Apple Adds Malware Blocker to Snow Leopard

[nekatreven]

Most MAC users would probably just scoff at this, point their nose higher, and tell it to open anyway in lieu of their immunity to such things.

 

[JimmiG]

There's no malware for macs. At least, that's what Apple says.

 

[Sicundercover]

No matter how you spin it; this is Apple ADMITTING that they are vulnerable. All of us in the business already knew this and OWN2PWN has already proved it. Now I wonder if they will pull the commercial that IMPLIES MACs dont get viruses.

 

[Guest]

It always amuses me how defensive you guys get whenever there is a mac piece. You actually care that Apple is a popular company, makes money, makes software many people enjoy using, and makes hardware many people like and most other manufacturers try to copy. It bothers you! You guys are so funny...

 

[JohnnyLucky]

I bet somebody somewhere is going to think Apple is challenging them. Somebody will accept the challenge.

 

[Sicundercover]

[citation][nom]flameproof[/nom]It always amuses me how defensive you guys get whenever there is a mac piece. You actually care that Apple is a popular company, makes money, makes software many people enjoy using, and makes hardware many people like and most other manufacturers try to copy. It bothers you! You guys are so funny...[/citation]

What bothers me is that this company has build a brand on lies, but mindless ad zombies just devour their false adds and shiny products. But most of all I hate Apple users, just like I hate Raiders fans. Neither can STFU about either.

 

[SneakySnake]

It was on Apples website for years that users should use at least two anti-virus's, until some journalist made a huge seen of it a year or so ago so they took it off.

Apple never said macs can't get viruses, they said that they don't get viruses, which it completely true

 

[seatrotter]

An infection is an infection regardless of how long it stays in the system (ie, whether it survices a reboot or not), and regardless of how entrenched it is (ie, whether it has attached itself to the kernel or only in userland space).

I don't want to rant on, so here's a simple scenario: you're browsing the interweb tubes and got hit by a drive-by malware vid a legitimate, but compromised site, due to a zero-day/unfixed browser bug. It starts collecting data and files (maybe even log key strokes on the browser) and sends it to the malware author.

You're screwed.

Questions: Did it had to infect the system/kernel? Did it had to survive a system reboot? Did it had to access ALL of the files in the system? Did it had to have root access?

Answer: No. It does not even have to and you still got your data "stolen".

Moral of the story: No matter how hardened you system/kernel maybe, it is always the weakest link that screws you; in this case, a compromised application. And running as a non-admin only lessens the threat, but not eliminate it. If you're running your applications as yourself (and not as a different, non-admin user or a lower-privilege user), then it has access to your files.

 

[talzara]

If Microsoft wanted to play dirty, then they should put a couple of million into a program to give "Free Macs for hackers in Eastern Europe." Part of what's protecting Mac owners right now is the fact that their market share in the US is higher than it is outside the US.

 

[Guest]

a Mac isnt magic. a Mac isnt unbreakable. its really just a well engineered piece of hardware running well written Operating System software originally based on the FreeBSD operating system underneath with a well designed and easy to use user interface over the top of their industrial strength Operating System. i have also recommended them because i've found their documentation excellent and love their full-service stores. Apple isnt infallible but i have found it to be a company full of people who love to make good stuff and who are very responsive to their customers.

 

[tmike]

Tmike your full of crap. There is no way in hell you have gone 30 years useing a pc on the internet and never got a virus. BS. Now if you want to say you have never got a virus that caused serious damage to your PC then i might believe you, otherwise i'm calling you a out right lier. Antivirus programs if used proper can catch most viruses but 30 years useing innternet without a virus, give me a break.

Your belief that your are correct affects me neither positively nor negatively. I don't make claims that I know to be false, and if I make a claim about which I am uncertain, I add a disclaimer to that effect. My original statement is accurate. I attribute my virus-free history to antivirus programs in part, but, as I stated, my own actions have materially contributed to my having had no successful infections.

The closest that I have come was quite recently when a web site that I use very frequently was compromised and attempted a drive-by using a PDF, which was caught by software. Had my antivirus not seen it, however, the infection attempt would have failed because of a configuration change that I always make in Reader.

I'm certain that eventually I'll get one that succeeds - but chances are it's not today.