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All Hail the Mossberg. All Hail the Mossberg.

I want to have Mossberg's baby!

How much do you think Apple pays him to publish these stories?

Enough is enough. We get it. I like macs, Mossberg likes macs. Mossberg is really starting to sounds like the Thurott of the Mac world.

With every one of these stories I start to wonder if he's another journalist on Apple's payroll.

I've heard he makes decent shotguns too.

Refreshing! FUD not spoken here!

"Just one man's opinion"

Still, he's on the money again.

@How Much? – Some things just don’t need to be bought. Mac’s have a way of inspiring people, hence the false “cult” label of Mac ussers. PC-heads just can’t grok that.

How Much?: Chill out, man. Thurott wrote articles singing praises of software that didn't deserve it. Mossberg slapped Apple's AV Connection solution silly in a review that was published just yesterday! He's no Apple shill. He'll tell it like it is. And I respect the man for shooting down all the Mac Malware FUD that's been rampant in the press lately.

How Much? What did "Moss" say that isn't true?

How Much? - You are an idiot. He is reporting the exact truth, why would he be paid to do this? People who are paid to write stories are invariably lying ... which is why they are being backhanded you simpleton.

Are you people paying attention?:

"There is one exception: If you are running Windows on one of the new Intel Macs, you are just like a Windows user, and you must run Windows security programs when using Windows."

Once you get invaded on the Windows side of your Macintosh computer, how long before it migrates into the whole machine? Especially when Steve makes it so easy with a one click access to Windows thru the much anticipated Leopard?

Get ready, get prepared. All the horrors of malware so well known to PCers are ON THE WAY!

I repeat my question: Are you paying attention?

This article was posted to the web during last night's BMac meeting ... and just when we were talking security, too. Albert started out with a lexicon - what makes a virus vs a trojan, etc. Then proceeded to history - nothing for OS X until this year's trojan and worm, both of which required user interaction to be installed. Then on to anti-virus - you need to run one if you interact with Windows systems regularly. (ClamXav is free/OSS, eats minimal resources, and is about as good as any other) Then to reasonable precautions.
Do not run User tasks from an Admin account!!!
-> Use strong passwords
-=> Do not re-use passwords on multiple sites/accounts
-=> Use your Keychain or some other encrypted DB to store passwords
--=> Investigate Keychain Explorer (Utilities) for additional
-> READ the warning messages before you click the "OK" button
-> Close any ports you are not using (open when needed)
-=> use Bonjour Browser to check open ports on your LAN
-> Consider using "Parental Controls" to limit account capabilities
-=> block Terminal use if you don't need that program on that account
-> ... OK, I don't have my notes right here ... but there was more.

4 years, on 24h/7d. Not a single security issue. NADA.

No ports opened, nor need to. If the Mac is practically invisible on the net and does not *scream* its presence the only possible threats are the so-called *social* scams.

For that, protection comes from sound net behavior.

Yes I am paying attention. It will be exactly never before the windows viruses on an Intel dual boot invade the OS X side because the Windows boot can't even see the OS X file system you tool.

When Leopard comes out it will still only be Windows programmes in their 'emulation layer' which are susceptible by definition because a Windows virus can't understand OS X code. Otherwise they would be able to infect OS X now.

How Much?

How Much are you getting paid to ask How Much Mossberg is getting paid?

How Much do you think a WSJ journalist asks to pass on corporate PR as news? Whatever figure you come up with, I'm sure it's more than How Much you get to ask How Much.

How Much? You're a cheap bastard. I just want to know by How Much?

Hey ... Johnny Troll is heard from again!

Should you happen to get a Windows virus, it will not "migrate". It could mess up anything in its partition, which would really annoy you and force you to re-install.

Yeah ... we are paying attention. Oh ... and not planning on going that route anyway - too much potential grief!

John,

are you a troll or just plain ignorant?

A Windows virus is a Window executable. Windows running on the Mac cannot touch the partition where OS X is installed.

The virus would infect the Windows partition, period. No spread.
Not only that, Windows can "run in a box" if one uses virtualization: as if Windows was network nurtured.

So you ask "how long will before it migrates"? What about few years longer that the life of the Universe?
It's the OS, there is no such a thing like a computer virus. Once it has infected the Windows partition, it has infected the Windows partition, it has infected the Windows partition. Capish?

Moreover, with virtualization Windows does not even need a partition, it believes it does but it works with a virtual disk, that is a file. Delete it and copy the backup: voila. Not even need to re-install Windows as in the PC-Windows-only sad world: the time to rename the bck file.

This article needs to be reprinted in every newspaper and magazine in the United States! Stamp out the FUD!

Actually Apple has been known to pay journalists...
http://www.macnn.com/articles/05/04/20/apple.buying.news/&startNumber=10

That journalist didn't say anything I disagree with but he still got paid by Apple.

It's a fair question to ask.

Let me be sure I understand what I am hearing:

In the whole world, there is no malware author who can write code that will jump from the Windows side of a Mac to the Mac side?

