More malware for Macs

[mynameisthehulk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21510791

 

Seems the days when fans of shiny overpriced aluminium ***tboxes told us they were malware proof are long gone?

[skintsaint]

Never really seen why they cost so much compared to windows lappys. In fact all Apple products are complete cons tbh and after using many of their products never actually gone out and purchased one. Think the 'fad' is wearing out too for Apple..

[Thedelldays]

it seems that Macbooks are still agreat deal quicker than their wondows brothers and still get next to no viruses etc....from my experiences......i will stay with my mac until it grinds to a halt, or I have to have various anti virus programmes running

[mynameisthehulk]

Prove they are quicker? In a benchmark per buck measure windows based laptops would blow a Mac away!

[Bearsy]

Prove they are quicker? In a benchmark per buck measure windows based laptops would blow a Mac away!

 

that's prob true out the box but 18 months down the line my windows laptop is bout twice as slow as it was whereas the macbook things don't seem to slow up so much. Pap explained it to me one time, but i can't remember the technical terms!

[pap]

it seems that Macbooks are still agreat deal quicker than their wondows brothers and still get next to no viruses etc....from my experiences......i will stay with my mac until it grinds to a halt, or I have to have various anti virus programmes running

 

My new PC, which cost around the same as a MBP, would eat any Mac for breakfast.

[Essruu]

"Since OS X Lion, Macs have shipped without Java installed, and as an added security measure OS X automatically disables Java if it has been unused for 35 days,"

 

If users choose to turn on Java and/or visit certain sites and/or enter their admin user id and password to allow third party applications to run, then they only have themselves to blame.

 

This particular attack was specifically targeted at Apple developers. Any other user who did not visit a specific developers website would never be affected.

 

There have still NEVER been any Mac viruses.

[pap]

"Since OS X Lion, Macs have shipped without Java installed, and as an added security measure OS X automatically disables Java if it has been unused for 35 days,"

 

If users choose to turn on Java and/or visit certain sites and/or enter their admin user id and password to allow third party applications to run, then they only have themselves to blame.

 

This particular attack was specifically targeted at Apple developers. Any other user who did not visit a specific developers website would never be affected.

 

There have still NEVER been any Mac viruses.

 

Sorry mucker, but I'm not sure your point of clarification helps.

 

Are you telling me that Mac OS X is unable to marshal the Java VM under a Un*x-like operating system securely?

 

Big lols if so.

[Whitey Grandad]

My new PC, which cost around the same as a MBP, would eat any Mac for breakfast.

 

I use both. Windows just gets slower and slower. Then you have to factor in all the endless updates and restarts and your productivity plummets. I have one to the conclusion that Windows needs a complete re-install every now and again.

[pap]

I use both. Windows just gets slower and slower. Then you have to factor in all the endless updates and restarts and your productivity plummets. I have one to the conclusion that Windows needs a complete re-install every now and again.

 

I don't typically have that experience, and when I have, I normally know why it has happened. I completely agree that historically, Windows has been unreliable. I'll even concede that right now, with Windows 8, it's probably even worse (my daughter, who has Win8 on her lappy, is complaining of having to restart a lot as MS sorts its sh!t out).

 

I happen to like a lot about Macs, but two things always deter me when choosing a new PC. First, it's software. As a gamer, I have no desire to p!ss my pants in excitement because some game dev has decided to bring a 2 year old game to the Mac platform. The next thing is knowing I'm being utterly fleeced. I keep asking the same question, but never get a decent answer. The entry level Macbook is a grand. How the hell do you spend a grand on a PC and still end up with Intel integrated graphics? To me, Apple's overpricing on basic components is a perpetual f**k you to its potential customers. I know that most people don't care, but it's really a deal breaker for me.

 

If Apple were a car dealership, it'd make its money selling BMWs at Ferrari prices.

[Bearsy]

nah i think you have a choice between a bmw with tank of premium petrols or a ferrari that runs on p!ss

[Thedelldays]

Prove they are quicker? In a benchmark per buck measure windows based laptops would blow a Mac away!

 

Like i said... From my experiences

 

My mac book pro is 18 months old and it loads quicker. Uses quicker and plays games quicker than my flat mates 3 month old HP laptop that cost him £700

[SuperMikey]

It seems that all people who own Apple computers actually do with them is go on internet forums to preach about how much better Apple is than Windows. Your computer probably thinks you're really boring. I'm pretty dull, but at least my laptop is full of porn, torrents and computer games.

