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even if we did have a proper virus, i dont think windows users could really gloat now could they haha

This flood of literal dysentery has got to stop.

So this guy wants hits on his article and a lot of mails to show to his editor?

Is it a time to gloat for Windows users? Let's see...2 dreadfully ineffective pieces of malware on OS X vs. tens of thousands of instances of malware on the Windows side doesn't seem like anything to gloat about to me...

" And Windows users, is it time to gloat?"

About what exactly? That you've got 10, 000 more malware problems than we do?

can transmit over the INTERNET so where, I ask you, is the beef?

Methinks he doth protest too much!

Plus, there is something rotten in the state of Denmark, and it ain't the cartoons!

Reminds me of the famous scene in Blazing Saddles where Slim Pickens happens upon a flatulence contest where he responds,

"I'd think you guys have just about had enough!"

It's propoganda and it's really caused by Apple.

You see Apple needs us to update our OS, so they can install the more stringent forms of the Trusted Computing inititive, which will take control of our machines out of our hands and into corporations.

So Apple is leaving these little "holes" in Mac OS X, these anti-malware companies jump and down excited, spread bad press which Apple uses to take the focus of what's really happening to our machines.

That's right kiddies, total lockdown of our machines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_computing

Here's a video that sort of explains what's going to happen.

http://www.lafkon.net/tc/

Basically instead of you having control over your own hardware, like being able to download a progam like Toast that does it's own DVD burning directly to hardware, or Handbrake that does DVD ripping which may be perfectly legal in your country. OS makers in collaboration with industry will automatically decide in advance that you can't run these programs using EFI.

Extensible Firmware Interface will contact and download driver updates automatically even before the operating system is loaded.

It's a radical shift from what we normally expect a computer to do.

Right now, just about every Apple application secretly contacts Apple, including the Dock (in 10.4.4), Addressbook, iPhoto, etc etc.

It's all in a attempt to soften us to accept Trusted Computing, where Apple decides what's right for you.

Instead of you deciding what's right for you.

“Mac elitists”

?!?!?!?!

I think pretty much anyone that wants to can go out and buy one.

I mean, unless you were blackballed by your local chapter or something…

sheesh.

Sounds like this might be a legitimate opportunity to let the good folks in Atlanta know how we feel about this ridiculous, and feeble, attempt...

Windows users is this time to GLOAT? You've got to be kidding. What would they be gloating about. All the non-damage that this non-virus did to the platform. All the non-money we had to spend to fix the non-damage.

Yeah, come back and see us when there's a new Mac virus every week, for about 5 years straight then maybe we will kinda maybe sorta be nearly on a portion of the same level of insecurity.

MacDude, that site you linked to can't even construct proper English sentences.

"Trust is the personal believe in correctness . . . "

Umm, you mean, "belief"???

Come onnnnn . . .

There is a huge differnce between a Trojan that requires a user to allow its entry, and a virus that automatically inserts itself and propogates without user interference.

The socalled “virii” of late did not attach to the OS, as the hundreds of thousands of virii do with Windows.

Considering the sophication of the first of these two Trojans, I wouldn’t be surprised at all, if they were written by a Mac security firm, that has been dying on the vine since OSX came out.

Wow. I just went over to that site and read the feedback. It's amazing, in a good way.

They're really getting pounded with . . . the truth!

Whoda thunkit?

Cool.

So yeah, this virus stuff is bullcrap, no doubt about that. But here's something to consider...

What if this website is all just propaganda for Mac-lovers. Thats about what I have to take it as because there are few websites out there that are so one sided when it comes to news.

Matthew

I think it's propaganda from the likes of Symantec and other anti-virus software makers. They want to sell more software. I thought it was ridiculous that someone mentioned the Bluetooth worm since I read yesterday that Apple actually sent out a patch for it clear back in mid-2005. DUH! Why'd it get mentioned now?

http://musobs.blogspot.com/

There are 2 issues at work here, security and AV software marketing. They are related, but not joined at the hip.

Apple has NEVER marketed it’s computers as impervious to malware and such. It does advertise that it is a UNIX based OS that has a long record for stability and best-in-class security. If you look at the long list of well informed experts on IT that use Macs because of it’s UNIX genes you will see that the reputation is well deserved.

Should Mac users be cautious? Yes.

Contrary to the ‘security via obscurity’ myth about Macs, the Mac OS would be the Everest of hackdom. Anyone who could successfully plant and spread a virus through the Mac universe would attain instantaneous rock-star or geek-god status. It would also open 25 million + machines to spam and all the rest.

Can it be done? Yes. Will it? Only time will tell.

The issue of self-interest by companies that sell AV software and/or security consulting and services is obvious. Ask someone who makes a living by selling a service if you need it and the answer is going to be yes.

Do you think the head of Cox thinks everyone should subscribe to their newspapers? Whenever I see some consultant or expert pimping the vulnerability of Macs or their need for particular software, I look to see where their paycheck comes from. Follow the money. That will usually tell you if it is research or marketing.

Well, MacDude, if you're that concerned over Apple I think it's time you switched and became a WinDude. Good luck.

