Computer advise

[JimmyJack]

Re: Computer advise

Question for you... I'm not familiar with MACs at all, but have a pretty good amount of experience with the Windows line. When you run Windows XP on your MAC hardware, do you open yourself back up to XP viruses? Disclaimer: I'm expecting this to be a stupid question with an obvious answer. Just wanted to check for sure.

Not a stupid question at all. When you're doing this kind of virtualization, you can get yourself tied up in knots figuring out what's what.

The cool thing is this: The windows partition is one file on the Mac disk. It's completely separate from the Mac. I keep a backup of that "windows OS" file (it's about 6 GB). Have a problem? Go to the Mac side, throw the Windows file into the trash. Replace it with your backup. You're back in business in about 20 seconds (versus an hour or whatever to reinstall Windows.)

And yes, I do run virus and spyware software on Windows. The key is that the Windows part cannot access any of the Mac files on your disk. For one thing, it's a different disk format, HFS+ for the Mac versus NTFS for Windows. For another, you don't have the administrative password for the Mac OS X installation inside of Windows.

So it's pretty secure. Still, when you're running a virtual copy of Windows, you have to do all the stuff you normally do in Windows to secure it.

[JimmieTuba]

Re: Computer advise

Mac viruses are becoming more widespread. Just happened this year. It will continue to happen. Are PC's more at risk? Yes but Macs are begining to see the same problems arise. Too many 'uneducated' computer people are under the impression that Mac's are the Superman of the computer word. Untouchable under a yellow sun. Being careful is the most important thing to do. I brought up the virus thing because it was brought up that it wasn't a problem (concern) on Macs. It isn't as big of a problem but it is still a good idea to protect yourself (if your going to compute, make sure it is safe compute).

I don't want to come across as a Mac hater. It just bugs me that since it is seen as hip and all that jazz that you can just rip on a PC(Windows). Then you get a funny look when you ask them about a Unix/Linux kernel. I really think that it will be 50/50 Mac/PC soon. Mac's will be the most versital because of programs like Bootcamp so you can run multiple OS's easily (I haven't heard of such a program on a PC yet, so please enlighten me if there is).

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Computer advise

Of course the follow up article indicates it was nothing new, and actually factually inaccurate. However you are correct in indicating if you are going to compute, compute safely.

"And when Brian Krebbs of Security Fix noted the same supposedly new security advice in a column on Monday December 1, the factually inaccurate meme began to gain a life of its own.
...

So what about removal of the support article of 21 November that unwittingly seeded this "urban myth" in the first place? Apple told Macworld.com it removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was "old and inaccurate"."

[JimmyJack]

Re: Computer advise

Mac viruses are becoming more widespread. Just happened this year. It will continue to happen. Are PC's more at risk? Yes but Macs are begining to see the same problems arise. Too many 'uneducated' computer people are under the impression that Mac's are the Superman of the computer word. Untouchable under a yellow sun. Being careful is the most important thing to do. I brought up the virus thing because it was brought up that it wasn't a problem (concern) on Macs. It isn't as big of a problem but it is still a good idea to protect yourself (if your going to compute, make sure it is safe compute).

I don't want to come across as a Mac hater. It just bugs me that since it is seen as hip and all that jazz that you can just rip on a PC(Windows). Then you get a funny look when you ask them about a Unix/Linux kernel. I really think that it will be 50/50 Mac/PC soon. Mac's will be the most versital because of programs like Bootcamp so you can run multiple OS's easily (I haven't heard of such a program on a PC yet, so please enlighten me if there is).

As 1strow pointed out, Apple just in December, for the first time EVER suggested that users get a virus program. Then, a couple days later, the support document that included that suggestion was withdrawn. So officially, Apple still does not see a significant enough threat to urge users to get virus protection software. Note that there is not currently any significant threat to Macs. As opposed to 250,000 viruses in the wild for PCs. Our 100 Macs in MCOM at SDSU, as I've said, have never had even a hint of a malware problem. In fact, we're usually still humming along when security notices come rolling through campus from time to time. There's always a line at the bottom of the email "Macs are not affected by this threat."