[pap]

nah i think you have a choice between a bmw with tank of premium petrols or a ferrari that runs on p!ss

 

I disagree, Bear.

 

Apple's one trick is making people think the BMW is a Ferrari. It's a good trick.

[pap]

It seems that all people who own Apple computers actually do with them is go on internet forums to preach about how much better Apple is than Windows. Your computer probably thinks you're really boring. I'm pretty dull, but at least my laptop is full of porn, torrents and computer games.

 

Be proud, Super Michael. Real men use PCs.

 

(thumps chest)

[Thedelldays]

It seems that all people who own Apple computers actually do with them is go on internet forums to preach about how much better Apple is than Windows. Your computer probably thinks you're really boring. I'm pretty dull, but at least my laptop is full of porn, torrents and computer games.

 

You make it sound like we all give a **** what brand it is.

 

The moment a windows laptop doesn't need the amount of house keeping. De-fragging and need all the anti virus and is able to boot up 2 years in as virtually as quick as it did from day one... Then I will go back to one

[SuperMikey]

You make it sound like we all give a **** what brand it is.

 

The moment a windows laptop doesn't need the amount of house keeping. De-fragging and need all the anti virus and is able to boot up 2 years in as virtually as quick as it did from day one... Then I will go back to one.

 

I'm not part of this debate, i'm merely a bystander.

[SuperMikey]

Be proud, Super Michael. Real men use PCs.

 

(thumps chest)

 

Solidarity, brother.

[pap]

You make it sound like we all give a **** what brand it is.

 

The moment a windows laptop doesn't need the amount of house keeping. De-fragging and need all the anti virus and is able to boot up 2 years in as virtually as quick as it did from day one... Then I will go back to one

 

In this case, brand clearly matters.

 

Lots of people make PCs that run Windows. Only Apple makes computers that run Mac OS ( others have tried this commercially but have had the pants sued off them ).

 

Continuing my car analogy, you're paying extra for an automatic because you can't be arsed learning to drive properly.

[Whitey Grandad]

In this case, brand clearly matters.

 

Lots of people make PCs that run Windows. Only Apple makes computers that run Mac OS ( others have tried this commercially but have had the pants sued off them ).

 

Continuing my car analogy, you're paying extra for an automatic because you can't be arsed learning to drive properly.

 

Actually I prefer an automatic every time. I hate Windows with a vengeance but I have to use it. I don't hate Macs but I don't particularly like them. My Macbook can be switched off in 2 seconds. WHy the hell does Windows take so long to shut down? There is no reason for it.

[JPTCount]

chromebooks ftw

 

apple have fallen off hard in the last year, design, build quality and market share are all on the slide, saw one of the new all in ones where the screen was in place with glue

[pap]

Actually I prefer an automatic every time. I hate Windows with a vengeance but I have to use it. I don't hate Macs but I don't particularly like them. My Macbook can be switched off in 2 seconds. WHy the hell does Windows take so long to shut down? There is no reason for it.

 

Depends. Are you even comparing like with like?

 

My Windows machine with an SSD shuts down faster than a clockwatcher at 16:59.

 

My corporate machine, which has a magnetic drive, plus a load of links into corporate network locations, takes bloody ages to close down.

 

My point is that there's normally a reason for Windows PCs slowing down. I try to keep my private machine relatively free of crap, keep drivers up to date, clean the bugger out once every six months and never install pirated software on it. That goes double for my corporate machine. I don't think that's an unreasonable amount of maintenance or discipline to exercise on an expensive piece of equipment; and certainly for me - what I gain through that teeny bit of extra toil more than offsets the small amount of effort I need to keep things running swiftly.

[pap]

chromebooks ftw

 

apple have fallen off hard in the last year, design, build quality and market share are all on the slide, saw one of the new all in ones where the screen was in place with glue

 

I'd be one of the sliders. The last Mac I had was one of the original iMacs. Had an iPhone4 prior to getting my S3, and will be binning my iPad3 ( ripoff in retrospect ) as soon as:-

 

a) the next delicious Droid tablet comes along.

b) I have a working budget for a delicious Droid tablet.

[JPTCount]

I'd be one of the sliders. The last Mac I had was one of the original iMacs. Had an iPhone4 prior to getting my S3, and will be binning my iPad3 ( ripoff in retrospect ) as soon as:-

 

a) the next delicious Droid tablet comes along.

b) I have a working budget for a delicious Droid tablet.

 

the new sony tablet z is pretty ****ing beautiful! and the bravia engine they use for video ****es on anything else out there.

