We were having this conversation several weeks ago -- today I came across this news item and thought I'd send it along for thoughts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/computer-security/toptips.html Note the first myth which has to do with Macs. I'm interested in your informed comments... Rick > From: Rick McCutcheon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: "PCI PowerMacs" <[email protected]> > Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 17:17:31 -0600 > To: "PCI PowerMacs" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PCI] Virus Protection generally (was Virex Mystery) > > >> On Feb 8, 2005, at 11:50 AM, Rick McCutcheon wrote: >> >>> This raises for me the general question of what people are running for >>> virus >>> protection (if anything) on their vintage Macs -- meaning anything >>> running >>> with OS9.x and below. Any related comments on this subject would be >>> welcome >>> (at least by me!).... How careful do we need to be given the >>> relatively >>> [sic] diminished problem in the Mac world. (Or is that too quick an >>> assumption?) Etc. >>> >>> >> >> Nothing. >> >> I haven't run anything on any mac of mine since the days of >> Disinfectant. No viruses either. The last virus I got on any Mac was >> WDEF, which I cured by upgrading to OS 7. >> >> Even MS Word and Excel macros aren't very widespread anymore, and >> modern versions of both those programs intercept macros when you open >> the file. >> >> My opinion is that any company selling Mac antivirus software today is >> committing fraud. >> >> In the now nearly four years after the introduction of OS X not one >> single virus attacking it has been released. a pathetic proof of >> concept was floated by Intego last year...it amounted to a file with a >> spoofed icon and creator/program types. >> >> Even MacWorld couldn't find any REAL viruses to show for their pathetic >> OS X security article in the March issue..the illustration shows a >> bunch of Windows viruses. >> >> Mac users cannot 'inadvertently' pass on Windows viruses, it has to be >> a deliberate act. MS Word and Excel macros don't affect the Mac, and as >> I said are rare in any case. >> >> The differences between the OS X and Windows security models make it a >> lot harder for viruses to be written for the Mac. >> >> I'm sure someone will jump in and proclaim that this is just 'security >> though obscurity' or some such claptrap, but it isn't. >> >> It has ALWAYS been harder to write Mac viruses than PC viruses. >> >> -- >> Bruce Johnson > > > I too have not run anything since the days of Disinfectant, but have > wondered if I am being foolhardy. (I'll let everyone know if suddenly I'm > hit -- we'll know how to narrow the field of possible culprits, eh?) > Although I use email a great deal and from multiple accounts I haven't had a > hint of anything bothering my system in the past several years (always > running OS8.1 - 9.1). I do a lot of research on the internet and there too > I cannot recall anything ever causing problems. So that does raise the > question in my mind about why several big name companies are selling > high-end products that cost a pretty penny.... hmmm > > Now spam, that's a different question and some people may rightly regard it > as a form of virus. I know I get a lot of that and have to filter it out > and use various tools to minimize/fool it. But that's a different > discussion (I think) -- what intrigues me is this question of virus, defined > as someone writing a program to deliberately do harm to another person's > computer. Maybe this is reason enough to stay away from the other world... > (not that I am tempted in the least). > > Rick > > > -- > PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... > > Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | > -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | > > Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> > > PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> > --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; > Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> > To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> > > iPod Accessories for Less > at 1-800-iPOD.COM > Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal > www.1800ipod.com -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
