Re: So, windows doesn't get viruses and worms eh?


"GreyCloud" <mist@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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John Slade wrote:

"GreyCloud" <mist@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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Steve Carroll wrote:


In article <tb-8D0676.09582130052006@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Tom Bates <tb@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



In article <kLKeg.42355$Lm5.15427@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"John Slade" <hhitman86@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



"Steve Carroll" <noone@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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In article <C7SdncufIONRfeTZ4p2dnA@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
GreyCloud <mist@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/videos/virus-hi.html

Here's an interesting quote:

"With SO many threats chances are good that your computer will be
attacked sooner or later"

And here are some of the suggestions I heard:

1 - Always use up to date virus software
2- Delete attachments from people you don't know

Hmmm, two things some of the Wintaliban have been saying are
unnecessary. Some of the more "fanatical" among them figure they know
better than MS about MS's OS. Pretty funny stuff;)

Computers will get attacked often if you have a constant
connection to the Internet. However if you run a router or firewall,
you can minimize your chances of getting hit. By computers I mean all
computers running Unix(OS X), Windows and Linux. Viruses and worms
are a fact of life. Only the stupid will tell you a Mac needs no
protection.

John

Routers and firewalls don't protect from everything there johnny-boy.
If you did more than build cheap PC's you might know that. What's lost
on you is social engineering and a few other issues related to your
computer being compromised.


I gave my mother a Mac running OSX and she has a highspeed "constant
connection" to the internet with no router, just a stock installation of
OSX with periodic upgrades. I believe she has the service open for iChat
and does use it quite a bit. No security software is running on her
machine. She's had no problems at all... going on a couple of years now.


Which is the case for other Unixes as well. I've ran Solaris for years
on broadband and have never had problems with viruses or worms. Those
that admined Unix/Linux servers at ISPs see windows worms knocking on
their servers constantly, looking for computers to accept them. If it
weren't for windows, the internet would have a better response time with
all those worms missing and clogging up the internet.


Social engineering is not platform specific. Anyone who knows anything
about security knows this.

I do know that. That's why it is called a phishing scam. You know...
sucker bait. < open to see Britney Spears naked > type of bait.

I suppose you think there are no Unix viruses huh?

Yes. Now name the viruses.


This article names the Adore, Lion, Cheese, and RST.B.

http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1662

Is that good enough for you?

You do know that a viruses success relies on the fact that it needs to
spread. On Unix systems it is pretty much impossible.


That's beside the point. For a virus to become a virus it has to
replicate itself and that's all. LOL. Now your saying for it to be a virus
it has to be successful. Now who is being pedantic?


Actually the internet would not be a better place without Windows.

Yes it would be. All those unpatched servers out there are cluttering up
the net with worms and viruses looking for another unpatched system.


The viruses aren't the think that's hurting the web, it's DOS attacks.
Granted it's mainly from Windows XP systems becuse there are hardly any Macs
out there to perpetuate an attack. A system that hardly anybody uses doesn't
get targeted as much.

Since something else would take it's place and be used to distribute spam
and attacks. If it weren't for Windows, maybe OS X would be more popular
and attacked more often. But let's face it, nobody is going to waste time
trying to spread stuff on a Mac, it's only what 3% of the worldwide
computer market?

Guffaw!! Faulty logic. Your market share argument is just a myth.

No it isn't. People who write viruses have said they want them spread far
and wide so they attack Windows XP and 2000 systems.


The fact that it is very difficult to create a good phishing scam

No social engineering scams are much easier than viruses.

is evidence enough that OS X or any other Unix is pretty secure and free
of viruses/worms.

This proves you don't know what you're talking about. Phishing scams are
not platform specific.


Unix, Windows and Linux get hit with DOS attacks all the time they get
spam.

Spam has an address. Spam is not viruses or worms.

What is this supposed to mean?


If it wasn't for PCs running Windows, you guys would still be stuck using
72 Pin memory in your Macs.

But I doubt you could provide any proof of this.

Umm yea I can. You see DDR memory, AGP slots and Intel processors were
not developed on a Mac. You want to know why? Because hardly anyone uses
them. Windows ran on PCs and many people found it easy to use and that's why
it sold like crazy. It ran on PCs and their sales exploded. That money from
sales went into developing the components that are in Macs today.


You also would still be using underpowered CPUs. Apple and the Mac owes a
great deal to us who bought the PCs and used Windows. We have advanced the
market so much, that Apple now makes clones.


What ifs and shuddas, don't count.
Unix is what it is, and Windows is what it is.

But the FACT is Windows caused lots of PCs to be sold and that help
advance the hardware you Apple switched to.

BTW. Where did you get that number of viruses you cited?

John




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Relevant Pages

  • Re: So, windows doesnt get viruses and worms eh?
    ... Computers will get attacked often if you have a constant connection to the Internet. ... I've ran Solaris for years on broadband and have never had problems with viruses or worms. ... Those that admined Unix/Linux servers at ISPs see windows worms knocking on their servers constantly, looking for computers to accept them. ... The viruses aren't the think that's hurting the web, it's DOS attacks. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: So, windows doesnt get viruses and worms eh?
    ... Computers will get attacked often if you have a constant ... computers running Unix, Windows and Linux. ... I gave my mother a Mac running OSX and she has a highspeed "constant ... Windows and Linux get hit with DOS attacks all the time they get ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Black Worm virus set to explode tonight
    ... computers with hard drives and on the internet are wideeeeeeee open to ... The only reason Apple & Mac ... code from old versionf of Windows which is why there will be viruses ...
    (rec.radio.shortwave)
  • Re: Best Antivirus
    ... It's not Mac users jobs to protect other people from viruses that effect ... It's anybody's job to keep their computers so well equipped that no ... Windows users either. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.apps)
  • Re: changing to XP
    ... The improved functionality and stability of Windows XP is well worth the ... As for not getting many viruses and spyware attacks. ... chance to get it up to date, you can request the security updates on CD ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)