Michael Gracie

It was only a matter of time, and I suspect there are going to be a whole lotta “I told you so’s” floating around. Someone seems to have finally found a trojan that infects Macs.

In scanning my Norton Anti-Virus definitions, I did notice a few Mac viruses on the list, but they seem to be for the old Mac 9. I am excited as hell for the next Norton update! I can scroll through the list, and finally see “Macintosh” and an “X” on the same line, go flashing by. I hope the fact that it is going to be such a lone soldier doesn’t lead to disappointment - I may miss it in the crowd of “PC.”

Apple users best watch out. The OS X platform is gaining popularity in droves, and particularly with hackers security experts. The reasons are clear. It is a UNIX base, user friendly, and virtually every open source tool that one needs is available for a Mac unit, via Fink, DarwinPorts, or otherwise.

While I use a Powerbook, and feel pretty secure, I doubt I am going to thwart a pro. Apple may have the same problem - they aren’t used to all this attention.

According to Steven Roemerman, precisely “81% of you are suckers,” and I am going to agree. Fortunately, Steven is no blowhard (like me). Instead of just smearing all of you, he has provided some simple, straightforward tips to keep your [Windows] machine safe from intruders.
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Sony is in some hot water over the revelations regarding its rootkits and their affect on Windows machines. Now MacInTouch is saying the rootkit issue may affect Macs as well.

Of course only a less-than-self-aware Mac user would just run any old app called Start.app, agree to a EULA after typing in an admin password, and let it fly. I am glad I know myself so well, but still I hope it isn’t true.

The good news here is that the lawyers will have more reason to chase Sony, particularly considering how many Windows users are leaving for OS X.

I rarely read directions. I once assembled a piece of furniture for a girlfriend, only to wind up with 10 spare parts. The cabinet subsequently collapsed (as did the relationship, soon thereafter).

While compiling the Ethereal packet sniffer for OS X, I missed some of Jamie Methnen’s directions, and I paid for it with roughly two wasted hours.

Thanks go out to Jamie for finally setting me straight. And..thanks to Martin Fuhrer for creating XDroplets, which made launching my newly compiled X11-based app that much easier.

A while back I bought a Mac, not really caring whether it was a frivolous purchase. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that it was at least as usable as Windows, and could be tweaked hardcore like my dual-booting Linux-running Dell C840.

After picking up a Cinema Display to go with the little Powerbook, the Dell didn’t last long. Of course, I find it ironic, as Michael Dell once said Apple wouldn’t last long.
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A constant technical (and PR) revolves around why Apple computers don’t get attacked by malicious code. Some say it is because there are so few Macs, and that as the user base grows, so will the problems. Others say the security is inherent in OS X. What does Spamroll say?
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Microsoft has announced they will be adding substantially deeper monitoring of systems and applications in their next operating systems release, dubbed Longhorn. According to this article over at ZDNet, the system, which is scheduled for release before the 2006 holiday season, will track details of system crashes including memory contents, applications running, and even the contents of open documents (OUCH!).

The error reporting system will be based on the old Dr. Watson diagnostics. While the claim is that consumers will be able to select what information they report, I have to wonder whether this implementation will be similar to Windows security in SP1, where default settings were not to the users’ benefit (i.e. firewalling turned off).

But the kicker is this: Microsoft sure seems to be going to great lengths to prepare people for Windows crashes, even with the new Longhorn (and a year and a half in advance)!

I think I will stick with my Mac OS X and my Fedora Core, just in case.

Netword World Fusion posted a nice list of ways to stop spyware. Some of the ideas require a little expertise, while others require a little extra cashola output. But, don’t be too shocked Microsoft users, when you see that getting rid of Internet Explorer, and switching to OS X or Linux, made the list.

Read 10 ways to stop spyware, for more.

I read a post from Slashdot about Apple OS X, and thought about all the folks who just don’t get computer security, and never will. It will be a constant battle to keep their machines virus free. The problem is, security is not so hard to get.
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