Apple Security is 10 Years Behind Microsoft, Says Kaspersky

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Known this for years. Apple's OS is not secure, it's only been an 'also-ran' up until recently that no one wanted to focus on because of that small userbase.

Now that it is getting more userbase, lo and behold.... they are realizing that it's easier to hack than Microsoft's systems because they didn't take the lessons that Microsoft learned to heart and sandbox/limit/etc. every application.
 
[citation][nom]mayne92[/nom]Speak for yourself. I have been using computers for years with no anti-virus or anti-malware installed. Some of us are smart enough to know how to use traditional system monitoring tools without installing such bloatware that works half-the-time.[/citation]

I had to just log in to point out how idiotic of a statement this is. As a software engineer, I know systems and whatever the hell "traditional system monitoring tools" are, only some sort of antimalware software can detect malicious memory changes which most "good" viruses work with. You cannot manually monitor memory changes which only have to change a few bytes here and there. Also, if a virus is disguised has a normal service, or even a hidden service, you will be none the wiser.

So the moral of this post, if you do anything on the internet USE ANTIVIRUS. That is all.
 
[citation][nom]spunkymunky[/nom]I had to just log in to point out how idiotic of a statement this is. As a software engineer, I know systems and whatever the hell "traditional system monitoring tools" are, only some sort of antimalware software can detect malicious memory changes which most "good" viruses work with. You cannot manually monitor memory changes which only have to change a few bytes here and there. Also, if a virus is disguised has a normal service, or even a hidden service, you will be none the wiser. So the moral of this post, if you do anything on the internet USE ANTIVIRUS. That is all.[/citation]

I had to second this. As a programmer and hacker (both white hat and -- in earlier days -- black hat), I know that the idea that "just being careful" and believing yourself safe is ludicrous.

This is the Dunning-Kruger effect in a nutshell, pretty much. True security experts are paranoid and use multiple layers of anti-malware protection.

 
[citation][nom]spunkymunky[/nom]I had to just log in to point out how idiotic of a statement this is. As a software engineer, I know systems and whatever the hell "traditional system monitoring tools" are, only some sort of antimalware software can detect malicious memory changes which most "good" viruses work with. You cannot manually monitor memory changes which only have to change a few bytes here and there. Also, if a virus is disguised has a normal service, or even a hidden service, you will be none the wiser. So the moral of this post, if you do anything on the internet USE ANTIVIRUS. That is all.[/citation]
"Idiotic" may be a bit harsh...let's say "mis-informed" for civility sake. Even before all this Mac malware news was prevalent it just seemed weird to me to not use a antivirus on my Macs. ...kinda of like not using a condom because I think I "Know" the girl. ...couldn't convince myself to do it.
 
[citation][nom]damianrobertjones[/nom]Security on Windows is EASY but you'll ALWAYS, always, alllwaysss get that user who'll click on the pop-up from that 'pron' web page.[/citation]

but she seemed nice!!... she started chatting to me on messenger with her webcam on... and I don't even use messenger :)
 
[citation][nom]alhanelem[/nom]that picture of the apple logo being a toilet would be an awesome poster to hang on the outside of one of their apple stores.[/citation]

You realize by doing that it would create a feeding frenzy of people searching desperately and then waiting in line for hours just to purchase a $3000 toilet shaped like the Apple logo. It would be hailed as innovative and market changing. Rendering all others obsolete because it provides a better "user experience."
 
[citation][nom]ouroborous[/nom]I had to second this. As a programmer and hacker (both white hat and -- in earlier days -- black hat), I know that the idea that "just being careful" and believing yourself safe is ludicrous.This is the Dunning-Kruger effect in a nutshell, pretty much. True security experts are paranoid and use multiple layers of anti-malware protection.[/citation]

That link was the read of the day; I would give more thumbs up if i could.
 
Can happen to anyone. The bigger your market share, the bigger the target on your chest.
As Apple's market share increases, and they policies consistently tend to tick off people they will become more of a target for hackers. So will do it to proof a point, some to make money and a few as simple payback 🙂


 
When more and more sheep buy crApple products, it's gets more attractive to malware writers.

In 2005, who cared about what a douchebag like Justin Long had on his computer besides his collection of Drew Barrymore porn?
 
[citation][nom]datawrecker[/nom]You realize by doing that it would create a feeding frenzy of people searching desperately and then waiting in line for hours just to purchase a $3000 toilet shaped like the Apple logo. It would be hailed as innovative and market changing. Rendering all others obsolete because it provides a better "user experience."[/citation]

Attempts to troll... probably successful, given the mentality of the average Tom's reader.

Person who doesn't understand design aesthetic and build quality sell hasn't heard of BMW, Audi, Mercedes, lives under a rock.
 
[citation][nom]-Jackson[/nom]So, am I the only one who burst out laughing when I saw the title?And people used to tell me how good Apple's security was. Time to gloat at all the Apple fanboys/girls[/citation]

Apple has never had "good" security. Heck, I didn't know Apple had ANY security. I didn't know they needed it. Their marketshare is so frigging low, I didn't know hackers/virus makers even thought of them as a target. That was also supposed to be a selling point, if I'm not mistaken. 😉
 
to be fair, this is an Security company here...they have an interest in Mac seeming/being threatened, so they can push their product. lets get an objective review and validate this a little.

that said, 10 years ago...so right around the security of Windows XP, still a widely used operating system. that is amusing.
 
