Question for all you computer experts out there

[81artmonk]

Most of the people I know rave about a Mac over a PC, due to the virus/malware/spyware issue. They say they bought a MAC becuase they were tired of getting infected with viruses and other threats. A majority of the stuff I get infected with is from visiting websites, which place tracking cookies or spyware without me knowing it, having visited a website.

So with that said, how is a MAC different from a pc in that aspect?? If you surf the web and visit a website that does that sort of thing, won't a Mac get infected too or is it immune??

[SUSkinsFan]

Most of the people I know rave about a Mac over a PC, due to the virus/malware/spyware issue. They say they bought a MAC becuase they were tired of getting infected with viruses and other threats. A majority of the stuff I get infected with is from visiting websites, which place tracking cookies or spyware without me knowing it, having visited a website.

So with that said, how is a MAC different from a pc in that aspect?? If you surf the web and visit a website that does that sort of thing, won't a Mac get infected too or is it immune??

The Reader's Digest version is because the Windows OS and a Mac OS are written in different languages. So a Mac may in fact get a virus file, but the file can't execute because it was written in Windows language.

[ncsuapex]

Permissions. In Windows you're the "admin" unless you use a guest account. So any bad things that you catch while on the net can write to any file/registry entry it wants.

If MAC is like Linux you have to be root to mess with system files. And you can use permissions to "lock" down certain files/directories so you have to be root to mess with them.

[RedlightG20]

The viruses are written to affect certain parts of an operating system, and since the Mac and Windows OS's are so different, it's not likely one virus can affect both systems in the same capacity. A virus could possibly infect certain pieces of software that is shared between both OS's (like Microsoft Office, for example) but again the differences in system architecture will most likely rule a virus ineffective against one or the other.

[GibbsFactor]

Most of the people I know rave about a Mac over a PC, due to the virus/malware/spyware issue. They say they bought a MAC becuase they were tired of getting infected with viruses and other threats. A majority of the stuff I get infected with is from visiting websites, which place tracking cookies or spyware without me knowing it, having visited a website.

So with that said, how is a MAC different from a pc in that aspect?? If you surf the web and visit a website that does that sort of thing, won't a Mac get infected too or is it immune??

It's a common myth to think that Ubuntu, OSX and others have more security then Windows. The facts are the "other" operating systems are simply not as plentiful. Windows still dominate over 90% of OS's in the world. So naturally, most malware is written to infect Windows based systems.

The more people who buy Mac's, the more malware will be written to attack them.

[DGreenistheBest]

It's a common myth to think that Ubuntu, OSX and others have more security then Windows. The facts are the "other" operating systems are simply not as plentiful. Windows still dominate over 90% of OS's in the world. So naturally, most malware is written to infect Windows based systems.

The more people who buy Mac's, the more malware will be written to attack them.

Exactly.

[mattsb84]

I'm still under the belief that 95% of these viruses, spyware/malware infections are self inflicted. I don't really fault Windows for the user clicking OK on something or not reading what they're clicking.

Most mainstream sites will not have these types of pop-ups anyways. So what sites are you visiting eh?

[DGreenistheBest]

I'm still under the belief that 95% of these viruses, spyware/malware infections are self inflicted. I don't really fault Windows for the user clicking OK on something or not reading what they're clicking.

Most mainstream sites will not have these types of pop-ups anyways. So what sites are you visiting eh?

Also an excellent point. I go to all sorts of potentially hazardous sites and I've never gotten a single virus because I have my protections and firewalls configured and I don't click on stupid links.

[81artmonk]

I'm still under the belief that 95% of these viruses, spyware/malware infections are self inflicted. I don't really fault Windows for the user clicking OK on something or not reading what they're clicking.

Most mainstream sites will not have these types of pop-ups anyways. So what sites are you visiting eh?


I disagree. I've been to an icon/animated gifs/free screen saver site. One where you can get fuzzy bunnies on your desktop or moutnain scapes and without me clicking on anything, it loaded a tracking cookie onto my computer which screws with my computer and opens me up to tons of spam.

