Get your Mac, it's raining Trojans

  • Thread starter Thread starter NoStop
  • Start date Start date
N

NoStop

"Security firm Sophos has issued a call for home computer users to ditch the
Windows operating system and switch to Macs for the sake of their safety
online.

The call came as part of a report detailing the main trends in malicious
software so far this year. The main finding was that all of the top ten
threats to online users targeted the Windows environment."

Full article here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/05/trojans_mac_pc/

Of course, this can be an expensive proposition, having to purchase a new
computer. A better alternative is to keep your existing hardware, wipe off
Windoze and install GNU/Linux.

--
The ULTIMATE Windoze Fanboy:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2370205018226686613

A 3D Linux Desktop (video) ...


View Some Common Linux Desktops ...
http://shots.osdir.com/
 
There's always someone recommending a Mac .. or Linux .. or FreeBSD etc.
etc. Heck, there are people out there recommending DOS.

Automatic Updates + Common Sense = Reasonable Security Level
 
Pez said:
sophos must not be doing too well in the av business.
Click to expand...

Au contraire...all of the AV vendors are doing quite well.
The problem is that the Windows operating environment has
become too dated, is too cluttered (or bloated) and consists
of too many patches, all kludged together. And Vista is no
better...just more of the same. Extremely vulnerable.

What is really needed is an entirely new operating system from
the bottom up along with standardized developer tools, rules
for devices, etc. But that sounds a lot like a Mac and OS X,
doesn't it?
 
Ground said:
There's always someone recommending a Mac .. or Linux .. or FreeBSD etc.
etc. Heck, there are people out there recommending DOS.

Automatic Updates + Common Sense = Reasonable Security Level
Click to expand...

And unfortunately a very large number of users do NOT have either common
sense or knowledge. Mr gates has a huge responsibility in this area -
having brought the undeniable advantages of computing to the masses, he
should be under obligation to make sure that his products are NOT
vulnerable......which they are by design.......
 
yeah, os x is so new 'cause it was developed over thirty years ago when
it was still called unix.

if i had money to bet, i would place it on plan 9 as the possible
framework for a successor to windows.

i had to use os x eight hours a day when i worked for apple...os x is a
toy operating system.

http://cm.bell-labs.com/plan9/
 
Peoplr rob banks cause thats where $$ is.
People hack MS products cause most people have them.
If every1 had a HAL2000/Cray/CDC they'd hack
HAL2000/Cray/CDC...

Just my 2¢ worth. Larry

On Wed, 05 Jul 2006 22:29:11 -0700, NoStop

|"Security firm Sophos has issued a call for home computer users to ditch the
|Windows operating system and switch to Macs for the sake of their safety
|online.
|
|The call came as part of a report detailing the main trends in malicious
|software so far this year. The main finding was that all of the top ten
|threats to online users targeted the Windows environment."
|
|Full article here:
|
|http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/05/trojans_mac_pc/
|
|Of course, this can be an expensive proposition, having to purchase a new
|computer. A better alternative is to keep your existing hardware, wipe off
|Windoze and install GNU/Linux.

Any advise is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.
 
Mistoffolees said:
Au contraire...all of the AV vendors are doing quite well.
The problem is that the Windows operating environment has
become too dated, is too cluttered (or bloated) and consists
of too many patches, all kludged together. And Vista is no
better...just more of the same. Extremely vulnerable.

What is really needed is an entirely new operating system from
the bottom up along with standardized developer tools, rules
for devices, etc. But that sounds a lot like a Mac and OS X,
doesn't it?
Click to expand...

And another monopoly? :-)
Whatever system becomes the system of the majority will be targeted by the
miscreants that write the Trojans, virus, malware, scumware, etc..
The solution is to unite the braintrust of all platforms to identify and
eradicate all malicious threats as soon as they show their sorry prescience.
The Internet is a vital and essential resource to a majority of the
worldwide population and any attempt to interrupt that resource should be
considered as a terrorist action and should be dealt with in the same due
diligence.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Mistoffolees said:
Au contraire...all of the AV vendors are doing quite well.
The problem is that the Windows operating environment has
become too dated, is too cluttered (or bloated) and consists
of too many patches, all kludged together. And Vista is no
better...just more of the same. Extremely vulnerable.

What is really needed is an entirely new operating system from
the bottom up along with standardized developer tools, rules
for devices, etc. But that sounds a lot like a Mac and OS X,
doesn't it?
Click to expand...

There's an old truth: we don't need more cops, we need fewer criminals.
Likewise, we don't need a new operating system, we need fewer abusers.

Drown 'em at birth, I say.
 
macs get attacked less as everyone uses windows. if people all used macs
windows would be safer!

my computers had 6 trojans in the last week :-S
 
And another monopoly? :-)
Whatever system becomes the system of the majority will be targeted by the
miscreants that write the Trojans, virus, malware, scumware, etc..
The solution is to unite the braintrust of all platforms to identify and
eradicate all malicious threats as soon as they show their sorry
prescience.
Click to expand...

Well we've already witnessed how well the "braintrust" from MickeyMouse has
done. MickeyMouse has constantly fought the tide of standards, always
striking out on its own with its proprietary software model purposely
breaking standards. Those on the other side of the equation have already
figured out how to keep malware at bay, and that is based on the security
model of *NIX. Only MickeyMouse is outside and needs to reassess its whole
"operating system" model. But, I don't believe it really cares.