Nobody that I know uses bootcamp, although it's free. That's because it's just a dual-boot utility. You get to have either Windows or the Mac running at one time. Most people who use Windows use VMWare Fusion or Parallels Desktop ($59 to $79) which allow you to run Windows in a window under the Mac OS and easily work between the two. I have even run Adobe Premiere Pro in a Windows window on my Mac, so it's a full-on Windows experience. There will not be a dual-boot option for Windows users to use the Mac OS, because Apple is a hardware company. You can hack your PC to run Mac OS X, but it'll be bricked the next time Apple issues a system update.

Every person I have personally worked with to add Windows to their Mac uses it for a few days and then either once in a while for a corporate VPN or never at all once they discover Mac software tools that work just fine (lots of cool VPN clients for the Mac). One other cool thing: Linux software needs very little work to run under Mac OS X. So open-source Linux tools like VLC Player or MPlayer (and thousands of others) work great on your Mac. There's even a cool program (developed by Linux developers) that lets you run PC games on your Mac without Windows.

Nobody here is bashing Windows to be "cool". I'm far from cool. I'm just really, really productive on a Mac. Others are, no doubt, more productive on a PC. And as I said, I have two different flavors of Windows and one flavor of Linux on my computer. That said, I don't know why any typical user would want to know anything about the kernel that their computer is running. I find Linux very cool for somebody like me who likes to tinker. But for my Dad? No way. He doesn't know a computer kernel from an ear of corn. And he doesn't want to.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Computer advise

I forgot about the great cartoon linked in the previous article.

South Park Mac v PC v Linux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-22EpQOm8c

[filbert]

Re: Computer advise

Mac viruses are becoming more widespread. Just happened this year. It will continue to happen. Are PC's more at risk? Yes but Macs are begining to see the same problems arise. Too many 'uneducated' computer people are under the impression that Mac's are the Superman of the computer word. Untouchable under a yellow sun. Being careful is the most important thing to do. I brought up the virus thing because it was brought up that it wasn't a problem (concern) on Macs. It isn't as big of a problem but it is still a good idea to protect yourself (if your going to compute, make sure it is safe compute).

I don't want to come across as a Mac hater. It just bugs me that since it is seen as hip and all that jazz that you can just rip on a PC(Windows). Then you get a funny look when you ask them about a Unix/Linux kernel. I really think that it will be 50/50 Mac/PC soon. Mac's will be the most versital because of programs like Bootcamp so you can run multiple OS's easily (I haven't heard of such a program on a PC yet, so please enlighten me if there is).

The only secure computer is one that a) isn't on the Internet, b) runs only trusted, reliable, well-tested and maintained software, and c) is operated by trusted people who know what they're doing.

If any of those three conditions are not met, you've got a security vulnerability, regardless of any other considerations.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Computer advise

The only secure computer is one that a) isn't on the Internet, b) runs only trusted, reliable, well-tested and maintained software, and c) is operated by trusted people who know what they're doing.

If any of those three conditions are not met, you've got a security vulnerability, regardless of any other considerations.

Good advice. I'm sure you'd agree that C is usually the one that fails. People do dopey things.

Nobody here has argued that Macs are invulnerable. They're just less vulnerable, possibly by an order of magnitude.

[Nidaros]

Re: Computer advise

About all I can add here is that its about the most enlighting thread on this board. Thanks everyone for sharing.

[JimmieTuba]

Re: Computer advise

Nobody here is bashing Windows to be "cool". I'm far from cool. I'm just really, really productive on a Mac. Others are, no doubt, more productive on a PC. And as I said, I have two different flavors of Windows and one flavor of Linux on my computer. That said, I don't know why any typical user would want to know anything about the kernel that their computer is running. I find Linux very cool for somebody like me who likes to tinker. But for my Dad? No way. He doesn't know a computer kernel from an ear of corn. And he doesn't want to.

I didn't mean to imply you were bashing on Windows. Pretty much everyone here has been fair to both systems. I hope everyone thinks I have too. I have some serious people who blame anything that goes wrong on their work computer on Windows. Meanwhile I am running more complicated CAD models on mine without problems. It is people like that that really annoy me. Also those who don't realize Steve Jobs is Bill Gates in jeans and a turtleneck instead of a suit. Both business men whose models have earned them way too much money.

Yes Linux is not for everyone. Neither is Windows. Neither is MacOS __. Got to find what works for you.