Ok this question might sound a bit stupid to all the computer geniouses out there but i want to know how come there arent any virtuses for Mac computers? And how come Microsoft cannot incorporate this "technology" or whatever it is in Windows?
2006-07-22 20:03:19 · 7 answers · asked by infogiver 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
can you answer my question please??
2006-07-22 20:06:19 · answer #1 · answered by Kristi A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2
2016-08-23 01:51:25 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are probably many reasons, Mac & linux (they're both based on unix) as said already doesn't allow arbitrary code to just run, each programme runs independently of the system only using shared libraries. Just a double click on a file in windows will run the installation, a tarball in linux must be compiled to the system and an RPM needs admin privileges, a bit more complicated but worth it for security.
It's true there are a lot more windows machines about, therefore the chances are more of the halfwits that write viruses will use it.
I also think there is a lot of jealousy involved as well, when people see Bill Gates being a billionaire and still charging a fortune for his software, he (therefore his software) become a prime target, by the way I don't have a problem with his wealth and if we are all honest about it computing wouldn't be as easy as it is without Bill Gates.
It would also seem people who use linux & I guess the same applies to Macs have more of a community spirit, they seem to want it all to work rather than knocking it.
Also open source software has the advantage of a huge number of people prepared to look at the code and make sure it's right rather than looking for vulnerabilities to exploit in closed source software.
Microsoft could incorporate some of the open source ethos but it would need to make windows more secure in the same way linux is, so would users thank them for making programme installation harder and not able to run the system in admin mode, it would need to go open source itself, which is highly unlikely, get rid of all the certification and digital rights management stuff and it would also need to become almost free to use, making it's money with reasonably priced support which is how open source companies make money.
I can only see Microsoft trying harder to stay as a monopoly and being more controlling in how you use windows and what you can use on your machines, so it will only get worse.
2006-07-22 22:28:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there is more PCs out there than Macs, the market share is like 80% PC and 20% Mac so nobody bothers writing viruses for Mac. Besides everyone hates windows so they attack because of that too! OK?
2006-07-22 20:08:00 · answer #4 · answered by Rowdy answers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are viruses and vulnerabilities specific to Macs also. You just don't read about them. But between Mac and Windows, viruses abound for Windows so Macs are still very secure in that respect.
2006-07-22 20:09:18 · answer #5 · answered by Reston 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Macs (and Linux and pretty much every other modern OS) aren't set to run potentially damaging code without asking permission first. Windows is set this way for the sake of convenience.
2006-07-22 20:10:25 · answer #6 · answered by Silverglade00 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mac doesnt get a virus because it doesnt use windows.People that disign a virus make it to attack windows.Im sure microsoft could incorporate it
2006-07-22 20:08:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