 

from here i can only see apple go back to their mid nineties place in the industry, for the graphic designers etc. and the apple enthusiasts. most mobile devices will be android, and any small home computer or console will be on chrome os or a similar open source linux os, and windows will keep rolling along with the largest market share because everyone else has it and everyone you employ is (just about) trained on it.

[Whitey Grandad]

Depends. Are you even comparing like with like?

 

My Windows machine with an SSD shuts down faster than a clockwatcher at 16:59.

 

My corporate machine, which has a magnetic drive, plus a load of links into corporate network locations, takes bloody ages to close down.

 

My point is that there's normally a reason for Windows PCs slowing down. I try to keep my private machine relatively free of crap, keep drivers up to date, clean the bugger out once every six months and never install pirated software on it. That goes double for my corporate machine. I don't think that's an unreasonable amount of maintenance or discipline to exercise on an expensive piece of equipment; and certainly for me - what I gain through that teeny bit of extra toil more than offsets the small amount of effort I need to keep things running swiftly.

 

I treat them all with equal disdain. I have around 20 Windows-based machines in my business and two Windows and one Macbook that I use at home. It's not the writes to disk that slow the Windows down. I have just replaced my main desk PC with one running Windows 7 and it's taken me a week to start to get the setup near to something that I can use productively. What has struck me is how similar the look and feel is to Mac OS. Previously I had been using XP which started off ok but just got slower and slower with all the bloatware and updates that gets produced these days. I find it impossible with Windows to clean out all the rubbish, there's always something that gets left behind and clogs up the arteries. My XP laptop at home used to be no trouble at all to use but now you have to turn it on the day before you want to use it. It reminds me of my childhood where radios used to take 20 seconds to warm up. I thought that was a long time.

[PhilippineSaint]

I treat them all with equal disdain. I have around 20 Windows-based machines in my business and two Windows and one Macbook that I use at home. It's not the writes to disk that slow the Windows down. I have just replaced my main desk PC with one running Windows 7 and it's taken me a week to start to get the setup near to something that I can use productively. What has struck me is how similar the look and feel is to Mac OS. Previously I had been using XP which started off ok but just got slower and slower with all the bloatware and updates that gets produced these days. I find it impossible with Windows to clean out all the rubbish, there's always something that gets left behind and clogs up the arteries. My XP laptop at home used to be no trouble at all to use but now you have to turn it on the day before you want to use it. It reminds me of my childhood where radios used to take 20 seconds to warm up. I thought that was a long time.

 

If your now using Windows 7 for a work machine be prepared to be frustrated at every possible moment of the working day.

 

The IT dept decided with no consultation to the people that use our PC's to upgrade to 7 from XP its been a nightmare email excel word all down the pan if I dont have to reboot it 8 times a day its because I have not been using the computer to do any work.

 

Can we explain and get them to see our problems no because they are in a different country and timezone and log onto our systems when they are not being used.

 

written on Macbook Air with no problems what so ever apart from drunk fingers

[pap]

"Since OS X Lion, Macs have shipped without Java installed, and as an added security measure OS X automatically disables Java if it has been unused for 35 days,"

 

If users choose to turn on Java and/or visit certain sites and/or enter their admin user id and password to allow third party applications to run, then they only have themselves to blame.

 

This particular attack was specifically targeted at Apple developers. Any other user who did not visit a specific developers website would never be affected.

 

There have still NEVER been any Mac viruses.

 

Replying to the same post twice, I know.

 

This Register article is at odds with your explanation. The Java VM that shipped with Macs had an exploit in it. Rather than hapless berks giving their account details to any program that asks for it, this was a shipped vulnerability. Even better, the people seeking to exploit it targeted devs, not muggles.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/20/apple_java_omnishambles/

[Whitey Grandad]

If your now using Windows 7 for a work machine be prepared to be frustrated at every possible moment of the working day.

 

The IT dept decided with no consultation to the people that use our PC's to upgrade to 7 from XP its been a nightmare email excel word all down the pan if I dont have to reboot it 8 times a day its because I have not been using the computer to do any work.

 

Can we explain and get them to see our problems no because they are in a different country and timezone and log onto our systems when they are not being used.

 

written on Macbook Air with no problems what so ever apart from drunk fingers

 

I'm told that Windows 8 is even worse.

[pap]

I'm told that Windows 8 is even worse.

 

The long-term future of Windows does concern me, particularly as I think they'd like to make their own Apple-like walled garden.

