Apple quietly removes virus immunity claims

[Steve Dallas]

I own an Apple, and my first Mac (Mac +) was the first computer I ever had with a virus.

Though I've owned many Macs over the years, I've never been happy with Apple's marketing, especially on the claims that they never get virus'.

Seems their marketing department has finally gotten the memo.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/25818...ml#tk.rss_news

[Brokinarrow]

Always found that claim funny.

[Ice Demon]

[Envy]

I still use my G2 Mac almost daily and it has never had a virus, nor has my G3 which I still use all the time and my iBook and G5 have all been virus free too. My three PCs, on the other hand, are loaded down with virus protection yet constantly get infected anyway so I don't even use the d*mn things. No matter how you word it...a Mac has always been built to be safer and a PC will always be a frickin' money pit...lol.

[Tessa]

It's a numbers game - more PC's equals more opportunity for people who create virus's to get the highest number of systems down. Broader range, less work.

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by Tessa

It's a numbers game - more PC's equals more opportunity for people who create virus's to get the highest number of systems down. Broader range, less work.

[malave7567]

good to see the claim be changed.

I much prefer PC's and have only gotten virus in very rare occasion (a trojan a couple years ago, and another trojan about 5-6 years ago when I started building computers). Apple just doesn't offer me the expandability or price-effectiveness I can get from a PC. A new video card/processor/etc. came out? I grab up the previous model (now price-slashed) and interchange parts in computers, etc.

[cab2g]

I always thought those claims were funny too...

[SPARTAN sui]

Originally Posted by Envy

I still use my G2 Mac almost daily and it has never had a virus, nor has my G3 which I still use all the time and my iBook and G5 have all been virus free too. My three PCs, on the other hand, are loaded down with virus protection yet constantly get infected anyway so I don't even use the d*mn things. No matter how you word it...a Mac has always been built to be safer and a PC will always be a frickin' money pit...lol.

a PC, a money pit? Have you purchased a Mac recently? Talk about a money pit. My custom built PC blows away a Mac Pro that costs twice as much. That's including speakers, mouse, keyboard & an IPS LCD. None of those you get when you buy a Mac Pro.

It's all about browsing habits & educating yourself when you're on a PC. I've been using a PC on an almost daily basis for 14 years, I only got one virus during that time. But hey, I was only 10 when that happened.

So it's not really that a Mac is safer, that's a false claim. It's the fact that code monkeys don't care enough about that 6%. Why target the 6% when you can target 85% of the computers out there?

http://marketshare.hitslink.com/oper...e.aspx?qprid=8

[Steve Dallas]

I've used both for years. Each has it's place. I currently have a 17" MacBook Pro and a PC I bought through Falcon Northwest. I've also built many of my own computers.

You know what causes virus'? Some of you won't like hearing this...but...

IT'S STUPID USERS OF THE COMPUTERS is what causes virus'. What this means is 80% of people using computers have no idea how to be secure and just click "yes" on any window that pops up.

Though humorous, this video isn't too far off from many people who I've supported in IT in the past. Seriously, Sales & Marketing people are frikking idiots when it comes to safe computing.

[FenwickHockey65]

Calling a PC a money pit is laughable. I sunk so much money into buying this damn MacBook Pro. Looking back, I could've gotten a much more powerful, much more capable PC for the same price or cheaper. And I wouldn't have had to deal with compatibility issues.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Calling a PC a money pit is laughable. I sunk so much money into buying this damn MacBook Pro. Looking back, I could've gotten a much more powerful, much more capable PC for the same price or cheaper. And I wouldn't have had to deal with compatibility issues.

My PC is a money pit, but I think I'm a special case

I'm usually on the bleeding edge when it comes to hardware.

I just bought a EVGA GeForce GTX-680 to upgrade my current GeForce 295s I currently have. It's been 2-1/2 years since I bought it.

I called in to Falcon Northwest to double check some things about getting this card, and the salesman looked at my computer and said "That thing is beastly". Now...for someone from Falcon-NW to call a computer "beastly" is pretty funny.

