Re: OS X Security Holes Galore Go Unpatched

John Slade stated in post n2MAl.27548$ZP4.10199@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on
4/1/09 8:49 AM:

....
Windows: *now*.

The fact is, an OS X user is vastly less likely to be hit by malware than
is a Windows user. The difference being that Windows users are often
crippled with fear and even the reality of malware... for Mac users it is
all but a non-issue.

Who said anything about malware alone?

Ok: the fact is the chance of an OS X user being hurt by *any* security
concern is vastly smaller than that for Windows users, though users of any OS
can be fooled by phishing and the like. Still, even with that, if the
"trick" involves showing fake OS dialogs and the like, OS X users are still
less likely to be fooled.

That's because OS X users make up less than five percent of the computing
world. So I don't expect too many hackers who want to prosecute DDOS attaks to
target OS X.

Security through obscurity is, surely, a part of the reason. No doubt. But
it is irrelevant *why* Mac users have less to be worried about - the fact is
they do. As you have shown you now understand.

But since you went there, malware is all over Macs NOW. In fact tracking
cookies the most widespread form of malware is all over Macs.

Cookies are not "ware". Seriously, how did you not know that, given your
claims of computer expertise.

Tracking cookies are indeed malware. They preform actions in a browser.
So it is software but I don't expect you to know much about this because
you're pretty dumb. Oh and you're a liar.

For crying out loud! Cookies are not software! Here, to help you:
<http://www.computeruser.com/resources/dictionary/get_by_index/c/920/>
-----
A cookie is a small data file that certain Web sites write to
your hard drive when you visit them. A cookie file can
contain information such including a user ID that the site
uses to track the pages you've visited. But the only personal
information a cookie can contain is information you supply
yourself. A cookie can't read data off your hard disk or read
cookie files created by other sites.
-----

They are not software at all. They do not perform actions by themselves...
though they do provide information to web sites - and thus can be a security
risk.

Seriously, how can you not know this given your claims of computer
expertise?

This *could* change... but we have been saying that for years.

You remember when the Apple Kook Zealots in here told me that Apple would
never put Intel CPUs in their computers? Some still don't know that Apple
makes PCs now and the only difference is the usual proprietary firmware and
software. The rest is regular OEM stuff and has been for years. I had been
saying that for years before it finally happened.

Irrelevant to the conversation, but sure, you were right about Apple moving
to Intel. I have repeatedly noted that and acknowledge I was wrong about it.

Well I never really saw that because I usually have you killfiled because
you're a laughing stock of this newsgroup. You need to get outside more. Get a
life and stop making up lies about you computer knowledge.

Please stick to the topic and stop trolling. Remember: the topic is that
Mac users have far, far less chance of getting malware - a point you have
already conceded. Your counter was to claim cookies are software... which
they are not.

But then you imply that someone - though you cannot think of who - denied
Apple has used many of the same component types as other PC makers. Weird.
And you forget your many bizarre claims, such as:

What exactly are you babbling about. I can think of one guy, Mitch who was a
true nut and claimed that all Apple parts were engineered by Apple. I think he
was the fool that said ESATA was not a standard because Apple hasn't
"ratified" it yet. A true loony that guy mitch.

You think *one* guy said something foolish, though you cannot provide
evidence. Based on that you post rubbish about "some" people. One is not
some. And your use of "some" made it sound like you thought it was a common
belief in CSMA. But now you admit it is not - you agreed with the masses
that one guy was wrong - assuming he even was (you cannot find evidence of
that). Lovely.

- Your claims about needing to log in as root to install software on OS X

Was that claim made by me? It must have been a typeo because I know that
hackers can install all kinds of *** on OS X without permission.

Here are one of your past comments on the issue:

Do you know how easy it is to get a clueless user to login
as root and get them to install some malware?

Now you show they do not have to log in as root. Good to see your growth in
that area.

- Your claims that you can point to a set of XP applications that are roughly
equal to and as good as iLife on OS X. You never have.

You're obviously some sort of obsessed loon. I did that over and over. This
argument is so old. Also no matter what suite I would show, idiots like you
would never say it's as good as iLife. You and your many aliases to get around
people killfiling your nutty ass.

Point to the suite that allows a novice or non-techie user to be able to do
what a novice or non-techie user can do with iLife. This includes being
able to work with music, video, sound, and web authoring without being able
to even use files and folders.

Come on, Slade - just claiming you have shown this does not mean *anything*.
Show it.

But you cannot. You know you cannot. Oh well... you have shown you can
learn, so maybe you will learn on this topic as well.

- Your claim that the Mac Mini is all about size... and even your lies that
the Mac web site only looks at that.

You're crazy. You're dredging up long lost arguments. You need to get a life.

You are the one who bragged about your "wins" on long past arguments. You
made a fool of yourself on the current topic, malware risks, so you dredged
up a claim of yours where you were right (Apple moving to Intel) and one you
claim you were right (when you agreed with the masses and think some guy did
not).

