Because macs are something like 11% of the market share, most coders, including malicious ones, don't write for them. It cuts both ways.

500 POSTS!

So the hackers figure that us Mac users aren't even worth the time? That's good to know! Congrats on your 500 posts!

To much time on your hands I guess. LOL!! Just kidding!

Mac is also not an easy platform to code on. And the tools actually cost money. Most people lame enough to code that shit just get a cracked version of MS Virtual C++... It's not that easy on a Mac... Cost about a grand to get in to, and then there is the learning curve to learn to port to a Mac. Mix that in with a small share of users and you end up with much less shit.

I might go back to Linux for my online computer... The funny thing is all Unix platforms are so weak on security, but a non-public somewhat up to date Linux box is the most secure platform on the planet...

Congrats Vox!

-Dusty

Dusty, thanks for this post/rant. Now I don't feel like such a paranoid schmuck.

I have a relatively new notebook (about 5-6 weeks old) and am preparing for my third install (not inlcuding the fresh out of the box that it came with, which makes four).

Ad Aware's real time program would be worth the money if it actually works (has any tried the paid version?). But the "post aquisition" spyware programs simply are not enough.

I visited a site recently and was hit hard. I have Spybot and Ad Aware SE and they removed some items but apparently didn't even recognize others.

Norton recognized them but couldn't remove them At least it described them and showed where they were on the drive and in the registry (they were listed as spyware, not viruses). From there I manually removed them, although sometimes had to close down a bunch of processes before it would let me do it (yes, they were running in the background).

After that, I feel very much violated and just can't trust my computer. So, here I go, on Friday night, reformatting and doing a fresh install......again.

The thing is, I am currently using this PC for my daughter too, as I have my main PC down while I fix up a room and my studio space. I have a lot of programs on it for her. It will take me quite a long time to re-install everything.....the spywarers should have to compensate me for my time. Let's sue!!!!!!

Speaking of slowdowns, I tried Diskeeper Lite recently and my computer got noticeably slower, instead of faster. Know anything about that?

Mad...........

PS, why is my Avatar so damn gigantic?

quote:

---

Because macs are something like 11% of the market share, most coders, including malicious ones, don't write for them. It cuts both ways.

---

But, at the end of the day, you can get 98% of the applications you need for the MacOS. So, no-you don't get as many freeware/shareware type apps, but when it comes to commercial packages, you're set.

Do you really need 15 choices in CD burning software? Or will a handful that completely work do?

As to malicious coders, you have to look at their intent. Denial of service attacks? Pointing out flaws in the 880 pound gorilla's (Microsft)code? Neither of those would really be very effective aimed at that 11% of the marketshare.

Plus IE's acitveX ability to run excecutable code on the local machine through a web browser is a HUGE hole in protection.

Point being, I think the idea that it "cuts both ways" is a little misleading. Unless of course you count games as "software"...then the scale tips WAY in Microsuck's favor.

Don't get me wrong Pop, I agree with you completely, he asked why he wasn't hit and I just tried to give my honest assessment.

I remember reading an article by a software guru a couple years back that basically stated that unavailability of the hottest games was the majority of the reason for the 89% - 11% split. Go figure.

I can tell you that games is the only reason I know squat about PCs. Back in the days of school and studio only, my various Macs served me well...I knew squat about them-they just worked.

Then came games...Voodoo2 card in the Mac with only a handful of titles to play with. So, I yanked it and bought a cheap PC on closeout...and it screamed.

Let's say that was 7 years ago...I've probably installed Windows on my home computer(s) 30 times since. Swapped video cards...hard drives...OS from 98-XPPro...worked up enough knowledge to make a career of it...

And probably ended up finishing only a handful of games.

That's right, after let's say beating 20 games on the PS1/N64 in a year...I got a PC, and could count on my fingers the number of games I've "beaten" in all those 7 years. Any gaming I do now is on the PS2. Over it. I do have a whole box of unplayed games that I swear one day I will build a dedicated little WinME PC to do nothing but play them all.

It's sort of like a black hole of time. Sorta like obessing about studio gear. I'm sensing a pattern...hmmm...