How Much?

easy one guys, I got it.

NOTHING.

Johhny Pierson said

"Are you people paying attention?:

"There is one exception: If you are running Windows on one of the new Intel Macs, you are just like a Windows user, and you must run Windows security programs when using Windows."

Once you get invaded on the Windows side of your Macintosh computer, how long before it migrates into the whole machine? Especially when Steve makes it so easy with a one click access to Windows thru the much anticipated Leopard?

Get ready, get prepared. All the horrors of malware so well known to PCers are ON THE WAY!

I repeat my question: Are you paying attention?"


Yes I've been dutifully paying attention to what a complete moron you are.

You obviously don't understand 2 very basic principles

The mechanics behind partitioning

and the fact that virus's designed for a windows operating system by their very nature cannot affect a mac.

I already own a G5 iMac.....but If I buy an Intel based mac (which I will for sure sometime soon) and I install boot camp and use it to play games and any other application that might be "only" PC but do all my internet and emailing on my mac side I'll be sound as a house...and you'll be what you have been all along...completely F**king WRONG

This is a fascinating study on irrational human behavior. If someone tells the truth over and over again some primates will, for some odd reason, think they must be getting paid.

Silly monkeys.

Those two pieces of "successful" virusware were NOT successful. They didn't even work on the internet. Bluetooth virus? Give me a break.

But that's a minor note, overall a good answer to the reader's question.

PS, if you want to know WHY Mossberg answered the question... it's because people ASKED it. Duh.

Mossberg was as harshly critical about Apple as anyone in the 1990's. It is only within the last year and a half or so that he quit recommending Windows to his readers. Read him regularly and you will realize he calls 'em like he sees 'em with intelligence, flair, and above all, honesty. I'll get tired of reading his comments about the Mac when the Mac has 50% of the computer market, or his comments quit speaking the truth.

Whit

G Spank,
No, people think Mossberg is being paid because Apple has paid jounralists in the past.

FACTS: Giveme 5 persons afeccted by a virus in a mac, and I can give you millions of users and companies affected by windows viruses. THAT IS A FACT, not a opinion.

STATISTICS: there are more windows users, that is why there are more people affected...WRONG.
100% of windows users must have anti virus protection to survive inthe internet and almost any network, also, they need to pacth their computers in order to make it work safely.
There are only two users off the 4% Mac market affected by Mac viruses, and that was not a critical problem since the virus did not affected files or the OS.

But what does FUD stand for?

Unfortunately, Walt is one voice in a sea of FUD being generated now. It's a shame, but ignorant "news" editors need to fill space and will print just about anything without questioning the motives of the story supplier.

Even so, that question sure sounds like a softball tossed by Apple's PR department. The answer is still true none-the-less.

somebody buy that man a club sandwhich!

F.U.D. = Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.

Thank goodness someone is speaking the truth about viruses or lack thereof on Mac.

http://getkickedoffaplanewearingthis.blogspot.com/

In the whole world, there is no malware author who can write code that will jump from the Windows side of a Mac to the Mac side?

Code cannot "jump". Period. Code is written for a specific platform. There is no such thing as an application that will run on both OS X and Windows. So-called "cross-platform" apps have to have specific versions written for each OS.

I suppose the Windows malware could carry a Mac "payload", but there would be a huge problem installing it: the Windows side of the Mac can't even see the Mac side, due to the different formatting of the hard drive partition.

To iknowI'manidiot: FUD is an acronym for "Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt".

Interesting article at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FUD

IknowI'manidiot..

Wikipedia is your friend here:

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

Apparently, I'm not so wrong.

Time for we in the Mac community to remove our heads from the sand, quit believing everything that comes from the mouth of Steve, and face reality - Macs don't "just work" and Macs are not immune from attacks. Maybe not so much so right now, but are headed for the intensive care ward.

Thanks all

Give it a break Johnny the Troll, Johnny the Wart...whatever.

Your attempt to garner consent by capitulating to a less extreme position is too transparent.

Johnny: You are wrong. Not for saying that we need to be aware, but for the extent to which you are crying hysterical over it.

Mac users by and far DO NOT have their heads in the sand. And we are also not afraid. I have not met one single Mac user who believes OS X is "invulnerable". I have not met one single Mac user who thinks we'll never had a single piece of bad malware. You assertion that Mac users for the most part are being naive is a naive assumption in and of itself.

Mac users that I know are not as worried about problems from malware because we are, for the most part, up to speed on what can and cannot affect the Mac. We read articles and disseminate information from many sources. Some we throw out because there is obvious FUD or bias. But I seriously doubt there will be a widespread attack that takes out a large portion of Macs, sending them, as you put it, to the Intensive Care Ward.

Will there be successful malware on the Mac? Someday, yes. Soon? Unknown, but it is unlikely. Should we listen to the McAfee's of the press and start freaking out about the 228% increase in Mac vulnerabilities? Hell no. That statistic is twisted to make it look worse than the Windows problems of late.

Take it easy, chill out a bit, and chew over the data before you start running around screaming like Chicken Little.

Johnny asks:

In the whole world, there is no malware author who can write code that will jump from the Windows side of a Mac to the Mac side?


Answer: Not yet. First off, the Windows executable can't even READ the Mac partition without extra help at this point. And if Apple follows true to its form (have YOU been PAYING ATTENTION, JOHNNY?) then Leopard will integrate access to Windows in such a way as to make it even less likely that viruses will be able to "migrate" or harm the Mac.

But we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

In the mean time, your FUD is just that. FUD. Complete speculation and fearmongering based on nothing concrete. Because if you were to use history as a guide, and Apple's past design work in software, you would have no reason to suspect the "floodgates" are opening soon.

And to put the answer to your question another way: Even if there was some malware author who could write some code that would harm the Mac side, this would not constitute a "floodgate opening".

Now if Apple had just released the beta version of "Virus Bait" which allowed Macs to natively execute Windows ".exe" files and added Internet Explorer-compatible vulnerabilities into Safari, then you could rightly warn us about the coming onslaught.

Sorry, dude. You can keep dreaming and trolling.

DakRoland

Thanks for a reasoned reply.

This forum seems to be full of Steve's blind faithful who scream FUD or TROLL anytime anybody questions the accuracy of Apple's marketing machine.

I am not either FUD or a TROLL, but they are the reason we can't get the quality Apple claims because so many are willing to buy less than is promised. Result: I have to suffer because of their being such poor consumers.

If we all demanded Apple deliver what they promise, then we would get it. Instead, we get less, far less, and sometimes, crap.

Johnny Troll wrote:
Let me be sure I understand what I am hearing:

In the whole world, there is no malware author who can write code that will jump from the Windows side of a Mac to the Mac side?

The answer to that is probably not. The code would have to contain:
a) Windows malware - to infect the Windows side
b) bridge software - to find and move something to a partition it can't see
c) code that will run on the OS X side

This would apparently be easier than writing code that would infect the Mac side since the bridge software would bypass all OS X security. The bridge software, though, may be the deal breaker.

BTW: Mossberg was NOT wrong in saying those two were 'successful'. They infected several users each. They were not very successful, but successful just the same.

Still more good publicity about Apple. In the Wall Street Journal no less. Still the stock drops.

How is Steve Job's health these days?

My Mac has about as much chance of getting a virus as I do of contracting bird flu - IOW none.

The flu isn't about to cross the species barrier, nor is the virus going to switch different.

DLMeyer: "Do not run User tasks from an Admin account"

I've heard this said before, but no onw has explained why this is a problem? What is a user task? If I'm running a user task (non-administrative work, I presume) then why am I vulnerable? If I'm running admin tasks, am I still vulnerable?

Why, Daddy why?!!?

Hey,

Is john an idiot or am I missing something.

JOHN, WHERE IS "IT"

Mac OSX has been out for years, you mean not ONE person has been able to write a maliciuos virus?

Answer is not yet and waiting.

If it can be made why hasn't it happened yet?
We've had the new Intel macs out for a few months now and a couple of guys were able to hack windows onto a mac, but where is the virus?

No doubt it's easier to do than rewriting windows to work on an Intel mac.

What a teen dope.

wow, guys.
intense argument.
John's just trying to get y'all going...

he's got the hang of it, haha.


--------------------------------------------------
throw your peecee out while there's still time...

"How much do you think Apple pays him to publish these stories? "

It's not a "story". It is an answer to a question. It is also all true. People pay for half-truths and misleading information to be published.

John Parsons:

You're right. You are the only person in the world to have ever considered the possibility. Oh, how I hate myself for not being as wise as thou art. That said, your "are you paying attention" comments do not really relate to the answer that Mossberg gave, which is about running OSX only. His answer does not deal with what might or might not be in Leopard or speculate about the implications regarding viruses.


Why pay for security software now? So that after someone writes an OSX virus and it does its damage, I can scan from another drive and confirm what caused the problem? That's damage assessment, not security.

"It is laughable to compare the real, massive and burdensome security problems on Windows with the (largely*) theoretical security problem on the Mac..."

Sums it all up for me!


* just another journalist form of "virtually" to hedge his bets, I myself would replace it with "totally", dude.

John #*$#&$**@^#?

You just come across as the "Nostradamus of Apple Insecurity." Lots of doomsday claims, little to work with, and won't go away.

It would seem to me that a correctly coded Windows virus could bridge over to the Mac partition. There are progams on the Windows side that let you use Mac formatted drives. It would seem a Windows to Mac Bridge virus could screw your file system. But what use would this be to today's virus writers, who are more interested in making money off infected users than just creating havoc?

However, I'm not a OS tech, but I've seen articles from acknowledged security techs who say this won't happen.

I wonder if a windows virus could be constructed that would erase all non-boot drives. Would such a virus make Mac OS X vunerable on a dual boot Mac?