Apple Hires Former Windows Security Hacker for OS X

[JMcEntegart]

Apple has brought in the big guns.

Apple Hires Former Windows Security Hacker for OS X : Read more

 

[sixdegree]

Finally, they starts to address the fact that OSX platform can have virus and malware. This is a step to the right direction.

 

[A Bad Day]

What? Apple's not going to stick to their cover-up policy?

 

[nforce4max]

His work is going to be fairly easy for a while searching for holes and exploits in OSX given just how weak the security is in that os. The only thing that stops most from making malware for osx is that there is no existing wealth of scripts, how to guides for writing malware for osx, and that the os is vastly different from windows as well linux when it comes to the commands. Simple phishing and spyware programs will likely be the biggest threat to Mac users in the future.

 

[pacomac]

For a start he is a she, and if you knew anything about OSX you would know there are nowhere near the number of security holes in OSX as there has been in Windows. Only know are Microsoft getting their act together.

 

[shahrooz]

a security expert that previously worked on locking down Microsoft's Vista OS.....

 

[A Bad Day]

[citation][nom]shahrooz[/nom]a security expert that previously worked on locking down Microsoft's Vista OS.....[/citation]

Vista's security is better than XP's given the new additional features.

 

[SoiledBottom]

This is why I love Tom's

Kristin "Paget" was hired by Microsoft....before

Now it seems "Piget" is working with Apple....after

 

[applerocks]

[citation][nom]nforce4max[/nom]His work is going to be fairly easy for a while searching for holes and exploits in OSX given just how weak the security is in that os. The only thing that stops most from making malware for osx is that there is no existing wealth of scripts, how to guides for writing malware for osx, and that the os is vastly different from windows as well linux when it comes to the commands. Simple phishing and spyware programs will likely be the biggest threat to Mac users in the future.[/citation]

Have you ever really looked recent versions of OS X? The default setting are pretty tight for not allowing any non-signed code to execute on the box. Not saying its 100% secure by any means, but you statement sounds like an uninformed opinion more than a knowledgeable fact.

I have an old Mac Laptop that I let my kids use. The fact that they haven't been able to infect it with something is a pretty strong statement.

 

[COLGeek]

So many uninformed haters and nothing will ever change that. Any OS can be made unsafe or secure (at least more secure). The operator/user is the major problem that needs to be "fixed".

Think about it.

 

[bak0n]

Apple is very secure. They only let you do limited things with their hardware and software so by default it is secure.

 

[gerchokas]

Mac OS is a derivative of BSD, which is like a cousin of linux. Even if its not a very original OS (Microsoft created their OS entirely by themselves) it has the strengths of BSD in terms of security - which is very high

 

[madjimms]

[citation][nom]gerchokas[/nom]Mac OS is a derivative of BSD, which is like a cousin of linux. Even if its not a very original OS (Microsoft created their OS entirely by themselves) it has the strengths of BSD in terms of security - which is very high[/citation]
Umm... you do know that the version of BSD that was used was REAAAALLLLYYY old right?

 

[house70]

They probably got tired of having their system be the first to bite the dust and every white-hat conference.

 

[ashwinsinghgr8]

[citation][nom]nforce4max[/nom]His work is going to be fairly easy for a while searching for holes and exploits in OSX given just how weak the security is in that os. The only thing that stops most from making malware for osx is that there is no existing wealth of scripts, how to guides for writing malware for osx, and that the os is vastly different from windows as well linux when it comes to the commands. Simple phishing and spyware programs will likely be the biggest threat to Mac users in the future.[/citation]
He changed his gender, he is now a she. https://www.google.co.in/search?q=Chris+Paget&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=wtPEUJ2KC8XqrQe-h4DgBQ&biw=1366&bih=643&sei=x9PEUKaNF8r5rAefmYG4Dg

 

[house70]

[citation][nom]nforce4max[/nom]His work is going to be fairly easy for a while searching for holes and exploits in OSX given just how weak the security is in that os. The only thing that stops most from making malware for osx is that there is no existing wealth of scripts, how to guides for writing malware for osx, and that the os is vastly different from windows as well linux when it comes to the commands. Simple phishing and spyware programs will likely be the biggest threat to Mac users in the future.[/citation]
Actually, I believe that the main reason why people have not bothered to create malware for OSX is simply because that's not where the money is; it's used by a handful of architects, artists and that's about it. Individuals using whatever OS for personal computing have never been the target of real hacking, instead large companies have been attacked because that's where a profit can be made. Currently, nobody gives a frack about OSX and it's small user base.

 

[gerchokas]

What I mean is that it inherited the idiosyncrasies of the BSD/linux OSes which make them more secure than other OSes from the start, like for example the division between User and Superusers: only a superuser (or a user part of the Wheel group) can change system configs or even install software. That very simple (an old) feature cripples malware posibility of infection.
The original code has surely been modified 100% since that time, but the general "architecture" is still there.

 

[kellybean]

[citation][nom]gerchokas[/nom]Mac OS is a derivative of BSD, which is like a cousin of linux. Even if its not a very original OS (Microsoft created their OS entirely by themselves) it has the strengths of BSD in terms of security - which is very high[/citation]
Wrong batman. Gates basically stole MS DOS then copied a UI idea to put a UI on top of DOS, aka Windows. Gates is just another thief and bully in the business arena.

 

[A Bad Day]

[citation][nom]kellybean[/nom]Wrong batman. Gates basically stole MS DOS then copied a UI idea to put a UI on top of DOS, aka Windows. Gates is just another thief and bully in the business arena.[/citation]

Actually, he bought licensing rights from the now-long-defunct Seattle Computer Products company and rebranded it. Nothing wrong with that as long as the contract allows it.

 

[A Bad Day]

EDIT: Wait, are you saying that he STOLE his own product? Hilarious, because MS-DOS is a property of Microsoft.

And also, the only major Windows versions that used GUI + DOS was Windows 95, 98, and ME. All of the major Windows versions intended for professional or server work were kernel-based.

 

[A Bad Day]

EDIT: I meant most of the major Windows versions intended for professional or server work were kernel-based.

 

[A Bad Day]

[citation][nom]gerchokas[/nom]What I mean is that it inherited the idiosyncrasies of the BSD/linux OSes which make them more secure than other OSes from the start, like for example the division between User and Superusers: only a superuser (or a user part of the Wheel group) can change system configs or even install software. That very simple (an old) feature cripples malware posibility of infection.The original code has surely been modified 100% since that time, but the general "architecture" is still there.[/citation]

Windows also used that function.

The only issue is that most users find it inconvenient switching between a regular and administrator account, so they simply use the administrator account all of the time.

 

[Gundam288]

[citation][nom]shahrooz[/nom]a security expert that previously worked on locking down Microsoft's Vista OS.....[/citation]
Three words. User Account Control.

 

[A Bad Day]

[citation][nom]Gundam288[/nom]Three words. User Account Control.[/citation]

Totally one person worked on that project.

And it pioneered for Windows 7's version.

 

[Guest]

lol sooo many M$-noobs

No idea on how Unix works but the comments still come.

I have loled every 2nd comment.