[LINK] Re: Windows XP versus Vista

[grove at zeta.org.au]

On Fri, 25 Jan 2008, David Goldstein wrote:

> The report acknowledged that, while malware for Macs has long existed,
> criminal gangs have not felt the need to target Mac users when there
> are so many poorly protected Windows PCs available.
> http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0125/hackers.html

The most recent exploit is really a "phishing" expedition.
Unlike a virus or trojan:

1) the user must first access the site, entailing coming across it at random.
2) the user must then run the suspicious looking test.
3) the user must then choose to download the package
4) the user must then give authority to install the package.

Only after all criteria are met does the exploit get onto your Mac.
A virus or trojan really only needs one of either 1 or 3 to be 
breached.   Windows allows the ordinary user to install programs
as a non administrative (root) user.  While Macs can do this, in general
they are configured to not be as lax by default.

MSW is so insecure that just visiting a site can activate all sorts
of nasty stuff.   Downloading a package or opening an attachment 
can install stuff unwarrantedly.  On a Mac, getting the same level of 
compliancy from the OS is a lot harder.

Pervasive Windows is an excuse for bad design.   "Windows Everywhere" 
is a slogan that belies the perils.


rachel

-- 
Rachel Polanskis                 Kingswood, Greater Western Sydney, Australia
grove at zeta.org.au                http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/grove.html
 		The price of greatness is responsibility.