Uh, Just so you know? Macs aren’t technically more secure against viruses. Its just a matter of market share: A virus programmer out for lols or to cause a lot of damage is going to go for the OS with the most usage, which is Windows. If anything, windows machines are more secure on average, simply because their users are more aware of the problems and are much more likely to have anti-virus software.
(This was written on a mac, btw)
Side note? Seriously? Making Steve Jobs a villain? Oy…
Heh, Apple fanboys in the comments. The depiction of Jobs has been fantastic, by the way; I think you really captured his dual nature well. Both the mystic designer and the ruthless businessman are well-defined and properly Jobsian.
Thanks, Ted, that was pretty much exactly what we were going for. I try to hit subjects that I feel conflicted about. I think Jobs is an inspiring creative artist with genuine gifts to share with the world, and I also think he’s absolutely ruthless about anyone or anything that might threaten to get between him and his giant canvas.
And yeah, Wraithy and FM, I know that’s why Macs are less vulnerable, but they are, regardless.
Used mac for 2 years, I am *so* glad to be rid of it. I just like the design of my current pc better, I can find things more easily, the features beat a Mac’s into the ground, it starts up faster, and everything just works.
Also, it cost slightly less than a third of what an equivalent Mac system would cost.
But really, that’s not a factor in why I like pc’s better; that’s just why I bought one. :/
Yeaahh… A *NIX based OS with file level permissions control is less secure than Windows? Code sandboxing, other security measures all less than Windows patch of the week crap?
I swear that people hear one fool on the net say something like “Macs are only secure because they have less out there” and take something that is at most around 10% true and make it into an infallible statement.
Sure, not being the prime target helps, but if you know hackers, the challenge is the draw for many. Wouldn’t it be juicy to be the one who brings the “evil” Apple down to their knees and proves what Windows fanboys try to repeat to themselves enough to make it true?
The reason why this hasn’t happened is because it is, indeed, bullshit.
I’ve learned some more things since my part in that discussion above, and I’m prepared to admit that yes, there is some structural security to Apple’s OS that doesn’t exist in Windows. Yet more of Jobs’s control-to-the-designer aesthetic, for better and for worse. Thankfully, that fact doesn’t really affect the story above, one way or another.
Uh, Just so you know? Macs aren’t technically more secure against viruses. Its just a matter of market share: A virus programmer out for lols or to cause a lot of damage is going to go for the OS with the most usage, which is Windows. If anything, windows machines are more secure on average, simply because their users are more aware of the problems and are much more likely to have anti-virus software.
(This was written on a mac, btw)
Side note? Seriously? Making Steve Jobs a villain? Oy…
Ooh, I like Apple products, but Jobs as a villain would be PRICELESS. I can only imagine his wacky death traps and inventions.
“Beware the might of my iDeathRay! (Which can hold up to sixty-four gigs of music and drop a small elephant at fifty yards.)”
Macintosh would actually be several times /more/ susceptible to viruses…
If only anyone gave a damn.
Heh, Apple fanboys in the comments. The depiction of Jobs has been fantastic, by the way; I think you really captured his dual nature well. Both the mystic designer and the ruthless businessman are well-defined and properly Jobsian.
Thanks, Ted, that was pretty much exactly what we were going for. I try to hit subjects that I feel conflicted about. I think Jobs is an inspiring creative artist with genuine gifts to share with the world, and I also think he’s absolutely ruthless about anyone or anything that might threaten to get between him and his giant canvas.
And yeah, Wraithy and FM, I know that’s why Macs are less vulnerable, but they are, regardless.
@Wraithy He didn’t say Macs are more secure against viruses, he said they’re less susceptible. Not the same thing.
And Steve Jobs does well enough to make himself seem like Norman Osborne without T’s help.
(This, too, was written on a mac, btw)
Reading Ted and T’s comments here really highlight it for me. I should start paying more attention to him in real life.
Creating his own Skynet just to kill it? Murder most foul.
I think we all know who the real villain is here.
I’m writing this on a PC.
Used mac for 2 years, I am *so* glad to be rid of it. I just like the design of my current pc better, I can find things more easily, the features beat a Mac’s into the ground, it starts up faster, and everything just works.
Also, it cost slightly less than a third of what an equivalent Mac system would cost.
But really, that’s not a factor in why I like pc’s better; that’s just why I bought one. :/
Yeaahh… A *NIX based OS with file level permissions control is less secure than Windows? Code sandboxing, other security measures all less than Windows patch of the week crap?
I swear that people hear one fool on the net say something like “Macs are only secure because they have less out there” and take something that is at most around 10% true and make it into an infallible statement.
Sure, not being the prime target helps, but if you know hackers, the challenge is the draw for many. Wouldn’t it be juicy to be the one who brings the “evil” Apple down to their knees and proves what Windows fanboys try to repeat to themselves enough to make it true?
The reason why this hasn’t happened is because it is, indeed, bullshit.
I’ve learned some more things since my part in that discussion above, and I’m prepared to admit that yes, there is some structural security to Apple’s OS that doesn’t exist in Windows. Yet more of Jobs’s control-to-the-designer aesthetic, for better and for worse. Thankfully, that fact doesn’t really affect the story above, one way or another.