You implied you have a good track record of being right by bringing up one
ancient debate you were right about. I now prove you wrong and you whine
about me bringing up ancient debates even you refer to as your "lost
arguments". Amazing.

- Your claims that there are no new video cards (not new models, mind you)
with only 32 MB of Ram. You even claimed they were probably not covered under
warranty, even after you were given links to cards that were!

Those cards were not new. They were old but they were covered under warranty.

You were proved wrong: they were brand new, never been used. But good to
see you finally admit you were wrong about the warranty.

- Your belittling of the lowest end Mac based on the fact that it is not a
high end machine.

Right.

And that is insane. Really: why belittle a low end machine for not being a
high end machine.

That's because machines that are low end these days from OTHER companies are
what Apple calls "high end".

Apple markets the mini as its low end computer - the Pros are the high end.

Seriously, how do you not know these things, given your claims of computer
expertise?

A $500 PC from Dell or HP or generic is way faster and more poweful than the
mac Mini priced at what, $599 for a Core 2 Duo at 2.0Ghz, a 120GB HD and a 8x
DVD writer? LOL That is a fucking ripoff. The newest mini is using old tech
because Apple can't upgrade it without a major redesign. They don't even take
out the old 8x DVD writers and put in 16x DVD-R/RW drives. Oh and a 120GB HD
is small by today's standards. I can get a brand new Dell or HP for at least
$100 less that has a 300GB HD, a faster CPU, more memory and a 16x DVD-R/RW
drive. It seems to me that the Mini is ending it's run. When a company doesn't
upgrade a product for years, it's dying.

Why the off topic rant?

- Your outright denial that a PC can "choke" on non-bootable floppies...
giving the error "missing or invalid system" or the like? You even went so
far to claim you had proved me wrong about PCs doing this.

You're a loon. A computer does not choke because it can't boot from a floppy
with no OS on it.

LOL! Seriously, how the heck do you try to pass yourself off as a guy with
any knowledge about computers? For your education:

<http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000229.htm>
-----
Issue: Invalid / Non System Disk error.
Cause: ...
This error can be caused by one or more of the below
possibilities.
1. Floppy or CD that is not bootable is currently in the
computer.
2. BIOS or CMOS setup is not setup properly.
3. Hard disk drive does not have bootable files on it.
4. The hard disk drive is bad or not connected properly.
Solution:
Floppy or CD that is not bootable is currently in the
computer Verify that no floppy diskette or CD is currently in
the computer. If a diskette or CD is in the computer that is
not bootable your computer may attempt to boot from that
diskette or CD causing this error message.
-----

If you take OS X off a Mac's HD, turn it on, would you call that a choke? The
fact is PCs, the vast majority of them look for multiple boot devices had have
for the last ten or more years. Some older ones did not look past the floppy
but they are very very rare even when we had that argument. And as I said that
isn't a choke, computers usually don't work to well when they don't have an OS
installed. But I don't expect you to know that.

Your off topic rants and absurd insults do not help your case. Seriously.

- You decided that you and you alone understood backups... you simply denied
that I did, at the very least. Just weird. It was like you had just learned
about backing up and thought you had some secret knowledge.

Boy you really are crazy, you're still stewing over that argument where I
proved you didn't know what the hell you were talking about? I asked what kind
of backup you would recommend and waited for your response. You ran. You lost.
You lied. Damn, move on.

I did not educate you on backup systems. And you are still "stewing". LOL!
Come on: you made accusations that were absurd. I told you I set up a
specific backup system and you denied I had... as if you had any "inside"
info on it or like doing so was something special. Hint: it is not, and the
fact you were surprised to hear a computer tech would set up a backup system
was just hilarious!

- It was not until 6/4/08 when you showed you understood the difference
between Macs and other PCs. You did so in post:
<gWC1k.3866$xZ.1055@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

You're babbling now. Provide a link.

I gave a message ID. Go fish.

You brag about your great knowledge based on a claim that you make swell
hobby machines and you were right about Apple moving to Intel where I, and
others, were wrong. Lovely.

I make computers and I repair computers.

But you do not know all of the stuff you show you do not, above.

Hard to believe... but there are incompetent people in all fields, so maybe
you are not lying.

I make computers for people who use them for hobbies and I make them for
people who work in offices. I build servers and all kinds of computers. I just
don't build machines used for hobbies and I get paid to build machines and I
get paid well to fix them.

Yea you were wrong about the Intel thing, now move along.

Hey, above you were all bent out of shape about my responding to your
bringing up of ancient debates by doing the same... but now you reference
your ancient debate again. That is funny.

But none of this has to do with the topic at hand: malware and security
risks. And on that I am absolutely right: OS X users have vastly lower cause
for concern than do Windows users.

That's because OS X is not targeted as much as Windows is for obvious reasons.

Good to see you now agree OS X users are at a much, much lower risk of
malware or other security concern.

Now you just have to learn that cookies are not software!



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[INSERT .SIG HERE]


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