Rant: Is windows really so bad compared to osx?
I have just read this post on digg regarding a malicious banner ad on myspace that exploits security holes in windows and the way it deals with wmf files. The exploit involves running code on an unpatched windows system to install spyware.
Yes, for unpatched windows users this is not good news, but what infuriated me about this post are the comments from users below it.
Once again the Mac evangelists come out from under their rocks to cackle like mad scientists at how this would never happen on their machines.
Now I am one of them rare people that happily use both machines as it’s a necessity in the job that I do. Most the time I steer completely clear of debates of mac vs pc but maybe it’s my time of the month…I simply want to scream!
Mac only users. Your machine is not infallible. Do you not understand that anyone trying to wreak havoc is really not going to bother even trying to hack your beloved grey box? Look at the facts. Yes, Osx is lovely, yes it looks really pretty and quite possibly it is very secure, but does it have even a 10 percent share of the desktop market? In a word no. Anyone with the slightest hint of savvy would not even look twice at it when they wanted to market a virus. It simply doesn’t make business sense!
As Apples market share grows (which is pretty inevitable now that all its machines are in fact PC’s,cheaper than previous incarnations and their marketing is so very good) i am pretty sure that virus writers and hackers will take more and more interest in it. I am hoping that this never happens but as windows has proven, popularity always has a price.
Windows is far from perfect, but if you are honest neither is OSX, Linux or any other platform you care to mention. It boils down to one thing. Personal preference, so be happy with your chosen OS and stop with the playground nonsense.
Yes, for unpatched windows users this is not good news, but what infuriated me about this post are the comments from users below it.
Once again the Mac evangelists come out from under their rocks to cackle like mad scientists at how this would never happen on their machines.
Now I am one of them rare people that happily use both machines as it’s a necessity in the job that I do. Most the time I steer completely clear of debates of mac vs pc but maybe it’s my time of the month…I simply want to scream!
Mac only users. Your machine is not infallible. Do you not understand that anyone trying to wreak havoc is really not going to bother even trying to hack your beloved grey box? Look at the facts. Yes, Osx is lovely, yes it looks really pretty and quite possibly it is very secure, but does it have even a 10 percent share of the desktop market? In a word no. Anyone with the slightest hint of savvy would not even look twice at it when they wanted to market a virus. It simply doesn’t make business sense!
As Apples market share grows (which is pretty inevitable now that all its machines are in fact PC’s,cheaper than previous incarnations and their marketing is so very good) i am pretty sure that virus writers and hackers will take more and more interest in it. I am hoping that this never happens but as windows has proven, popularity always has a price.
Windows is far from perfect, but if you are honest neither is OSX, Linux or any other platform you care to mention. It boils down to one thing. Personal preference, so be happy with your chosen OS and stop with the playground nonsense.
