2007-03-02 19:29:52 · 11 answers · asked by mike c 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Unix Computers and Unix Like Computers keep user space
and the root user seperate. Mac doesn't even allow users to
access root unless he enables the option.
An attacker has to trick a user into installing a Trojan as root
or has to get on the system exploit some vunerability to escalate his/her privilege's to root or exploit a permission hole left open by the UNIX operator when configuring the system not easy to do if he or she is blocked by strong firewall and there are no open ports for him to make a remote connection since all mac ports are off by default.
2007-03-03 05:09:29 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are actually. The reason that Windows is targeted more often is because Windows dominates the market--and hence, the virus you create has chance to infect more computers. Macs are also safer because their operating system is now Unix-like (which is more secure than Windows), but that's another discussion.
2007-03-03 03:36:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Macs are based on the BSD Darwin (UNIX) kernel which is inherently more secure than Windows. Virus writers aren't prejudiced but some systems are simply harder to attack.
2007-03-03 03:33:06 · answer #3 · answered by Runa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Macs are only 5% of the worlds computers, so the virus writers scope would always be limited by that. Macs are elegant and smooth, whereas PCs are big and clunky and butch. They look a sorry mess and are usually a horrible grey/beige colour. They just ask for it, really :)
2007-03-03 03:48:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
think about it. if you were a criminal would you target a market segment that has only 5% share or would you write viruses against the os that has a 95% share. I have a mac and pc and they both have their specific uses (although thats changing as macs slowly change into pc because of hardware convergence). I am supprised that ms does as well as it does. look at vista they say the security is better but it isnt really. its just that no criminal wants to expose the flaws until enough people are using the system to take advantage of it
2007-03-03 05:10:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The problem with the mac software is that the code language of the mac is very complicated and but where as windows its very if you Can see the registry settings you your self can make no for changes in the windows that is reason many of the virus are being easily attacked on the windows who says that Linux dosent gets virus problems yes mac and linux get the kernel problems
2007-03-03 03:59:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
More PCs are there to brag about able to hack or infect than Macs, it is true UNIX are harder nut to crack since they are obviously much less commercially motivated to push OS out knowing the product is half-baked.
Macs are now based on BSD Mach kernel, the modified version is Darwin, not BSD Darwin; the early virus is a research project done on a UNIX powered lab.
2007-03-03 03:45:09 · answer #7 · answered by Andy T 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you are Napoleon, you are going to attack Russia, not travel the same distance to attack Sicily. If you are a vandal with dreams of competency, you attach the big kahuna and not the system with a much smaller percentage of the market where in many of the machines are not used as web surfers where they can be attacked, but are used for professional purposes.
2007-03-03 03:35:26 · answer #8 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Windows pc is the worlds number one operating system. Its the popular one.
2007-03-03 03:46:25 · answer #9 · answered by briggs 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Another factor is that Mac's usage is less than PC's
2007-03-03 03:37:51 · answer #10 · answered by jetkidz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