Apple releases OS X security patches

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Thanks for the response

What about other reasons that factor in, like Apple not having
the same reputation among hackers as Microsoft, making them a
less likely target because they're less hated?

And why is MS so hated? Because they have the largest marketshare. I'm simplifying things a bit but it all basically boils down to that.

First, as you point out, there are much fewer Mac
users than Windows users.

Fair enough. Since my original argument was that marketshare is the biggest factor in the desire to write exploits, I was supposing that Apple's marketshare had grown to the point where anyone wanted to write an exploit. Let me actually write it here then: When (if) Apple's marketshare grows big enough to attract exploit writers, the first exploit will have HUGE penetration. Better?

Second, because of the way OSX is built, you can't get
drive-by installations like you can on Windows. You need to
enter an admin password to install software.

True, except for the fact that the recent huge impact worms on Windows have not relied on drive by installations, they've relied on social engineering. I also suggest that they have not relied on having administrative access to the machines. While they may have used administrative access to their advantage, I believe that all those worms could have been written to compromise the average non-administrator home user. You don't need administrative access to scan a user's files for passwords, scan a user's email for addresses, forward yourself to the user's contacts, and contact an IRC channel for further instructions.

Posted by: NonZealot   Posted on: 11/30/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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