[cab2g]

I'd use Linux if there was enough mainstream software support for it. But since there is not, I chose a mac because I can still get my terminal fix if need be. I used to use Linux as my only work PC when I was in college. And from a tool perspective, it is a lot easier to work with than PCs. I hate automating anything with Windows. My current job is a Windows only house and trying to automate stuff with Windows is always a bear or very expensive because you have to buy 3rd party sw to do just about anything on a large scale.

Since Windows makes me want to pull my hair out daily @ work, I enjoy using anything that is not Windows for leisure these days.

[Lgndryhr]

Originally Posted by Tessa

It's a numbers game - more PC's equals more opportunity for people who create virus's to get the highest number of systems down. Broader range, less work.

I've owned nothing but a PC and a few Linux boxes. I will never own a Mac because of the expensive proprietary of it.

[hrpiii]

In the "industry", as someone pointed this out. If you are going to hack someone, go for a company where there is tons of information. Could care less about your Mac with music and art on it. I haven't spoken with a hacker wanting someones camping trip video that was edited with some cool music and screen disolves on a Mac.

Uh, yeah, a friend told me that.

[bossbunny]

I think virus makers are just gearing more towards macs since the market for them has gone up. I have never had any virus problems with any of my macs.

[CamaroSkooter]

I wonder if a PC user can create a virus that works on only a Mac, then put a pop-up window that says, "This virus brought to you by a PC "

[DGthe3]

I wonder ... which computer do most hackers use, and how many viruses do you think they get?

I'm betting the first answer is 'not Mac' and the second answer is '0'

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

I've used both for years. Each has it's place. I currently have a 17" MacBook Pro and a PC I bought through Falcon Northwest. I've also built many of my own computers.

You know what causes virus'? Some of you won't like hearing this...but...

IT'S STUPID USERS OF THE COMPUTERS is what causes virus'. What this means is 80% of people using computers have no idea how to be secure and just click "yes" on any window that pops up.

Though humorous, this video isn't too far off from many people who I've supported in IT in the past. Seriously, Sales & Marketing people are frikking idiots when it comes to safe computing.

This is so true. I have some older folks who I do tech support for to make a few extra bucks, and it amazes me how many viruses they manage to get in only a couple months time between visits. I'm just like WHAT do you do to get these? I know they aren't going on questionable porn sites or something. I mean really, HOW? Its probably their equally dumb friends forwarding them crap. I tell them, dont download attachments from people you don't know. Let the virus scan run I know it slows down the PC, don't click on weird links, etc. They don't listen at all.

Works for me though, I charge them $40 an hour to fix it.

Even better some jackass at work asked me to print out a presentation for him, he hands me a thumb drive (he couldn't get his laptop to print) I put it in mine and sure enough it auto-installed a virus. I wanted to kick him in the teeth. I spent the next 2 hours purging it from my laptop. Its a work computer, WTF was he doing on it to get it in the first place!

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

This is so true. I have some older folks who I do tech support for to make a few extra bucks, and it amazes me how many viruses they manage to get in only a couple months time between visits. I'm just like WHAT do you do to get these? I know they aren't going on questionable porn sites or something. I mean really, HOW? Its probably their equally dumb friends forwarding them crap. I tell them, dont download attachments from people you don't know. Let the virus scan run I know it slows down the PC, don't click on weird links, etc. They don't listen at all.

Works for me though, I charge them $40 an hour to fix it.

Even better some jackass at work asked me to print out a presentation for him, he hands me a thumb drive (he couldn't get his laptop to print) I put it in mine and sure enough it auto-installed a virus. I wanted to kick him in the teeth. I spent the next 2 hours purging it from my laptop. Its a work computer, WTF was he doing on it to get it in the first place!

When I was working for Boeing, I worked in the IT department. We once dropped thumb drives in the parking lots with a "virus" on it...that reported back to us when it was plugged into a work computer. A fair number of them were plugged into work computers, something like 60%. I'm not kidding when I say that sales & marketing guys are freaking idiots. Of all the thumb drives that were plugged in, over half of the people were from sales or marketing. Sadly, there were some IT people that bit as well. All got a talking to by management.