5 New Messages
Digest #9417
Messages
Tue Mar 5, 2013 5:34 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"T Hopkins" todhop
Many suggest:
> ...the Mac OS +is+ inherently more secure.
Than what? Windows XP? Windows 7 or 8? Ubuntu? This is a commonly repeated statement, but it has no real meaning. What version of OS X? The current one? The next one? With or without Java, or Flash, or Adobe updater, or VNC, or Internet Explorer? Firewall on or off? File sharing enabled? How about FTP or VPN?
One can only defend against a threat one understands. One cannot make a Mac safe by insisting that it is.
Cheers,
tod
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> ...the Mac OS +is+ inherently more secure.
Than what? Windows XP? Windows 7 or 8? Ubuntu? This is a commonly repeated statement, but it has no real meaning. What version of OS X? The current one? The next one? With or without Java, or Flash, or Adobe updater, or VNC, or Internet Explorer? Firewall on or off? File sharing enabled? How about FTP or VPN?
One can only defend against a threat one understands. One cannot make a Mac safe by insisting that it is.
Cheers,
tod
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tue Mar 5, 2013 9:28 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Randy B. Singer" randybrucesinger
On Mar 5, 2013, at 5:34 PM, T Hopkins wrote:
> Than what? Windows XP? Windows 7 or 8? Ubuntu? This is a commonly repeated statement, but it has no real meaning. What version of OS X? The current one? The next one? With or without Java, or Flash, or Adobe updater, or VNC, or Internet Explorer? Firewall on or off? File sharing enabled? How about FTP or VPN?
The Macintosh was always far more secure than early versions of Windows, because Windows shipped with all sorts of ports open, and several applications auto-executed code without any user intervention whatsoever.
The Mac OS X has always had technical advantages over Windows as far as security, which have been expanded over time:
See post from "Munkery" regarding Mac security:
http://forums.
Windows made gains in security, and was just about equal with the Macintosh, but the Mac leap-frogged Windows as of Lion:
Experts: OS X now much more secure than rivals
http://www.macnn.
or
http://is.gd/
Lion Security: Building on the iOS Foundation
http://tidbits.
"...we have security options never before available to consumers"
Major overhaul makes OS X Lion king of security
http://www.theregis
Apple exposing Mac OS X Lion to security experts for review
http://www.appleins
____________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattor
____________
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Wed Mar 6, 2013 4:40 am (PST) . Posted by:
"T Hopkins" todhop
Excellent citations. I think they make my point well. Something is only be "more secure" relative to something else. But "more secure" is not secure.
From The Register article you cite:
> No doubt, Apple deserves kudos for setting a new standard in OS security that Microsoft and Linux distributors would do well to emulate. But it would be a mistake for Mac users to think their OS is invulnerable. As the most recent Jailbreakme exploit made clear, real-world hackers can still find ways to root iPhones and iPads when the devices do nothing more than visit a booby-trapped website.
>
> If iDevices, which contain security protections that go well beyond those found in OS X, can succumb to drive-by downloads, there's no reason Macs aren't also vulnerable.
>
> "Those guys are seriously raising the bar, but no matter how high the bar is, somebody is going to get over it," said Rich Mogull, CEO of Securosis. "As long as we have even moderately open operating systems, there's always going to be somebody smart enough to get through that stuff." ®
>
And my own citation:
http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/156065/apple-attacked-by-chinese-hackers-mac-software-tool-coming-to-protect-consumers
http://www.loopinsight.com/2013/02/19/apple-comments-on-hacker-attack/
Macs are not invulnerable.
Cheers,
tod
On Mar 5, 2013, at 11:42 PM, Randy B. Singer wrote:
>
> On Mar 5, 2013, at 5:34 PM, T Hopkins wrote:
>
> > Than what? Windows XP? Windows 7 or 8? Ubuntu? This is a commonly repeated statement, but it has no real meaning. What version of OS X? The current one? The next one? With or without Java, or Flash, or Adobe updater, or VNC, or Internet Explorer? Firewall on or off? File sharing enabled? How about FTP or VPN?
>
> The Macintosh was always far more secure than early versions of Windows, because Windows shipped with all sorts of ports open, and several applications auto-executed code without any user intervention whatsoever.
