I wouldn't get over confident about the protection afforded by OS X.
Isn't OS X the OS with a software updating system that initially had
no security or authentication? Even MS, bad as they have been, has a
hard time topping that one. Lack of market share is a better reason
to feel confident. It's a true stealth OS!
--- In Walter Knapp <>
wrote:
> Nick Gordon wrote:
> > Though I regard this topic as utterly off topic, it is a topic
that
> > should have everyones attention now and then. I am on the cable
to, but
> > (though it is no excuse, still a reason) since i am on a mac i
have no
> > virus protection and no firewall turned on.
>
> It is off topic, but worth reminding everybody once in a while.
>
> >> From a user of a machine that needs no extra firewall (it's
built in),
> >>and does not bother with virus protection because there is no
need with
> >>my machine.
> >>
> >
> > You make it sound as if it is turned on by default, but thats not
true,
> > is it?
>
> OS 9 it is turned on automatically, just the way the OS is
designed. OS
> X leaves a couple ports open that could be hacked and have to be
closed
> manually. A hacker who trys to locate my machine checking for ports
> won't even get a reply. It will be as if there is no machine there.
My
> machine responds only to querys that it's expecting.
>
> In OS X, if you have windows file sharing turned on you have a port
> open. Probably if you are using the personal web serving too.
>
> It's fun to run a mac on one of the online security checkers
designed
> for windows. Nearly always gets very high marks. Except those that
test
> your browser. I have java, active X and cookies all enabled. Not a
big
> problem with a mac running netscape, but a security risk if it's a
> windows machine running IE. My understanding is that it's a way
that a
> outsider can access all the spy files microsoft is keeping on you.
As
> well as mess with the contents of your HD or install a virus.
>
> > I am bothered more often lately by Spam. I notice a difference a
when
> > a mail comes from a windows user and a mac user.
> > That's why I post this mail.
> >
> > From the mails I recieve on this topic 'virus' the one from
Evert
> > (sorry Evert) is read in as spam whereas the mails from Charles
and
> > Walter are not.
> > Evert I is on Windows and Charles and Walter are on a Mac. I
don't
> > think it is anything bad, I just noticed the difference and I
haven't
> > figured out what to think of it.
>
> It's probably which emailer we use. I use Netscape 7. Spam catching
is a
> case of looking for certain key things. It could also be that Evert
used
> some word that set off your spam catcher.
>
> My unwanted mail is split between windows viruses mailing everybody
and
> spam (which is mostly porn or get rich quick). My ISP provides a
spam
> catcher at their level and that catches some of the spam. On a slow
day
> I may see only a few virus emails come in, on some days it can be
dozens.
>
> Walt
>
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