Personally, I have nothing to hide, Apple can do what it wants with my info, if it does such things. I'd rather trust Apple to lock it down that trust the hacker. There will always be those 2 choices.

Instead of plunking down some coinage for any anti-virus software, I've decided to get SC4 instead.

Maybe these guys should look into making money from the Mac crowd selling software in a highly neglected area of Mac computing.

Just look at all the money Aspyr makes.

Selling: original games; ported games; game add-ons; repackaged games; best-of game bundles; OEM games...

MS muscling in on 'your' niche? The govt won't help you, so find another niche. There are no partners in the Windows world. If you are profitable, you are just a moment away from having MS usurp your business.

Make people happy. Trust me, there's a lot of money in joy. Games aren't 'needed', yet there's lots of opportunity and it's a niche MS can't dominate.

MacDude - please give it a rest. After what seems like hundreds of posts on the subject, we get the message... The way you constantly attempt to turn unrelated stories such as this one into debates on trusted computing is getting really weary. If readers were interested in your conspiracy theories they would respond and discuss; however, the fact that very few people do should make it quite clear that they're not.

Please, do yourself and us a favour and take a time out.

MacDude...
"Right now, just about every Apple application secretly contacts Apple, including the Dock (in 10.4.4), Addressbook, iPhoto, etc etc."

Tinfoil hat a bit tight today? I'm guessing the applications must contact Apple telepathically, or you'd have posted a URL with tcpdump output demonstrating such communications.

Hey MacDude, that video was great! I personally think you're being ultra-paranoid about it. Just because a Trusted Computing chip is installed in your computer, does not mean it has to be used. If the software vendor chooses to use it, then consumers can choose to use someone else's software. Just like consumers can choose to only buy CDs that don't contain copy protection. If you feel your rights are being abused, then don't buy their product. Simple as that.

That web site you linked to and all the rhetoric and FUD you spread is worthless unless you can show us examples of how Apple is abusing the TCP for their gain and contrary to consumers personal rights. Seems to me that until you show me a reason I shouldn't trust Apple, I should make up my own mind about whether I should trust them or not. So far I feel they have done a good job of earning my trust.

As for the TCP conspiracy, don't think of use of the TCP as vendors not trusting you, think of it as vendors not trusting people who choose to steal from them. If you don't steal, then TCP won't affect you, trust hasn't been lost between you and the vendor. You only have to worry about trust if you are a thief, and if you are a thief, then you don't deserve their trust, do you? Compared to root-kit DRM solutions, where honest consumers are the ONLY ones who are being punished, TCP provides benefits to honest consumers, while preventing dishonest ones from being dishonest. I don't see a downside to this reality. If you don't agree to the terms provided by the TCP using vendor, then write your own software, or use someone else's that doesn't impose TCP restrictions. But don't assume a vendor is going to abuse your rights, just because they have the means to do so. I may be able to kill someone, but that doesn't mean I will.

Don What's-His-Name is full of flannel!
Rock on, Apple!

Just a bunch of do do from a poo poo.

Of course any operating system will have flaws. The ones in Windows can be exploited automatically because of the lack of running as a regular user instead of admin. Something the Windows fanboys always forget.

Admin instead of regular user, oops

MacDude, Apple's apps aren't the only ones that check for version updates. If you're worried about it, get Little Snitch.

Can't wait for The Steve to launch the next big thing®.

These non-news, contrived, bullshit stories are such a downer.

{Heavy sigh}



MDN Magic Word: "Then" As in, ah, nevermind.

MacDude...

All you have to do is pull the modem cable out of your Mac. Computers can still function quite well without the net. Go online to do online things, go off line when you're not surfing/chating/emailing whatever. Also, install LittleSnitch and deny everything.

I installed the "mac virus" on my Mac on purpose since it could not get in otherwise. Now it's my new pet. It's so cute and cuddly. Friendly and harmless. Mac OS X is sooo solid!!!! I am not concerned about any mac virus AT ALL because there arent any mac viruses!!!

What the heck does the AdressBook or the Dock need to contact Apple for?

Ever think of that?

It's certainly not for updates.

Sure Addressbook is contacting dot Mac, but without a account?

I think they do that so it Apple can get in if they need to.

Something you guys might not know, but Microsoft had such a bad vunerability that Windows PC's were auto updated and rebooted without the users permission or action (like running the auto-update software)

It went right past firewalls and everything and no it didn't use the WMF exploit either, because it was done at night when nobody used the PC's.

Do you know your not truly "invisible" on the internet? Our Mac's routinely respond to IANA requests on certain ports that port scanning services do not do.

For instance there are 65535 ports!!

A port scanning service like this one only does the first 1500

http://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?rh1dkyd2


I have enabled Big Top, which is in Apple's developer tools to monitor how many outgoing packets there are overnight.

With a machine that is not running any applications, Little Snitch on, there are packets routinly leaving the machine.

Akamai, one of the largest internet services in the world, hosting Microsoft, Apple and other big sites, is routinly trying to hack into my machine on port 80.

Level3 Communications Inc., a large internet backbone provider, is routinly trying to TCP on port 65418!!!

