Want Security? Make The Switch

Lord_Slepnir writes "Security firm Sophos Security has released a report claiming that Macs will be more secure than Windows for some time to come. The report listed the 10 most common kinds of malware, and noted that they can only infect Windows systems."

Macs safer...

[Decameron81]

"Security firm Sophos Security has released a report claiming that Macs will be more secure than windows for some time to come."

Wow, they managed to predict the present.

This just in..

[Rob T Firefly]

..people want to attack bigger targets more than smaller ones.

I'm just going to keep all my important stuff on a TI-99/4a [wikipedia.org] from now on. Let's see the botnets get hold of that!

Re:First Post

[neonprimetime]

RTFA! If you were using a MAC you woulda got 1st post, but since your WinBox was infected with malware it slowed your internet connection down.

The REAL reason OSX is more secure than Windows

[mwvdlee]

The script kiddie tools are available on Windows only.

Re:Switch to abacus, pen and paper

[Anonymous Coward]

b00kw0rm/.2A v.2 has been shown to be highly effective against paper, using the so-called 'muching' vector. Security services are still working on a reliable advanced detection method. As always we recommend all users create backups of their paper, preferably secured in the 'read-only' laminated medium.

Where's the "duh" button when you need it?

[MrSquirrel]

Windows is more used than OS X (90% marketshare) and Microsoft is more hated than Apple -- of course Windows is going to be "more vulnerable"... because more people are going to target it! (Analogies: start your engines!) That's like saying "You're more likely to get shot in Chicago than SmalltownUSA" Well duh, because there are more people and more guns in Chicago than SmalltownUSA (Apple is SmalltownUSA if you couldn't figure that out). Apple's operating system has its flaws, Windows has its flaw, Linux has flaws -- security flaws will probably always exist (until the robots write our code for us... IN OUR OWN BLOOD) and as long as they are around, people will always try to exploit them. It's not wonder the top 10 malware pieces are for Windows considering Windows' HUGE marketshare (Analogy remix: wouldn't it be smart to pick out a particular bank to rob if it has 90% of the world's money?).

Re:Switch to abacus, pen and paper

[10Ghz]

"laminated medium"

Gold-pressed latinum! w00t! Oh, you said "laminated"? nevermind....

But, but, but weren't TWO GUYS abandoning the Mac?

[alcmaeon]

What does it all mean? Sort this out for me, Slashdot.

Re:The MSFT Security Analogy

[cHALiTO]

* WinXX (after Vista) - They built the walls around the doors and windows.
* WinYY (after WinXX) - They blocked the chimney
* WinZZ (after WinYY) - They rebuilt the walls, this time out of bricks, instead of paper.

In other news...

[rbarreira]

In other news, a team of scientists has collected a list of the 10 most common human illnesses, and has concluded that it's much safer to be an ant since they're invulnerable to them.

Re:The MSFT Security Analogy

[GeeksHaveFeelings]

* WinYY (after WinXX) - They blocked the chimney

Santa Claus is malware?

Re:The MSFT Security Analogy

[MrNougat]

You forgot:

*WinYY.a (in between WinYY and WinZZ) - With the chimney blocked, the paper walls quickly charred and caught fire, burning the whole thing to the ground. (See WinME.)

Re:EffPeee!!! No Surprise Here

[level_headed_midwest]

Uh, unless you happen to be billions of consumers all rolled into one person posting AC, then the only person that you can vouch for how they pick a computer is YOURSELF. And I did say why there is a platform that is more dominant than others.

And as for the second part, Rosy and her daughters are calling you...

Re:EffPeee!!! No Surprise Here

[jdbartlett]

$499 will buy you a Mac Mini. That's a computer minus those unnecessary peripherals: display, mouse, keyboard...

Re:EffPeee!!! No Surprise Here

[TrancePhreak]

Like that one time when someone put in an exploit and all those peers couldn't find it? Great security model.....

Re:EffPeee!!! No Surprise Here

[Just Some Guy]

Had you considered the possibility that we might actually prefer Windows, or even think it's better?

No. In all fairness, neither had I considered the possibility that you might be afflicted with rabies or fetal alcohol syndrome.