ChatterBank16 mins ago
My Daughter Has A Mac Laptop
8 Answers
and insists that it requires no antivirus or Security like Norton or Kaspersky. I can't believe that her laptop is so secure from all threats that it needs no protection. I have a Dell desktop and HP laptop and have Kaspersky on both. Can anyone throw any light on this?
Answers
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Everything in Windows is centred around its 'registry', so all of the programs on a Windows computer are effectively linked together. That makes it relatively easy for a virus-writer to attack the whole system through a flaw in just one program.
Other operating systems don't have a 'registry' (or not, at least, of the same type that Windows uses). That means that their programs are 'sandboxed', so that something dodgy in one program can't affect the rest of the computer.
So it's far harder to virus writers to attack Macs, or systems running on Linux, Android or iOS, than it is for them to attack Windows. (In the early days of home computers, Microsoft only won the battle to become the leading provider of an operating system through better marketing. The operating systems offered by other computer firms, such as Atari, were actually vastly better than Windows).
Windows has always been an extremely poor operating system and, because of its use a registry, always will be.
Other operating systems don't have a 'registry' (or not, at least, of the same type that Windows uses). That means that their programs are 'sandboxed', so that something dodgy in one program can't affect the rest of the computer.
So it's far harder to virus writers to attack Macs, or systems running on Linux, Android or iOS, than it is for them to attack Windows. (In the early days of home computers, Microsoft only won the battle to become the leading provider of an operating system through better marketing. The operating systems offered by other computer firms, such as Atari, were actually vastly better than Windows).
Windows has always been an extremely poor operating system and, because of its use a registry, always will be.
The prime purpose of modern malware writers is to make money.
The easiest way to disseminate viruses is via the Web.
Currently, around 50% of web access is via Windows, compared to around 5% via Apple's OS-X.
This is the only reason that Windows machines are more likely to be attacked - attacking Macs is not economically viable.
The Registry has its faults, but is no less secure intrinsically than the methods used by other operating systems for storing configuration information. The main difference is that the Registry is a database, whereas most other operating systems (especially Unix-derived ones, like Linux and Apple OS-X) store that information in the regular file system.
The easiest way to disseminate viruses is via the Web.
Currently, around 50% of web access is via Windows, compared to around 5% via Apple's OS-X.
This is the only reason that Windows machines are more likely to be attacked - attacking Macs is not economically viable.
The Registry has its faults, but is no less secure intrinsically than the methods used by other operating systems for storing configuration information. The main difference is that the Registry is a database, whereas most other operating systems (especially Unix-derived ones, like Linux and Apple OS-X) store that information in the regular file system.
The Apple Operating System has a built in Firewall, and the normal security is very tight. The Safari Browser has malware protection built in. All software needs to be authorise with your password before it will execute. No software executes automatically. Apple are usually very quick to issue Security Updates if a potential threat is discovered. Because they have a niche market there is very little malicious stuff written for the Mac.
I stopped using Norton in 2000. I now an AV once a year, and it has never found anything.
So your daughter is correct.
I stopped using Norton in 2000. I now an AV once a year, and it has never found anything.
So your daughter is correct.
Some interesting reading re: 'Can a Mac get a virus':
http://
which discusses the Mac issues regarding viruses and also the Malware aspect that may have greater consequences to consider.
Also lets not forget that Macs now use the OS X operating system which has in recent years replaced the original arguably more secure MAC OS system, with OS X exploits / vulnerabilities gathering pace. Read a recent article on such OS X exploits:
http://
Also consider, as an example, that if you received an email with a virus attached which does not affect your Mac, then being totally unaware of the virus in the email, you forward that email to another user, most likely a Windows user. That user opens the message and gets infected. So the low-life that created the virus chalks-up yet another victim, courtesy of your good self, thus justifying his/her evil twisted activities!
For a further discussion and review on Mac virus / Malware issues and recommendations for best Mac Anti-virus Scanner see: http://
http://
which discusses the Mac issues regarding viruses and also the Malware aspect that may have greater consequences to consider.
Also lets not forget that Macs now use the OS X operating system which has in recent years replaced the original arguably more secure MAC OS system, with OS X exploits / vulnerabilities gathering pace. Read a recent article on such OS X exploits:
http://
Also consider, as an example, that if you received an email with a virus attached which does not affect your Mac, then being totally unaware of the virus in the email, you forward that email to another user, most likely a Windows user. That user opens the message and gets infected. So the low-life that created the virus chalks-up yet another victim, courtesy of your good self, thus justifying his/her evil twisted activities!
For a further discussion and review on Mac virus / Malware issues and recommendations for best Mac Anti-virus Scanner see: http://
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