>
> The Mac OS X has always had technical advantages over Windows as far as security, which have been expanded over time:
> See post from "Munkery" regarding Mac security:
> http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=15125414#post15125414
>
> Windows made gains in security, and was just about equal with the Macintosh, but the Mac leap-frogged Windows as of Lion:
>
> Experts: OS X now much more secure than rivals
> http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/07/23/leapfrogs.windows.7.linux.but.still.not.perfect/
> or
> http://is.gd/20R6VD
>
> Lion Security: Building on the iOS Foundation
> http://tidbits.com/article/12417
> "...we have security options never before available to consumers"
>
> Major overhaul makes OS X Lion king of security
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/21/mac_os_x_lion_security/
>
> Apple exposing Mac OS X Lion to security experts for review
> http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/25/apple_exposing_mac_os_x_lion_to_security_experts_for_review.html
>
> ___________________________________________
> Randy B. Singer
> Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)
>
> Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
> http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
> ___________________________________________
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
From The Register article you cite:
> No doubt, Apple deserves kudos for setting a new standard in OS security that Microsoft and Linux distributors would do well to emulate. But it would be a mistake for Mac users to think their OS is invulnerable. As the most recent Jailbreakme exploit made clear, real-world hackers can still find ways to root iPhones and iPads when the devices do nothing more than visit a booby-trapped website.
>
> If iDevices, which contain security protections that go well beyond those found in OS X, can succumb to drive-by downloads, there's no reason Macs aren't also vulnerable.
>
> "Those guys are seriously raising the bar, but no matter how high the bar is, somebody is going to get over it," said Rich Mogull, CEO of Securosis. "As long as we have even moderately open operating systems, there's always going to be somebody smart enough to get through that stuff." ®
>
And my own citation:
http://forums.
http://www.loopinsi
Macs are not invulnerable.
Cheers,
tod
On Mar 5, 2013, at 11:42 PM, Randy B. Singer wrote:
>
> On Mar 5, 2013, at 5:34 PM, T Hopkins wrote:
>
> > Than what? Windows XP? Windows 7 or 8? Ubuntu? This is a commonly repeated statement, but it has no real meaning. What version of OS X? The current one? The next one? With or without Java, or Flash, or Adobe updater, or VNC, or Internet Explorer? Firewall on or off? File sharing enabled? How about FTP or VPN?
>
> The Macintosh was always far more secure than early versions of Windows, because Windows shipped with all sorts of ports open, and several applications auto-executed code without any user intervention whatsoever.
>
> The Mac OS X has always had technical advantages over Windows as far as security, which have been expanded over time:
> See post from "Munkery" regarding Mac security:
> http://forums.
>
> Windows made gains in security, and was just about equal with the Macintosh, but the Mac leap-frogged Windows as of Lion:
>
> Experts: OS X now much more secure than rivals
> http://www.macnn.
> or
> http://is.gd/
>
> Lion Security: Building on the iOS Foundation
> http://tidbits.
> "...we have security options never before available to consumers"
>
> Major overhaul makes OS X Lion king of security
> http://www.theregis
>
> Apple exposing Mac OS X Lion to security experts for review
> http://www.appleins
>
> ____________
> Randy B. Singer
> Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)
>
> Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
> http://www.macattor
> ____________
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tue Mar 5, 2013 9:46 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"HAL9000" jrswebhome
Anyone hear or experience scratched DVDs in slot loading iMacs? The side slot loading seems to scratch any DVDs I insert. The iMac is a late 2009. Have used it a lot since new.
Is there some procedure I am not using to insert a DVD that keeps it from scratching my media.
Is there some procedure I am not using to insert a DVD that keeps it from scratching my media.
Tue Mar 5, 2013 9:51 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Randy B. Singer" randybrucesinger
On Mar 5, 2013, at 6:01 AM, Charles Carroll wrote:
> Jim S is right on this one. Reading reviews of the solid state drives
> Apple Store sells they have reliability issues.
A secret that many Mac IT folks know, and for some reason don't discuss much, is that just about *all* brands of SSD's have been problematic with regard to reliability. Some of the newer, cheaper ones are even worse than the first generation ones. The only brand of SSD's that seem to be dead reliable are those offered by Intel.
____________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)
Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattor
____________
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
GROUP FOOTER MESSAGE