I've had lots of spyware and malware get onto my computer from just visiting a website. I don't click on anything, knowing how dangerous it is. My problems stem now from backdoor tactics, ones which you don't know about that are getting into the computer by way of tracking cookies.

the problem is, I have my firewall set at the highest it will go without screwing with normal websites functions. If I set it at the highest level, most functions of a website won't work, like buying something online, or posting on a messageboard, or something as easy as viewing video clips on youtube.

[mattsb84]

I disagree. I've been to an icon/animated gifs/free screen saver site. One where you can get fuzzy bunnies on your desktop or moutnain scapes and without me clicking on anything, it loaded a tracking cookie onto my computer which screws with my computer and opens me up to tons of spam.

I've had lots of spyware and malware get onto my computer from just visiting a website. I don't click on anything, knowing how dangerous it is. My problems stem now from backdoor tactics, ones which you don't know about that are getting into the computer by way of tracking cookies.

the problem is, I have my firewall set at the highest it will go without screwing with normal websites functions. If I set it at the highest level, most functions of a website won't work, like buying something online, or posting on a messageboard, or something as easy as viewing video clips on youtube.


I use windows firewall and never have any issues with it. Along with it I use AVG, spybot s&d and avg. I keep windows up to date, as well as the aforementioned software. I think that goes a long ways and takes a few minutes a week to do. Other good practices are clearing your temp and internet temp file folders out bi-weekly or monthly depending on what you do.

I'll also say I don't think I've ever had a site just install something without me knowing. You may want to check your Browser security options because by default, that should not be happening.

[Sticksboi05]

It's really easy to not get infected. People just don't have adequate protection.

I have never had one infection on this computer and I use Spy Sweeper and Avira AntiVir and COMODO Firewall Pro.

2 out of 3 are free.

[Coach Williams]

I use windows firewall and never have any issues with it. Along with it I use AVG, spybot s&d and avg.

ECK!! :doh:

[GibbsFactor]

I disagree. I've been to an icon/animated gifs/free screen saver site. One where you can get fuzzy bunnies on your desktop or moutnain scapes and without me clicking on anything, it loaded a tracking cookie onto my computer which screws with my computer and opens me up to tons of spam.



That'll do it. Those sites are bad. Always have been.

[DGreenistheBest]

I disagree. I've been to an icon/animated gifs/free screen saver site. One where you can get fuzzy bunnies on your desktop or moutnain scapes and without me clicking on anything, it loaded a tracking cookie onto my computer which screws with my computer and opens me up to tons of spam.

Yeah, I think the general consensus is that you should know better than to go to those sites. I use Norton's firewall and Windows Defender and I've had maybe one virus in the 6 years I've owned this PC, and it was easily removed. As for spam and spyware, never been a problem. And I HAVE been to many sites like that and every time, my security settings have bounced any attempts to access my computer. Just make sure you are using the best programs and have everything updated to the latest version.

[Larry]

I'm still under the belief that 95% of these viruses, spyware/malware infections are self inflicted. I don't really fault Windows for the user clicking OK on something or not reading what they're clicking.

Most mainstream sites will not have these types of pop-ups anyways. So what sites are you visiting eh?

1) Yes, it is true that a lot of malware gets installed with the user's permission.

You visit a site. You get a popup. "You must install Fizbin to see this video." You click "OK" a few times, you agree to the contract. What you don't notice is that paragraph 27 of the contract says that Fizbin may install other software by other companies. And oh, bu the way, the software from the other companies just happen to show you advertising, and to keep track of every keystroke on your system and sent it to Fizbin, Inc.

Yes, you consented. But they deliberately went out of their way to prevent it from being an informed consent.

2) Often, the pretenses are outright fraud. The popup that looks like a Windows error message: "Warning! Spyware threat detected! Click here to remove."

[Coach Williams]

Just make sure you are using the best programs and have everything updated to the latest version.