The Internet is a vital and essential resource to a majority
of the worldwide population and any attempt to interrupt that resource
should be considered as a terrorist action and should be dealt with in the
same due diligence.
Click to expand...
The first step is obviously unplugging all Windoze machines from the
Internet. Just as the article suggests.


--
The ULTIMATE Windoze Fanboy:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2370205018226686613

A 3D Linux Desktop (video) ...


View Some Common Linux Desktops ...
http://shots.osdir.com/
 
macs get attacked less as everyone uses windows. if people all used macs
windows would be safer!

my computers had 6 trojans in the last week :-S
Click to expand...

Sorry, no banana. Your argument has proven time and time again to be just so
much FUD from Microsoft. Mac OSX runs on top of FreeBSD a *NIX operating
system. It's security model is so much more advanced over Windoze that
there is no comparison. It has NOTHING to do with numbers of computers
being used. Macs are targeted less because the chances of doing any real
damage to a Mac is so much less as to be almost insignificant from the
operating system's point of view. The same applies to GNU/Linux. To get an
understanding of why this is so will require you do some research on the
security models of *NIX systems as opposed to Windoze systems. You'll learn
that - by design - *NIX systems secure the kernel space from the user
space. Damage done in the user space does not and cannot impact the kernel
space. Hence attacks on Linux or OSX boxes don't get the malware writers
very far. Attacking Windoze boxes on the other hand, due to its lacklustre
security model, allows significant compromises to the operating system
itself. From here all sorts of trojans can take control of ones system and
do their evil deeds throughout the Net.

BTW, I'm sorry to hear that you had 6 trojans last week. But, you're not
alone and in not so good company. The number of compromised Windoze boxes
out there is astronomical and they are allowing spammers to use these boxes
to spread spam throughout the Net along with other illegal activities.


--
The ULTIMATE Windoze Fanboy:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2370205018226686613

A 3D Linux Desktop (video) ...


View Some Common Linux Desktops ...
http://shots.osdir.com/
 
Gordon said:
And unfortunately a very large number of users do NOT have either common
sense or knowledge. Mr gates has a huge responsibility in this area -
having brought the undeniable advantages of computing to the masses, he
should be under obligation to make sure that his products are NOT
vulnerable......which they are by design.......
Click to expand...

Comparable vulnerabilities exist in Mac operating systems and in
Linux. It is just that there are not enough computers using these
other operating systems to make them worth attacking.

Why spend a lot of time and effort creating a malware product that
might infect a few thousand computers when for the same work you can
create one that could infect millions or tens of millions?

In order to become a target you first have to be worth shooting at.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Ron said:
Comparable vulnerabilities exist in Mac operating systems and in
Linux. It is just that there are not enough computers using these
other operating systems to make them worth attacking.

Why spend a lot of time and effort creating a malware product that
might infect a few thousand computers when for the same work you can
create one that could infect millions or tens of millions?

In order to become a target you first have to be worth shooting at.
Click to expand...

So by your reckoning, as the majority of servers in the world run Linux,
they should be attacked? Well I wonder why they they aren't. Shall I tell
you why? Because Linux is designed in such a way that it is VERY DIFFICULT
to attack. Nothing to do with the number of installations at all, but all
to do with the design of the software. For instance, almost NO linux
installations whether desktop or server (and the server installations are
exactly the same as the desktop installations, but without the applications
such as Open Office etc etc) run as root, whereas many many many
installations of windows run as Administrator ALL THE TIME!
 
Ron said:
In order to become a target you first have to be worth shooting at.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
Click to expand...

Yeah, Mac and Linux are built with a much better security model than
Windows, henceforth, they do not make nearly as good a target as Windows.
 
NoStop your soooo full of it. What is Linux on the desktop up to now 3% wow
not that is a big target (NOT).
Look at the security sites CERT etc and Linux and Max both have many patches
to fix security problems.

Your just set on the Linux mind set you can't see how full of krap you are.
 
Gordon said:
So by your reckoning, as the majority of servers in the world run Linux,
they should be attacked? Well I wonder why they they aren't. Shall I tell
you why? Because Linux is designed in such a way that it is VERY DIFFICULT
to attack. Nothing to do with the number of installations at all, but all
to do with the design of the software. For instance, almost NO linux
installations whether desktop or server (and the server installations are
exactly the same as the desktop installations, but without the
applications
such as Open Office etc etc) run as root, whereas many many many
installations of windows run as Administrator ALL THE TIME!
Click to expand...

Linux servers are attacked and do have holes in them. Apache had holes in it
for years before it was fixed. Go to some security sites and you will find
patches all the time for Linux. Most can bring Linux to its knees. If you or
anyone believe any OS is or will ever be totaly secure then your a fool. The
only safe OS is the one that is shut off.
 
Randy said:
NoStop your soooo full of it. What is Linux on the desktop up to now 3% wow
not that is a big target (NOT).
Look at the security sites CERT etc and Linux and Max both have many patches
to fix security problems.

Your just set on the Linux mind set you can't see how full of krap you are.
Click to expand...

<snip>

You are hard to take seriously when you do not spell crap or you're (or
Macs for that matter) properly. The whole point that you are not even
addressing is the fact that any *NIX OS is designed in a manner that is
inherently more secure than Windows. But go ahead and keep ignoring the
point if it really makes you feel better.
 
Back
Top