For a full list of the uses of all your ports look here

http://www.iana.org/assignments/port-numbers

So apparantly, not everything is being blocked like we are lead to beleive.

Bill gates likes cheese

okay... here's what's going to happen...

every news/tech news outlet will latch onto this story... "Mac Virus Found: Mac Users Not So Smug!!" then one or two months from now after the "imminent outbreak" fails to materialize no further word on the matter will be heard except in past tense. no corrections. no 'mea culpas'. no one will want to admit that they wrote cocky, "nanny, nanny, boo, boo" articles about the "Mac Virus" turned out to be "the virus that wasn't". instead they'll stay mum and wait for the next possible opportunity and write about the next "Mac Virus" (that probably wont be a virus) screaming maniacally about the two or (God forbid) THREE virii that exist on the Mac platform without ever mentioning that THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO PROPAGATE IN THE WILD.

crimminy... what, are these so called "tech writers" a bunch of middle school cry-babies?! a couple of clicks through Google would give them all the info they need to be properly informed. hell, i'm better informed on the subject of Macintosh security than most of these hamfisted hacks! whenever some Windows user tells me about some Mac virus and says: "Macs arent any more secure than Windows" i say... "Call me when the outbreak happens..." so far, no one has called.

MacDude,
Can you recomend a good intrusion detector. I'm currently using HoneyPotX but it doesn't seem to do much. I used to use TrashScan (in system 9) but I havn't seen anything as good as that since.

Claiming OS X and Windows are equally susceptible to malware is like claiming Cindy Crawford and Madeleine Albright are equally attractive.

MacDude again speaks wisdom......

You think the old Apple "Lemmings" commercial was so funny and creative - well, you're headed right for the bottom of the cliff yourself.

MacDude is NOT paranoid. He's INFORMED. Trusted Computing is a one way street and IT'S HARDWARE BASED. It's not just being implemented for DRM and fraud prevention purposes. It's going to lock down what YOU can do with YOUR LEGALLY PURCHASED SOFTWARE AND MEDIA. Enjoy the freedom, privacy, and anonymity of the Internet? Say goodbye folks. The TPM chip has got your number - LITERALLY. It has a unique identifier that will basically shout to every site you visit, "HELLO EVERYBODY! IT'S [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE]". This is very different from an IP address

Diana's Head: "MacDude, that site you linked to can't even construct proper English sentences.

"Trust is the personal believe in correctness . . . "

Umm, you mean, "belief"???

Come onnnnn . . ."

**** Diana - This video explanation was not produced in a country whose native language is English. Your comment is irrelevant.

Apple-ite:"Personally, I have nothing to hide, Apple can do what it wants with my info, if it does such things. I'd rather trust Apple to lock it down that trust the hacker. There will always be those 2 choices."

**** Apple-ite - You are selling yourself short on this issue - look into it in a bit more depth. I don't think you fully understand all the ramifications. It's NOT just Apple who will be locking things down. You suggest MacDude become WinDude - This is HARDWARE BASED and INDUSTRY WIDE. You say you have nothing to hide and that Apple can do what IT wants with YOUR info? Welcome to Jones Town.

R:"...If readers were interested in your conspiracy theories(emphasis added) they would respond and discuss; however, the fact that very few people do should make it quite clear that they're not.

Please, do yourself and us a favour and take a time out."

*** [1] They are NOT conspiracy theories. TC/TPM is a reality. [2] The very fact that more people DON'T respond is what worries me.

*** Andy C. Point well taken, but, this goes beyond DRM and piracy and infringes on PERSONAL PRIVACY.

It's just like the old story of the frog in a pot of luke-warm water - turn up the heat every so slowly and you can boil it to death - it won't even attempt to jump out.

Mac "virus" panic and FUD coming from MacHaters™?

BINGO!

MDN Magic Word: This kind of yellow "journalism" makes me see RED!

The Bejing Times reported that do to repeated frustrations with bringing its operating system forward, Microsoft will sell its software division to the Chinese for an undisclosed amount. In light of this dramatic development, Apple Inc. has developed an addition to its almost bullet proof operating system which will allow any Microsoft program to be run at near native speeds and completely virus free. Many on Wall Street believe Apple stock (AAPL) will reach figures unseen since the beginning of the stock market.









Caution: The is a joke. This is not intended to cause a selloff of Microsoft shares--the filthy bastards.

After working with and for Apple for a bit of time I believe that one day both the Mac and the PC will be one cause of the Intel chip. Intel was never really PC owned or 100% PC operated to begin with. If you look in the older Mac logicboards will you see Intel chips inside. So this is why I believe and even back then believed that the Mac and the PC will be joined. However until that moment Macs will always be far superior. Come to think of it, they’ll always be far superior. Software is one thing. Hardware…that’s something else. If you build an excellent peice of hardware for the rest of the system it will perform very well. But only as well as the software will allow it to. So with that being said there will always be viruses out there for ALL PLATFORMS. It just so happens that the number of PC viruses will always outweigh the number of Mac viruses. Stability is key here and Macintosh is that key.

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