Mac security update leaves users open to ugly Flashback Apple has updated the malware protection built into its Mac operating system to flag a recently discovered trojan that hijacks users' machines by masquerading as a benign document. Malware disguised as an Adobe Flash installer, meanwhile, remained unchecked. The file quarantine, which Apple snuck into a prerelease version of …
This isn't really a windows vs mac debate. Mac OS X is identifying it as an application requiring admin details and asking the admin to confirm. I'd expect Windows to do the same. That's all I expect of an OS, to flag when something is attempting to install and prompt if escalated privileges are required. It's up to the admin to asses whether its legitimate or not. Anyone infected = user error (or admin error).
No one thinks Mac's are invulnerable - certainly I don't, but they are just less prone to non-user error type malware - in my experience.
I think the difference between Microsoft and Apple here is that Microsoft weren't the ones to create a condescending "I'm a PC" commercial insinuating that their operating system was virus free...
With the amount of braindead Apple fans who claim that Apple Virus / Malware is an oxymoron, that 30 second spot could turn out to be some of history's most damaging tech-related FUD.
1 - it may be virus resistant, but unless you upgrade the users, no platform is trojan proof.
2 - I don't believe statements, I want proof. I run Kaspersky every so often..
(and 3 - I still only spend about 3% of the time I used to spend on Windows keeping the machine, safe and patched. But that's just detail, right? It's not like your time is worth anything..).
I installed an updated Flash last week and the only difference I saw was that the operating temperature rose from 60 - 62 degrees celsius right up to 75 - 80 degrees.
The only way to have the temp drop down again was to de-install
Does anyone have any idea on what happened here and how to get around the problem?
You'll have missed the other article showing that actually most targetted vulns are in Flash, PDF or Java these days then?
Once you take IE out of the equation Windows does quite well, especially given the rich rewards and vast selection of low-hanging fruit users on offer for pwning it.
At the end of the day, it's the altitude of the fruit on offer that is important. Pwning the machine of a savvy owner is a waste of time. They'll just spot something's up and fix it / get it fixed. Also snaffling their gmail password isn't anywhere near as likely to get you into their bank account....
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