Malware that uses operating system calls is easy to write on Windows,
and most are done this way.
Malware (usually in x86 assembly) that does *not* use OS calls is
harder to write but *oops* will execute equally well on both x86 Macs
and x86 Wintels, *regardless* of which OS is running! IMO, it's only
a matter of time (sooner now than later) before we start seeing this
breed of virus. And of course, there will be intellent (or hybrid)
viruses written, that sniff around to figure out what OS is running
then use OS calls as appropriate.
Yes, the virus could then run on a Mac, IF IT COULD GET INTO IT. But
this is the big difference between X and Windoze; X havent got
mechanisms where unwanted computer code can get executed. Thus the
virus is harmless, just a collection of bytes. As I said in an earlier
posting:
There is nothing magical about a virus, it is simply a (smallish)
computer program - a collection of bytes. For it to do it's Dark Deeds
it has to get into the computer and be executed by the microprocessor.
And this is the main point: a cable from the internet to your machine
does nothing. There has to be programs running on the computer - an
operating system - that polls the port and receives packets of
information. What it does with this information is entirely up to the
operating system. If it is stupid enough to execute whatever program
codes are in that package, THEN a virus or spyware could get in. The
virus is not a living thing, it cannot actively sneak into your
computer by itself.
Now, Windows does lots of stupid things with received material, that
make it possible for malware to infect the computer and spread to
others. A Unix system - such as Mac OSX - is much more careful about
handling what it receives, and program processes have clearly defined
access privileges, not wide open access to the entire system.
It's late and I'm tired, so I don't know if I manage to explain this
comprehensibly. But trying to sum up: nothing can "get into" your
computer unless the computer lets it. Fetches it, to be more precise.
So you see, it's not the underlying hardware that matters, but the
software. Windows running on a PowerPC would be just as susceptible to
malware as it is when running on Intel chips. And conversely: OSX
running on Intel chips is just as safe as if running on PowerPC or
anything else.
Of course, it is not unthinkable that some twisted genius might find a
way through the security measures of a Unix system. But that has
nothing to do with the type of microprocessor
Hope this clarifies things a bit 8-)
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