It wasn't until recently that MS offered AV software. OS X (for those that don't know this) does offer a simple firewall. However, if my memory serves me correctly, its' not turned on by default (if it is, please forgive me...I haven't relied on it for years). I've read that there are some built-in anti-malware-type features in OS X Snow Leopard/Lion but it appears that "just a sprinking" isn't enough. I'm curious to see how Apple responds, however, I'll continue to use VirusBarrier (hey, its better than nothing). They may really implement some nice security upgrades but not advertise (so as not to admit there was a need?). ...wouldn't surprise me one bit.
 
[citation][nom]Halcyon[/nom]Who is it obvious to?[/citation]

To everyone who has been saying this for years (such as myself). Macs were never really secure. Macs were *safe* through their relative obscurity compared to Windows, but never secure.

[citation][nom]halcyon[/nom]It wasn't until recently that MS offered AV software. OS X (for those that don't know this) does offer a simple firewall. However, if my memory serves me correctly, its' not turned on by default (if it is, please forgive me...I haven't relied on it for years). I've read that there are some built-in anti-malware-type features in OS X Snow Leopard/Lion but it appears that "just a sprinking" isn't enough. I'm curious to see how Apple responds, however, I'll continue to use VirusBarrier (hey, its better than nothing). They may really implement some nice security upgrades but not advertise (so as not to admit there was a need?). ...wouldn't surprise me one bit.[/citation]

M$ didn't personally offer AV, but there have been PC AV companies for more than the ten years cited in how far behind Apple is. So, Apple's OS may only be as secure as XP without any SPs, but at least XP could also get an AV back then too. Sure, now there's AV for Macs too, but it probably isn't common and probably won't be common for some time now.

M$ OSs have had AV available for FAR longer than Macs have. For example, even my old ME computer (bleh) that I recycled recently had AV put on it at least 10 years ago. It wasn't the first either.
 
[citation][nom]spunkymunky[/nom]I had to just log in to point out how idiotic of a statement this is. As a software engineer, I know systems and whatever the hell "traditional system monitoring tools" are, only some sort of antimalware software can detect malicious memory changes which most "good" viruses work with. You cannot manually monitor memory changes which only have to change a few bytes here and there. Also, if a virus is disguised has a normal service, or even a hidden service, you will be none the wiser. So the moral of this post, if you do anything on the internet USE ANTIVIRUS. That is all.[/citation]

None of that is needed. If you browse legitimate sites (a la toms), you are at zero risk. The ads here are annoying, but you are not getting a virus(there are BARELY any viruses in circulation, 99% of what is out there is malware). For any non mainstream/shady sites, use a virtualized or sandboxed browser and you are at zero risk.

People thinking you need multilayer isa and hardware firewalls are a bit too intense. Run a pfsense box or similar, and use some common sense/virtu, and you are IMMUNE. Viruses/malware arent magical.
 
[citation][nom]jackbling[/nom]None of that is needed. If you browse legitimate sites (a la toms), you are at zero risk. The ads here are annoying, but you are not getting a virus(there are BARELY any viruses in circulation, 99% of what is out there is malware). For any non mainstream/shady sites, use a virtualized or sandboxed browser and you are at zero risk.People thinking you need multilayer isa and hardware firewalls are a bit too intense. Run a pfsense box or similar, and use some common sense/virtu, and you are IMMUNE. Viruses/malware arent magical.[/citation]

Some malware can get through sandboxing and virtual/hardware layers... Besides that, there is no such thing as a zero-risk site. Any site can be hacked and you might not even know it until the hackers spring something into action and screw everyone.

There is no such thing as zero-risk from security breaches on the internet unless your computer doesn't have internet access. You are never completely immune.
 
When there was no one using apple junk, it was the most secure junk on earth. No one wants to break into your house if they know there's nothing to steel. Makes sense. Now things have changed.

Also, this 'pron' stuff sounds kind of cool. I need to check it out.
 
Malware that can get through Sandboxing and Virtualization probably has 0 problem defeating antivirus
 
[citation][nom]J Random Hacker[/nom]Malware that can get through Sandboxing and Virtualization probably has 0 problem defeating antivirus[/citation]

No trouble getting through Mcafee and Norton. Avast, Avira, and some others usually don't have such problems. That is also why there are other programs such as Spybot that can watch the registry and only lets it be changed at all if you allow it. There are also other programs. THis is why some people have more than one virtual layer and such... Malware generally can't get through every single line of defense, hence why some people have so many layers.
 
[citation][nom]tuffjuff[/nom]Attempts to troll... probably successful, given the mentality of the average Tom's reader.Person who doesn't understand design aesthetic and build quality sell hasn't heard of BMW, Audi, Mercedes, lives under a rock.[/citation]
Did you just compare Apple to the very best car manufacturers? It would be more suiting to say that Apple is Mercedes/BMW with a Yugo45 engine (at the Mercedes/BMW price of course).
They're selling 512GB for $1,250 ($700 at newegg), 4x2GB RAM for $335 ($80 at newegg) and plain and simple DVD-RW drive for $100 for f*** sake.
 
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