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Security guru speculates about Mac malware

updated 11:45 am EDT, Fri September 9, 2005

Mac malware

At the University of Otago in New Zealand, where around 40 percent of the computers are Macintosh systems, IT security manager Mark Borrie says Mac users need to wake up to the . Borrie told ZDNet Australia  that although the Mac is generally a more secure platform, it will inevitably be exploited by malware."On the security side of things I reckon the Mac community has yet to wake up to security. They think they are immune and typically have this idea that they can do whatever they want on their Macintosh and run what they like," said Borrie. "We want to be ready for the first big Macintosh virus -- because it will come. Some day, somebody will say 'I am going to create a headline and write a virus for Mac'," said Borrie.

 
Previous Comments

Hey Mark

09/09, 12:01pm reply

You're missing the point. Macs are more secure because the OS has fewer holes, not just because they're less popular.

cebritt

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Joined: Mar 2000

0

Someday

09/09, 12:14pm reply

Somebody is going to create a headline about the potential for Mac viruses.

bobthenob

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Joined: Jul 2004

0

And that someone...

09/09, 12:16pm reply

...will be ME!!! MUAHAHAHA!

Horsepoo!!!

Banned

Joined: Jun 2003

0

>

09/09, 12:46pm reply

And macusers tend to install the latest greatest en most secure version of the OS as Windows users do not.

Peter Bonte

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Joined: Aug 2001

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UNIX

09/09, 12:48pm reply

From the article:

"I put apple a few years behind Microsoft in understanding how to manage security for the users. I put Microsoft a number of years behind the Unix community because the first systems that got hurt -- ten or fifteen years ago -- were Unix systems."

So if UNIX is a few years ahead of Microsoft, isn't it very likely that Mac OS X would also be ahead, being UNIX based?

jimothy

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Joined: Sep 2000

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Shut up New Zealand guy!

09/09, 12:48pm reply

You just want your name on the web, so you can get hired to consult and make a stupid amount of money making ridiculous, unfounded predictions like this.

Warrenpeace

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Joined: Oct 2001

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Apple isn't perfect

09/09, 01:02pm reply

You'll note that Apple had to release various patches to deal with security holes. Also, keep in mind that not everyone updates promptly. That's the same problem as in the Windows world: not everyone is a techie, and people tend to leave things alone when they *work*. It's only when things start *failing* that users try to figure out why. We who close the barn door BEFORE the horse gets out, are in the minority. Don't get cocky.

denim

Mac Elite

Joined: Jun 2000

0

IT propaganda

09/09, 01:08pm reply

Someone is just trying to justify his job and explain why he is still needed, especially if his department switches over to Macs instead of Windows PCs.

rtamesis

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2000

0

security guru voodoo

09/09, 01:10pm reply

I think it's pretty likely that there will be more trojans for the mac, but viruses and worms? They are for Microsoft products ONLY.

Next time they should talk to a security expert instead of a guru/hack.

just a poster

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Joined: Jun 2004

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Uh-huh...

09/09, 01:14pm reply delete

It's always advisable to be aware and cautious when it comes to security...

But all this preoccupation with a Mac virus seems to be FUD, rather than based on any real evidence. I reckon there's probably some other less noble agenda behind these people who keep spreading this FUD.

I'll keep waiting for a real Mac virus... that will come.... someday.... until then, I'll just update regularly and not worry much about it.

Gabriel Morales

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