"Ever since I got a Mac, I don't have viruses anymore..."

[JimboUK]

And it seems to be true, though from what I have heard, it simply has to do with the fact that most viruses are designed for PCs and not Macs and Macs too will one day get their comeuppance. Still, the reason I don't consider macs is because you can't game with them. What is the solution here? Virus free but no gaming or constantly having headaches with Malware/Virus crap so I can game. Advice appreciated!

 

The solution is to learn how to avoid Malware and use common sense when using the net or installing software, give the Mac a miss, as with all Apple products you pay more for less.

[Jagermh]

The solution is to learn how to avoid Malware and use common sense when using the net or installing software, give the Mac a miss, as with all Apple products you pay more for less.

 

Most people wonder what theyre paying for when they buy a mac but thats because they don't advertise the other stuff you get when you buy one, I wish they didn't do that because if they didn't include all that software then they would be cheaper.

[Vagrant0]

Macs may not take up much of the computer market but they take up more than that also ipods/iphones/ipads are made by apple an they dont get viruses

I would point out that this is actually quite untrue. There is actually quite rampant infection of mobile (web capable) devices... People just don't normally bother to look and there is next to no anti-virus software for these devices. Although most of this is centered around Android and other phones which use a semi-windows base, iPhones can be infected or exploited too.

http://www.securelist.com/en/analysis?pubid=200119916

[Chaosblade02]

I honestly HATE running into PC problems, especially if I'm crashing, running slow, etc. But I have learned to deal with it and fix it over using them for many years. The fact is, I still HATE troubleshooting PCs with a passion, but I have ran into just about every kind of problem someone could run into with one, and know how to fix it. I don't think anyone brought this up, but if you go searching on certain kinds of sites, you WILL get viruses and malware, don't care how good security you got, but staying away from those kinds of sites and you wont get them nearly as often.

[JimboUK]

Macs may not take up much of the computer market but they take up more than that also ipods/iphones/ipads are made by apple an they dont get viruses

I would point out that this is actually quite untrue. There is actually quite rampant infection of mobile (web capable) devices... People just don't normally bother to look and there is next to no anti-virus software for these devices. Although most of this is centered around Android and other phones which use a semi-windows base, iPhones can be infected or exploited too.

http://www.securelist.com/en/analysis?pubid=200119916

 

Again these require a certain degree of stupidity from the user. Recently a wallpaper app was pulled from the Android marketplace for sending info about the device home. When you install an app on Android you're told exactly what permissions that app is asking for, didn't anyone installing that app stop and ask themselves what does a wallpaper app need network access for? Android is Linux based, using Windows and Android in the same sentence is likely to earn the wrath of the penguin crowd.

[TheTerminator2004]

I can't stand any Apple products myself. To be fair, the first iPods were pretty good - they managed to be pretty good quality while not being too expensive, so they sold well. They lost that advantage pretty quickly though when every other manufacturer immediately released competing devices of equal or better quality, and iPods have been completely pointless ever since.

 

Apple products are definitely the shiniest, and they are among the most expensive (which perversely may even be attracting buyers - after all, a lot of people relate high price to high quality), but they are no better, and usually inferior than competing products:

 

Ipods require Itunes to actually use properly, which is one of the most horrible piece of software I've ever seen - it's beaten only by Microsoft Silverlight in terms of pure crappiness.

 

Iphones are totally locked down, and you can't do much with them without Apple's explicit permission - and in many cases you have to pay for the priviledge too. Contrast this with other phones, such as Android, where they are open and you can install whatever you want.

 

Macs are basically PCs, locked down so you can't change any parts or upgrade anything yourself, and stuck in a shiny case with a price tag several times the actual value. Then they will only run (unless you mind breaking Apple's rules by using Bootcamp) a slightly shiner version of UNIX, also with a massive pricetag attached to it and all the openness completely removed so that you can't do anything to it without apple's permission either.

 

I don't understand why people would want to use them... Windows isn't exactly difficult to get to grips with, and OSX is a fair bit harder (though without the freedom, it is much simpler than Linux) in my opinion. Why pay more for less, when the only advantage it has is that it's shinier?

 

But to get back on topic: Mac OSX is based on UNIX, so it uses most of the same security systems (root accounts, sudo, etc), though it misses out on some of the newer systems introduced in Linux, like SEL. If every operating system had the same amount of viruses made for it, OSX would be slightly less secure than Windows 7, but more secure than Vista and earlier versions of Windows IMO. It would be less secure than Linux. When you take the number of viruses into account though, Linux is the most secure, followed by OSX, followed by Windows - thanks to the sheer quantity of viruses targeted at it.

 

If you're inexperienced with computers (or want to play the latest games), Windows 7 is probably your best bet security-wise, if you make sure to install a good antivirus. But if you know what you're doing and don't mind a bit of a challenge, Linux is the safest way to go. It can also play a lot of windows games through Wine, though a lot of modern games don't yet work. It's tricky to get the hang of, and I'd only recommend it if you enjoy the challenges of troubleshooting computers, but it is great.

[Vagrant0]

Apple has a cult following.

 

It's also hard to get back into using/maintaining a PC when you have not particularly used one for several years. Software that you knew was good back when is now obsolete or is completely changed, making the switch or re-learning of programs even more of a hassle.

[JimboUK]

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/steve-jobs-watching-you-apple-seeking-patent-0

 

Seriously, who on earth wants to do business with a company capable of this?

[The1Doc]

i really cant stand, not hate because that would mean i would have to think about crApple & their over-priced ypods, yphones, ypads, ymacs & whatever other crappy things they make. as for why i put a y instead of an i infront? well thats easy, like others have said you can easily find a better & cheaper equivalent. hell, i dont really care about paying extra for what it looks like. if it does what i want, a decent price, reviews are good then ill buy it.

 

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/08/steve-jobs-watching-you-apple-seeking-patent-0

 

Seriously, who on earth wants to do business with a company capable of this?

vacuous people that only care abou the aesthetics, not what it does? lol

[Feltmarskal]

I use both Mac and PC and both is great. On Mac i never had virus on PC, well yes, but Kaspersky Labs always discovers the virus, trojan, keylogger so i'm not really concerned. Kaspersky once discovered an IP trying to infiltrate my computer in St. Petersburg in Russia, i was pretty surprised to see Kaspersky detecting the IP. I recommend Kaspersky Labs for PC, if you're going to the dangerous sites, however on Mac i can't recommend anything yet, because i didn't had one single infection so far. :)

 

Edit: Please shut up Apple haters.Iif i had tons of money i wouldn't buy a Toyota i would buy a Mercedes. They basically do the same, the Mercedes is just a luxury ware, so is most Apple stuff as well.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Feltmarskal