News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

February 27, 2007

security

MacNewsWorld helps me get my daily helping of FUD

Posted Feb. 27, ’07, 10:03 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Security

Fear, Uncertainy, DoubtApparently, I’ve been falling down a bit on my recommended daily allowance of FUD. So this morning, I poured myself a big heaping bowl full of tasty Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (which, when you think about it, are a lot like Snap, Crackle, and Pop), courtesy of “MacNewsWorld” and their article “Mac Security Software: More Options for a Growing Need.” Mmm, the title alone will shoot your FUD intake up a good five percent. Let’s dig in.

The appearance of more security products for the Mac platform is a sign that malware threats to the computers have gained prominence.
There’s a reason FUD starts with “fear;” it’s the easiest way to grab people’s attention. Though I might suggest that the writer of this article, Jack M. Germain, revisit that whole “cause and effect” thing. Saying that the appearance of more security products is caused by more prominent malware threats is like saying that because grocery stores are stocking up on canned goods, the apocalypse must be nigh. It holds about as much water as a twelve ounce bottle with the bottom cut off.
Once upon a time, computer users could choose to run the Mac OS and be relatively confident that their equipment and data would be safe and sound. Times, however, are changing, forcing Macintosh computer users to pay more attention to the growing problems of viruses, ID theft and other intrusions such as adware and spyware.
Ah, yes. Once upon a time. The classic beginning to all fairy tales. Like, oh, this article. Also, why do I have to worry about my “equipment” being safe? Is there a website I can go to that will cause, say, the Kool-Aid guy to crash through my wall and destroy my MacBook? Because that is a website I would like to stay away from. And when, exactly, are “times changing” from? This morning? There’s absolutely no hard evidence provided to back up that point. Perhaps this is the “uncertainty” part.

“We’ve already seen several security threats and viruses appear in Linux and Mac OS solely as a function of their gains in market share,” Patrick Gray, president of Prevoyance Group, told MacNewsWorld. “There are enough Linux and Mac computers running that it is now worth a virus writer or cracker’s time to attack these systems.” [emphasis added]
Okay, first off, does the name “Prevoyance Group” make anybody else think of Minority Report? Perhaps they have some sort of mystical powers that enable them to see into the minds of crackers and virus writers before they even create exploits. Wow. That is amazing. And even supposing that these mythical pieces of malware did exist, saying that they’re solely linked to Linux and Mac’s gains in market share is both disingenuous and extremely improbable. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be filing that under “doubt.”

The articles then takes a look at a number of security solutions available for the Mac. I won’t take spend much time on the reviews: they’re short, and not particularly thorough. But more than that, any article whose premise is that I need security software for my computer, based on spurious and unfounded claims, demands a healthy dose of skepticism. Yes, there are security concerns; there always have been, and there likely always will be. But nowhere in this piece does it suggest practicing safe computing: making sure your software updates are applied, being careful of what information you give out, et cetera. I mean, many risks can be avoided just by staying away from suspicious websites. Like, say, MacNewsWorld.


8 Comments

Matt said:

Hmm, so many more potential threats, so few examples of potential threats. Few, as in none.

Have there ever been any viruses targeting iPods? If millions of people had their music players busted, that would be interesting to say the least.

February 27, 2007 10:25 AM
Karl von L. said:

The number of viri for Mac OS X remains zero. But thanks to Apple's growing popularity, this number is 875% closer to non-zero than it was just two years ago! By 2010, the number of viri will be over 6000% closer to non-zero! Won't somebody *please* think of the children!

February 27, 2007 1:11 PM
Clue Giver said:

To Jack;
It's appropriate that you start this story with the tag line that begins all fairy tales, "Once upon a time". From there on it's pretty much head up your ass delusion and a huge serving of the usual Microsoft FUD. I realize that's your reality but the rest of the Mac world doesn't live with their heads up their ass so they actually KNOW there have been ZERO real world breaches. If you weren't a mindless shill, had any integrity or didn't have your world view limited to the emanations of your colon, you may also know these things, as everyone else does.

You no doubt use the Virus Platform (Xp/Vista) for your computing so you understand computing is a very dangerous thing and feel more secure when you OS constantly harangues you with meaningless drivel about how it's protecting you, which is all a fantasy to keep the stupid enslaved. Your in the right place, all Mac users see your pain and could care less.

You a Gates should get together on those viruses and exploits 'your seeing'. May want to get back on your meds! By the way Mac vs Linux is about the same proportion as Windows vs Mac yet there are boatloads of malware infecting Linux and Windows yet NONE INFECTING the Mac, outside your fantasy land imagination. So the whole idea of popularity vs security if just another fairy tale.

"MacScan detects, isolates and removes spyware, keystroke loggers and Trojan horses." just as effectively as my magical wand does and the wand costs nothing. You can't remove what doesn't exist you fool. The only back door ever identified in OS-X is the one Symantec's software installs to fight the non-existent malware.

Fortunately the general populous is way ahead of your FUD and recognizes your crying wolf over and over as just you fear and delusion, that's why over half of all Mac OS-X buyers have been X_Windows switchers for years.

February 27, 2007 1:29 PM
Erik said:

When I was at school, we were taught about rhetoric and formulating arguments which can actually be substantiated.

The quotes you have used manage to fail on nearly all accounts.

Firstly: Where are the concrete examples? I would have far more faith in an article that was able to quote at least the names of all the various malwares. "Several security threats and viruses" really doesn't prove anything.

Secondly: Validating the sources. As you rightly asked, who are Prevoyance Group? What basis do they have for their statements?
Which experience and expertise do they have in the Mac OS and Linux security arena?

Finally: The aim of the author.
What does the author of this piece intend with it?
It seems like it is written purely to spread unfounded concerns about the security of platforms other than Microsoft's Windows.
I have no idea whether he has written as critically about Windows in the past.

Basically, I wonder how anyone can read any of that with a critical eye, and believe a word of it.

February 27, 2007 3:02 PM
Matt Turner said:

Some ipods did in fact leave a factory pre-installed with some windows virus!

And yeah, people are hammering on about this kind of thing. I think it's because they hate the fact that Macs only have a few exhibition type security flaws and are not only free from virii but typically trojans and adware.

I think they hate it because the 'average' (e.g. doesn't know that much about how a computer works) windows user computer grinds down to a halt within 6 months cause of the adware where as the average os (e.g. doesn't know that much about how a computer works) OS X user just uses their computer obliviously and nothing of that nature tends to happen.

So yeah, I'M SMUG!

February 27, 2007 3:52 PM
Lee said:

What a fantastic write up. Loved and agreed with it all.

Great job.

February 27, 2007 4:00 PM
Graham Rogers said:

Better start your day with Mac Daily News. That will put the FUD in context and often put a smile on your face too.

February 27, 2007 5:48 PM
Hum Ham said:

The Prevoyance Group like the Enderly Group are a group of personalities inside one psychotic and delusional idiot who decides he's a security expert or any other kind of expert that he hears about and fantasies he could or would like to be.

February 27, 2007 6:02 PM

Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: