A serious flaw in Mac OS X

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There are three things you can do to mitigate any potential problems with exploits.

1) Disable Open safe files after downloading option in Safari.
2) Disable JavaScript.
3) Don't go poking around and downloading anything from seedy or untrusted sites.

Here is a good link for cutting edge stuff and information for your Mac.

http://macosg.com/group/index.php
 
More frightening is the report that there are actually more potential attack points in Unix and Linux (including Mac OS X). Security people seem to be coming to the conclusion that there are more attacks on Windows then other operating systems just because there are more far more Windows computers then computers using other operating systems. If Unix and Linux were as common as Windows there could be potentially more attacks on those systems then Windows. Evil people target Windows because it is 90% to 95% of all desktop systems. If Unix and Linux were as common as Windows and with the potential attack points in these operating systems any defense at all might be impossible.

I think it is only a matter of time before Mac OS X becomes a major target. Evil people now know how to attack the operating system.

Is it not strange that people who know so much about computers and operating systems and presumably like computers and computer technology are the very people who might bring it all down? Would the crackers/hackers and script kiddies really want for the internet to go away? Would they really want for the security of computers to be so compromised that people would start turning to some other technology? Maybe someday most people will have the internet on their TVs and many computers will be completely off line. Might be the solution. Then the crackers/hackers could try to crash the simple TV sets.
 
Mystic,

I was once informed at my local computer repair shop that by the very design of the MAC OS, that is was impenetrable to viruses.
dunno.gif
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quote:
I was once informed at my local computer repair shop that by the very design of the MAC OS, that is was impenetrable to viruses.
Click to expand...
Another computer "tech" that has no clue about what they're talking about.

"Several security researchers have predicted that 2006 will be the year Mac OS X loses its image as a "safe" operating system, and as if on cue, two low-level worms targeting the platform appeared last week. One targeted Bluetooth and another spreading via instant messaging."

Techworld Article
 
THIS IS MALWARE, not a virus. Please refer to

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-053A.html

for the description

"A remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running Safari"

Code is executed with the privileges of the user, Assuming no one is foolish enough to browse the web as admin, system files are not "infected" as the term "virus" would lead you to believe.
 
quote:
Assuming no one is foolish enough to browse the web as admin, system files are not "infected" as the term "virus" would lead you to believe.
Click to expand...
computers 101, best advice ever. never run as an admin..

Firefox feels to windows like. having a hard time enjoying it..

might try seamonkey...
 
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This story has been blown totally out of proportion by the media, and Windows-types (many of them who don't even use OS X).

"Mac OS X users can protect themselves by disabling the "Open safe files after downloading" option in Safari."

A "serious flaw" is not one that you can fix by simply clicking off one basic preference. In my mind a serious flaw is one that requires some type of service pack download to fix.

Yes, I know, I know... the day may come when multiple Mac OS nasties are all about, but that day is not yet here.
 
Most "flaws" can be fixed by turning off features/functionality.

I can fix an FTPd vulnerability on a Unix machine by making a simple change.

But nobody will be able to connect to the FTP server anymore...
 
I have used both Mac OS X (and several Classic Mac operating systems) and Windows. At work we have special software for Unix computers. I have extremely limited experience with Linux.

Anymore I don't care who built an operating system-I just want to be able to do my work. Frankly I like Mac OS X quite well and I really have no problems with Windows XP. The problems I have had with Mac OS X are compatibility with scanners in particular and also photo printers. I started to get fed up when I had to wait forever for software to get upgraded so that I could do borderless printing. And it can drive you insane trying to find scanner software that will work properly. Bur for security the Mac OS cannot be beat in my opinion. All unnecessary services ar turned off by default, there is a firewall that you can turn on, and the Root Account (Superuser Account) is disabled by default. It is extremely easy to turn on and turn off various services. So easy Windows XP is put to shame in comparison. But Windows XP can also be run in a limited account to help protect the computer.

I don't know if there will ever be a day when the Mac OS X is faced with as many threats as Windows. But it IS possible for evil people to develop ways of attacking Mac OS X. Presumably if Mac OS X were more commonplace there would be more threats developed. I am not a programmer but the above to me seems logical.

Here is one thing to consider, however. If every Windows user would just buy and use and update an anti-virus progam, use a firewall, use an anti-adware/spyware program, surf the internet from a limited account, maybe disable some unnecessary services, etc., probably 90% of all the threats on the internet would go away. For somebody truly good all of the above would just be speed bumps, but the people who really know there stuff are usually not interested in somebody's home computer. Denial of services for web sites and mass mailing of spam from 'bot' or 'zombie' compters would probably be at least reduced if not almost eliminated. And you could still use an OS windows) that is actually compatible with scanners and printers. Just a thought.
 
Mystic,

I work in an educational environment with multiple printer brands and models. I have yet to by stymied by lack of OS X printer drivers. While this was a real problem with 10.2, it is not an issue with recent versions.

Scanners? Try Vuescan. One app that works well with many scanners.
 
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