[Trader]

I use an 8-year old Mac PowerBook G4 - still working as good as new.

 

My daughter has had 4 PC laptops in that time.

 

Just saying.

[Whitey Grandad]

The long-term future of Windows does concern me, particularly as I think they'd like to make their own Apple-like walled garden.

 

It seems that alternate Windows operating systems are rubbish.

[pap]

I use an 8-year old Mac PowerBook G4 - still working as good as new.

 

My daughter has had 4 PC laptops in that time.

 

Just saying.

 

So did you buy her a laptop that cost as much as a G4 would have done at the time, or did you cheap out and buy her "something for a kid"?

[Trader]

The PowerBook cost around £1500 at the time - the first PC was a Dell at just over £1000, but obviously subsequent laptops are very much cheaper now.

 

She wasn't really a kid, she had just started her A-levels, and was more familiar with Windows than OSX, and the question of compatability was more problematic then.

[pap]

The PowerBook cost around £1500 at the time - the first PC was a Dell at just over £1000, but obviously subsequent laptops are very much cheaper now.

 

She wasn't really a kid, she had just started her A-levels, and was more familiar with Windows than OSX, and the question of compatability was more problematic then.

 

I'm not really convinced your argument is all that scientific.

 

Better comparison. Look at any Mac you can buy now and compare it with a similar PC/lappy. Bit better than saying an 8 year old Powerbook comes out on top against four PCs you didn't own.

 

Personally, I wouldn't use how long something lasted around my daughters as any indication of build quality. The eldest's first laptop looked like something out of Mad Max by the end.

[Trader]

Fair enough.

 

By the way - she now has a MacBook Pro, and hasn't ****ed it up yet, though obviously being only 24 she will do.

[Bearsy]

how come apple doesn't sell licenses for avg and mcafee to develop viruses like microsoft does? with extra revenues they could make machines more cheap.

[mynameisthehulk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-2162862

 

Html 5 exploit works on Macs too

[mynameisthehulk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21628622

 

Wrong link above

[BlakeySFC]

Changed from Windows to Mac 11 years ago and have never regretted the decision.

 

It's like going from driving a Kia to driving a Lamborghini, the only severely annoying thing is its inability to play games.

 

I know they're expensive, but while I've had 3 Mac's in 11 years (1 Macbook Pro, 1 PowerMac G5 and 1 iMac) I've got alot of mates that have spent the same amount of money on multiple Laptops/Desktop PC's as their Windows Laptops/Desktop PC's have given up the ghost after a while and left them in the lurch.

[1885]

Changed from Windows to Mac 11 years ago and have never regretted the decision.

 

It's like going from driving a Kia to driving a Lamborghini, the only severely annoying thing is its inability to play games.

 

I know they're expensive, but while I've had 3 Mac's in 11 years (1 Macbook Pro, 1 PowerMac G5 and 1 iMac) I've got alot of mates that have spent the same amount of money on multiple Laptops/Desktop PC's as their Windows Laptops/Desktop PC's have given up the ghost after a while and left them in the lurch.

 

Same here 1

[Saintandy666]

I've had both a windows laptop (vaio) and now a macbook air. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but you simply can't beat the speed of my current macbook air. It boots in seconds; the SSD is incredible.

 

As for viruses and stuff, I never got one even when I had a windows computer so I'm not too worried! (probably famous last words there)

[Whitey Grandad]

I've had both a windows laptop (vaio) and now a macbook air. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but you simply can't beat the speed of my current macbook air. It boots in seconds; the SSD is incredible.

 

As for viruses and stuff, I never got one even when I had a windows computer so I'm not too worried! (probably famous last words there)

 

You silly boy. Here fatey fatey! Over here, come on boy!

[pap]

Changed from Windows to Mac 11 years ago and have never regretted the decision.

 

It's like going from driving a Kia to driving a Lamborghini, the only severely annoying thing is its inability to play games.

 

I know they're expensive, but while I've had 3 Mac's in 11 years (1 Macbook Pro, 1 PowerMac G5 and 1 iMac) I've got alot of mates that have spent the same amount of money on multiple Laptops/Desktop PC's as their Windows Laptops/Desktop PC's have given up the ghost after a while and left them in the lurch.

 

Yeah, but as your example with games so ably points out, your Lamborghini isn't able to travel on all the roads. It is unable to play contemporary games because the graphics hardware is 3 years behind contemporary standards. This is why you see Mac fans get so excited about 3 year old PC games finally turning up on their platform.