What a concept :rolleyes:

Some people enjoy paying for something that is subpar......or even worse the classic : " my computer friend said this is the best." :doh:

I had an Asian guy get seriously upset because I told him Trend Micro is an AV company and that their Spyware database is minimal compared to what is actually out there..... :laugh:

I didn't understand what he was saying after that but he was upset.....I think he kept repeating the words " ALL IN ONE" , Common sense and a lil' bit of data can prove ALL IN ONE products are frauds.....( especially when it's an Antivirus company imitating a spyware company ) :mad:

[Larry]

Most of the people I know rave about a Mac over a PC, due to the virus/malware/spyware issue. They say they bought a MAC becuase they were tired of getting infected with viruses and other threats. A majority of the stuff I get infected with is from visiting websites, which place tracking cookies or spyware without me knowing it, having visited a website.

So with that said, how is a MAC different from a pc in that aspect?? If you surf the web and visit a website that does that sort of thing, won't a Mac get infected too or is it immune??

There are two main reasons for the "Linux/Mac 'immunity'".

1) Programs, with very few exceptions, are OS specific. Your Mac won't run PC viruses for the same reason it won't run PC games or applications. You have to buy the Mac version.

Macs are immune to PC viruses. But yes, there are Mac viruses, too. (There just aren't as many.) (And the Mac viruses won't run on PCs.)

2) The Macs and Linux use a different approach to a lot of security. A lot of the security holes in PCs were deliberately built in (for one reason or another).

For example, Internet Explorer was deliberately designed so that, whenever it visits a web site, it checks to see if the web site contains programming instructions. If the site has such instructions, then it downloads the program and does whatever the program tells it to do, without asking for permission.

This isn't a "hole" or a defect. Microsoft spent a lot of money deliberately building this capability into IE. (Their reason for doing so was because they wanted IE to be the way people applied patches to Windows. Their reason for doing that was because they wanted to force every copy of Windows to have IE, which is illegal under antitrust law. Building that capability into the web browser allowed them to say "But Your Honor, without IE, the user can't install patches to Windows". It is merely a side effect that this capability also meant that every web page you visit has the power to modify Windows without telling you.)

In addition, Windows "evolved" from DOS: an operating system which was designed around the assumption that the user had full control of the entire system. By default, any person sitting at the keyboard has unlimited power.

Linux was patterned after Unix, which was designed as a multi-user system from the beginning. By default, one user, named "root" has unlimited power. But that user (in theory) never logs on to the system. Instead, you log in as "Joe User" (who doesn't have the authority to modify the operating system). Whenever Joe needs full power (to install a program or to perform similar restricted tasks), he either has to log in as root, or he'll simply be required to provide root's password, thus temporarily granting root authority to whichever program he's running.

In Linux, Joe User can't modify the OS without a popup telling him that Program X needs the root password. (This is a hint that Program X is about to do something that needs authority.)

(Joe User may still be tricked into granting that authority, but at least he has to be aware that something's going on.)

3) There's also, IMO, another kind of security in Open Source software in general.

I'm certain, for example, that the Firefox I'm using doesn't have any back door passwords built into it. No secret code that a web site can send to my browser that will cause it to do something sneaky.

I'm certain of this because the program Firefox has been published. Anybody who wants to (and knows how) can download the program and read it. And I'm very confident that if such a back door existed in Firefox, somebody would have found it, announced it, and released his own version that's identical to Firefox, but without the back door.

It may have bugs that people haven't spotted. But I'm certain it doesn't have deliberate security holes. (And, IMO, a lot of the "security holes" in Windows were deliberately built in. Example: Why does my e-mail program have the ability to run programs?)

OTOH, I'm also certain that every version of Windows Media Player since version 6, (I think it's 6), has had code deliberately built into it that sends information about the media you play with it to Microsoft. (They even admit to some of it.)

Open Source doesn't mean "bug proof", but it is, by it's very nature "deliberate spyware and intentional bomb proof". Because the nature of Open Source makes deliberate security holes both obvious and easily removed.

[Coach Williams]

I'm also certain that every version of Windows Media Player since version 6, (I think it's 6), has had code deliberately built into it that sends information about the media you play with it to Microsoft.

Interesting, I learned something today :)

P.S.~ Now they know I watched the paris hilton tape 6 times today :D

j/k....wwjd?