Nice, good and propper <smile>.
On 08/07/2006, at 11:56 AM, LARRY WANGER wrote:
Check this out.
Security Company Recommends Macs
By Walaika K. Haskins
July 5, 2006 3:30PM
"There are far, far fewer threats on Apple Macs than there are on
PCs," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
"So home users who
simply want a computer to do some Web surfing, exchange e-mails,
take photographs, buy music, or make movies may find it's a much
simpler life from the
malware point of view if they used a Mac instead of a PC."
A new breed of malicious software has replaced viruses and worms
as the weapon of choice for Internet criminals looking to steal
money from unsuspecting
netizens, according to a study published Wednesday by security
firm Sophos.
The report found that during the first half of 2006, the number
of new worms and viruses emerging on the Internet dropped
significantly, overshadowed by
a new, dangerous species of Trojan horse. These Trojans,
according to Sophos, now outnumber other new viruses and worms by
a four-to-one margin.
In light of all the new malicious software targeting Windows PCs,
Sophos recommended in the report that Windows users swap their
current systems for a Mac.
Making the switch to a Mac, the company said, will help safeguard
against the new breed of attacks.
"Because there are so many poorly protected home computers out
there running Windows, the hackers haven't had to write Mac
versions of their viruses," said
Graham Cluely, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
Trojans on the Rise
Last month, Sophos identified 180,292 different types of
malicious code actively circulating on the Internet, representing
an increase of more than 40,000
over June 2005. The bulk of these ne'er-do-well programs are
written to target Windows users.
"The criminals responsible are obviously making money from their
code, otherwise they'd give up the game," Cluley said.
During the first six months of 2006, Trojans accounted for some
82 percent of new threats. Hackers prefer this type of malicious
software, Sophos found,
because it can be targeted at a particular group of people to
increase the likelihood of tricking users into handing over
information.
Unlike the old days of computer viruses when hackers wrote and
released their malware in a quest to grab headlines and impress
their peers, today's malicious
code writers want as little publicity as possible, Cluley noted.
"If a virus makes the front page of the New York Times, that's
bad news for today's hackers," he said. "They don't want users to
be aware of what they're
up to, so they like to infect a smaller group of people and steal
from them (identities, bank account information, and so forth)
without them realizing
that they have been infected at all."
Choose a Mac
Cluley said that, after years of recommending that users take
steps to better protect their computers with constantly updating
security software, it is
clear that most users are not listening.
"Every antivirus program on the planet detects [the older
viruses], but clearly some PC home users aren't running any
effective antivirus [software] at
all or haven't bothered updating it," Cluley said. "So why not
switch to a computer which simply cannot be infected by these
threats?"
The Sophos report indicated that the first malicious software
targeting Apple's Mac OS X did not emerge until February 2006.
The company also found that,
in contrast to predictions from the SANS Institute and other
security companies, there has been no deluge of viruses targeting
the Mac.
Odds are, Cluley predicted, that Macs will "continue to be the
safer place for computer users" for some time to come.
"There are far, far fewer threats on Apple Macs than there are on
PCs," he said. "So home users who simply want a computer to do
some Web surfing, exchange
e-mails, take photographs, buy music, or make movies may find
it's a much simpler life from the malware point of view if they
used a Mac instead of a PC."
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