[BlakeySFC]

Yeah, but as your example with games so ably points out, your Lamborghini isn't able to travel on all the roads. It is unable to play contemporary games because the graphics hardware is 3 years behind contemporary standards. This is why you see Mac fans get so excited about 3 year old PC games finally turning up on their platform.

 

I'm not a huge PC gamer anyway, I've always prefered console games (have all the current generation of consoles) but it is easily the most annoying thing about having a Mac.

 

The only games I've played on it in recent years are Civilisation 5, Diablo III , WoW and Starcraft II...I really want to play SimCity (once they've sorted out all the server issues) but the Mac version isn't out until later this year

 

As I said it's not a huge issue, but it would be nice to be able to play all the cool Indie games on Steam (like Hotline Miami) and MMO's like Planetside, Eve Online etc. but don't know whether I'll ever get round to actually getting a gaming PC eventually.

 

I have toyed with the idea of selling my MacBook Pro (as I don't use it that much anymore) and getting an Alienware Laptop in recent months.

[egg]

Actually I prefer an automatic every time. I hate Windows with a vengeance but I have to use it. I don't hate Macs but I don't particularly like them. My Macbook can be switched off in 2 seconds. WHy the hell does Windows take so long to shut down? There is no reason for it.

 

Now that's a criticism too far. Who cares how long it takes to shut down a computer? You're done with it so it doesn't matter!

[Whitey Grandad]

Now that's a criticism too far. Who cares how long it takes to shut down a computer? You're done with it so it doesn't matter!

 

You have to close it up, put it away and get on with the rest of your life. I'm talking about a portable laptop here.

[Saint_Jonny]

It seems that all people who own Apple computers actually do with them is go on internet forums to preach about how much better Apple is than Windows. Your computer probably thinks you're really boring. I'm pretty dull, but at least my laptop is full of porn, torrents and computer games.

 

This made me laugh.

[JPTCount]

I really want to play SimCity (once they've sorted out all the server issues)

 

off shoot i know, but this was blown completely out of proportion. i downloaded the game thursday night and spent most of the weekend playing and maybe spent a total of two hours waiting or restarting the game to get on which is no where near as bad as wow was when mists came out, there were queues of an hour to get on my server. and its been working fine since sunday evening now they've added more servers. and the game is good enough for me not to came about not getting on all the time, its a perfect example of how a story snowballs online with the only source being whiners online who couldn't play ASAP.

Edited 12 March, 2013 by JPTCount

[pap]

I'm not a huge PC gamer anyway, I've always prefered console games (have all the current generation of consoles) but it is easily the most annoying thing about having a Mac.

 

The only games I've played on it in recent years are Civilisation 5, Diablo III , WoW and Starcraft II...I really want to play SimCity (once they've sorted out all the server issues) but the Mac version isn't out until later this year

 

As I said it's not a huge issue, but it would be nice to be able to play all the cool Indie games on Steam (like Hotline Miami) and MMO's like Planetside, Eve Online etc. but don't know whether I'll ever get round to actually getting a gaming PC eventually.

 

I have toyed with the idea of selling my MacBook Pro (as I don't use it that much anymore) and getting an Alienware Laptop in recent months.

 

 

I ended up going for my first desktop in years. For me, it was the "how much time do you actually spend outside of your man cave" question that did it.

 

The answer is not much, so decided to sacrifice portability for power. I'm presently in that happy place where my PC is all conquering. In about 2 years time, I'll be crying about how slow it is, probs

[Patrick Bateman]

Just to reiterate something again which I've said before - I will not be going back to a windows based lump in the neat future.

 

My company pretty much made me use a MacBook Air. They also gave me a 27" Apple Thunderbolt monitor. There is absolutely no way I will ditch these in the future to go back to Windows, for many reasons; I have Office on my Mac, I have Outlook on my Mac, it's faster in terms of boot up, app load and shutting down. It's lighter, it looks better. Whenever I have the misfortune to go back to a Windows laptop, I'm sat there cursing at it and hating the OS experience and also the trackpad experience.

 

I'm actually leaving my company on Friday, so am handing it back. But I've just bought my own for personal use and also my new company are giving me a MacBook Pro (with retina display) to use at my request.

 

My Mac does have a Windows VM, but I never need it apart from the one internal web-based app that is about 1000 years old and is IE only. I don't have the time to play games and it does everything I want and I feel, faster/better/smoother.

 

But also, it's a personal opinion anyway as my younger brother totally disagrees with me - he plays games and won't come away from his Windows lumps.