Why does apple macs do not have as much viruses as Windows? as well as software? I think there is a relation?

Question

Little or few viruses attacks apple macs machines, They are strong, why they are so strong like that?

Answer 1

I've used both Mac and PC, and really there's almost no difference.

The reason you don't hear about Mac viruses is because there are so few Mac users out there, especially in business applications, that is just doesn't effect enough people for it to be big news.

Answer 2

When Mac was still running OS9 there were little to no viruses because there was a small user base. Now that Mac OSX is teh more predominant OS, which is based on Unix there have been less than 10 major viruses that affected macs which have been thwarted by frequent security updates that apple provides. No one knows for sure why there are so few viruses. Many people state that the lower number of users means less user writing viruses but that is simply not possible at this time, since most Macs are simply unix machines with a pretty gui. UNIX has less virus problems because security is adressed differently than Windows (ie registry versus flat files) and there are fewer automated system level processes that can be attacked. Mac also takes another step by requiring a password for any system level change that is started when the gui is running.
However the newest security threats for all computers is in media files: The most recent Mac hack found was in a buffer overflow in quicktime that allowed code to be automatically run without the system password, which is similar to the the major fiascos that Windows has been experiencing in the last few years with viruses that installed while viewing picture files in Outlook and web browsers. When Windows Vista comes out I expect to see newer hacks and exploits developed as well.
After using Windows and Mac simultaneously for years, you are still less likely to have problems using Mac, even if its not impossible. Generally people who get virus problems persistently are people who have bad internet habits or are careless in making changes to their system. The real way to security is knowing more about your computer.

Answer 3

Many people would have you believe that Macs are inherently "stronger" or better able to withstand viruses or malicious attacks; however, this isn't necessarily the case. One reason you haven't seen as many Mac viruses is the fact that there are so many more Windows machines out there that are connected. While Mac systems are built on a Unix foundation that provides some inherent security, they aren't invulnerable.

Answer 4

There definitely is a relation. Viruses are basically malicious pieces of software. Since most of the world is using windows environment PC based system. And I know there is always the what is better argument. But most of the software is being developed for Windows based PC. I think that is mainly because Windows pretty much rules most of the business applications. As so most of the software developers are concentrating on PCs and windows. And guess who writes the viruses? Software developers.

Answer 5

Because Macs are opereated on a closed circuit not as open as a regular pc. Windows is just an open well window waiting for anything to come on in. Sure they have a screen (virus protection) but there are people who make it their lives to hack programs. I don't have too much info on this but I had someone explain it to me a while back. Macs I was told are great to keep info w/in ones company for example.

Answer 6

It has to do with the operating system. Most will write viruses for the masses (Microsoft operating systems) rather than Mac's OS (unix based). If you wrote software would you rather have a market of 90% or less than 10%?

Answer 7

Not because Apple Mac makes invincible PC Operating System. It's because If i unleash a mac virus today it would affect a mintorty of PC users. On the contrary, If i unleash a virus based on windows it affects millions. Virus creators or hackers wouldnt wants to crack their head over something thats not gonna benfit them.

Answer 8

It is simply because Apples aren't as pouplar as Windows macines. Apple Macintosh machines write programs with something called AppleScript while Windows machines use the more popular C++, and WIndows programming languages.
Virus makers know this, and will usually try to attack with a Windows programming language.

Answer 9

The main goal of a virus author is to infect as many computers as possible. Seeing as there are more personal computers running the Windows OS, most virus writers will write thier viruses to target computers running Windows.

Answer 10

Macs are a much smaller target for malware writers. They go where the people are and that means they mostly target Windows.