LOL!
Posted on 09/22/2009 6:08:18 AM PDT by Sudetenland
Hackers just like the PC more.
Regardless of which side you're on (though as a true computing enthusiast, you shouldn't be taking sides), you've heard the arguments back and forth on the which operating system is truly safer – Mac OS X or Windows.
It is of the opinion of Charlie Miller, a well known Mac security guru, that even Snow Leopard, the latest version of Mac OS X, isn't as safe as Windows.
One key point is that Snow Leopard still doesn't have ASLR, or address space layout randomization, which randomly arranges the position of key data making it harder for hackers to target for exploits.
Miller said to TechWorld that Apple didn't change the ASLR from 10.5 to 10.6: "Apple didn't change anything. It's the exact same ASLR as in Leopard, which means it's not very good."
Apple didn’t completely missed the chance to tighten up security in Snow Leopard though, as the new QuickTime solves a lot of the issues that Mac OS X had before.
"Apple rewrote a bunch of QuickTime," said Miller, "which was really smart, since it's been the source of lots of bugs in the past."
One thing that Snow Leopard did adapt, which Windows has had since XP SP2, is DEP (data execution prevention). With DEP, buffer overflow attacks are much harder to execute.
Despite Miller's opinion that Windows is the more secure OS, the large install based of Microsoft-based systems make them a much more attractive target for hackers. Still, Miller would like to see security on all platforms.
"Snow Leopard's more secure than Leopard, but it's not as secure as Vista or Windows 7," he said. "When Apple has both [in place], that's when I'll stop complaining about Apple's security."
Source : Tom's Hardware US
Macbots attack in 5...4...3...2...1...
LOL!
I just picked up the Green AV spyware virus on my PC, and I’ve already posted a help request yesterday on FR, and I have received many responses on how to remove it, but the fact that I got it in the first place aggravates me. I gave up and gave it to a neighbor who has some computer expertise, so I hope he can get rid of it for me. Otherwise, I will have to restore my hard drive to its original state when I bought it, and that will be a pain as anyone who has a computer knows.
Dang right! Who are you going to believe? Me or your own lyin' eyes??!!!
If you repeat something often enough to enough people it becomes a fact. ie: Macs cannot be attcked.
But security doesn’t mean a thing when your motivation is an ego stroke.
There is a reason that you see a lot of Apple computer in K to 4th grade classrooms but then see PC’s in the higher grades. It doesn’t take any knowledge to use a Mac, but in the real world the job you get, 95% of the computer knowledge you need will be for a PC.
I'm a PC guy myself, but this kind of post is one of the most annoying things I see on FR. It gets used WAAAAY too much.
It's like "don't you dare disagree with me, in fact if you do, I'm going to call you a xxxBOT in advance and you'll just be jumping in because I TOLD you to!! HA!"
It's smug, snarky and juvenile.
How about that. Only 2 posts before the gratuitous insults of people who use Macs. Who's the bot?
All,
This article is a retread:9/17 Snow Leopard less secure than Windows, says hacker
have your neighbor friend run combofix.exe on it. google to find. cures most spyware infections.
The whole point of that kind of post is to head off any real discussion. It's a classic lefty tactic.
Or you could just buy a Mac...
Precisely.
I would *HOPE* FReepers would be above it.
Thank you! I'm really growing weary of the Mac folks constantly drilling the "you need to get a Mac" vibe into my head. No thank you! I'm quite content with my PC, and I've NEVER had a virus on my machines. Practicing safe browsing and treating everything as a threat keeps me safe. PCs are more ubiquitous, and I don't have to deal with BootCamp or a dual-boot scenario.
And as far as the xxxBOT comments, I agree. No need to blast people for their opinions, but leave me alone. I like my PC just fine. I don't want to spend $2000 for a Mac.
Yep, the huge hairball of code, known as Windows never will make it easy nor pretty to secure a system.
Security problems with *NIXes are usually due to operator error.
But all code has errors in it, as windows users knows quite well.
The savior for windows is the new 64 bit NX(no execute) bit technology in the CPU chip, separating out code and data, so the data cannot execute. This should do away with over 95% of the known windows viruses. Script kiddies are done.
I think both MS and Apple are worried about Linux, like Ubuntu, which is now good enough and free.
I have Windows 7 on my daily driver and it is fine. I am purposely running with only the NX technology enabled and no virus checking. I do a lot of testing on nefarious sites, for research only of course. The good news is most big email providers do the virus test on every email that comes through their system.
Shhhhh!
Don't tell it to the Macbots. They think they look so darn cute overpaying for an Apple logo, and walking down the street packing a Mac. Don't burst their bubble. LOL!
Who you gonna believe, scientific studies of security issues in Vista/Win 7 versus the Mac, or yet another spouting of anti-Microsoft, open source propaganda from some anonymous bomb thrower on the internet?
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