Jump to content
Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

Apple for idiots ?


enroute

Recommended Posts

Well, mine seem to "just work", although I don't connect to an active directory-driven network. (Have to try that sometime.) I keep VM and windows around for one thing and one thing only: ezwinscore, and I've never seen windows run better than when under vmware fusion. (Even under bootcamp, as my son-in-law told me tonight.) I still regard viruses (something which actually modifies system code and self-replicates itself) as different from malware, and it seems both can be avoided by running your normal day-to-day stuff under a non-adminstrator-level userid, and just watch what you click, browse to, or download, and avoid actual java if at all possible.

Edited by wgnoyes
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 69
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Not to me. A virus would be something that somehow gets SU status and goes in and screws with or replaces program files in /Applications, /Library, or /System or another program-code-containing directory. That's far less likely to happen in os x (it's unix, after all) if you're careful about what you download and install, don't use the compiled java plug-in (which is no longer shipped with os x), and also run as a matter of practice in normal user mode, instead of always logging on as an administrator-level user, which admittedly is what apple and MS both set you up as by default. You can also, in Mavericks and maybe 1 or 2 versions prior, set the level of security that controls whether or not the system is going to let you run a given app based on where it came from, the choices being the 'Mac App Store', 'Mac App Store and identified developers', or 'anywhere'. I think the default setting as shipped is option 2.

Edited by wgnoyes
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not to me. A virus would be something that somehow gets SU status and goes in and screws with or replaces program files in /Applications, /Library, or /System or another program-code-containing directory. That's far less likely to happen in os x (it's unix, after all) if you're careful about what you download and install, don't use the compiled java plug-in (which is no longer shipped with os x), and also run as a matter of practice in normal user mode, instead of always logging on as an administrator-level user, which admittedly is what apple and MS both set you up as by default. You can also, in Mavericks and maybe 1 or 2 versions prior, set the level of security that controls whether or not the system is going to let you run a given app based on where it came from, the choices being the 'Mac App Store', 'Mac App Store and identified developers', or 'anywhere'. I think the default setting as shipped is option 2.

I know it isn't the point of the thread overall but you are wrong about your definition of malware (malicious code) and viruses. As I stated previously, viruses are a type of malware. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-83, "Guide to Malware Incident Prevention and Handling", a Virus is defined: A form of malware that is designed to self-replicate make copies of itself and distribute the copies to other files, programs, or computers ( ).

Wikipedia agrees that viruses are malware, "Malware includes computer viruses, ransomware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious BHOs, rogue security software, and other malicious programs; the majority of active malware threats are usually worms or trojans rather than viruses. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware ). "

While I am unsure about many things that I post here this is an area where I have high confidence in the accuracy of my response.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I think of them differently and really am not interested in arguing definitions.

Regardless and AGAIN, watch what you download, don't run java if you can possibly stand not to, and stop running as an administrator-level user by default. Those are good practices regardless of your choice of operating system, don't you agree? :)

Edited by wgnoyes
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Convention and national standards aside I guess you are entitled to think of them however you want.

I definitely agree with your recommendations. Those are best practices for Mac and even better practice for PC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know it isn't the point of the thread overall but ...

Meh, doesn't bother me at all... it's an excellent learning lab here....I see some of the MacBooks will be made/assembled in TX now-good deal...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really? Huh. I know the new mac pros are assembled domestically.

Whoops, yeah, my lack of apple core nomenclature: It's the Pros which are from TX...It would be like saying the FN FS2000 and the PS90 are the same platform....my bad.

MS has put a momentary lock on my "Security Essentials" PC app., until I order something from them via their links? I can trade-in my now defunct MS unit and Office software through Clover, but only for MS purchasing credits.

Thank You for all the assistance and guidance here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

MS has put a momentary lock on my "Security Essentials" PC app., until I order something from them via their links? ...

Huh?! WHAT?!? I've never heard of even MS stooping that damn low! Try uninstalling and reinstalling and see what happens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

MS has put a momentary lock on my "Security Essentials" PC app., until I order something from them via their links? I can trade-in my now defunct MS unit and Office software through Clover, but only for MS purchasing credits.

I'm not saying it is.. but this may be a virus... I'd scan and check as soon as possible

Link to comment
Share on other sites

MS has put a momentary lock on my "Security Essentials" PC app., until I order something from them via their links? I can trade-in my now defunct MS unit and Office software through Clover, but only for MS purchasing credits.

I'm not saying it is.. but this may be a virus... I'd scan and check as soon as possible

Yeah, Microsoft Security Essentials is free.

What you have is a malicious code infection called "Fake Antivirus" for FakeAV for short. It's not a good sign and don't pay the money.

At this point the chances are that your actual antivirus has been disabled by the malicious code.

You can try the Trend Micro Fake AV removal tool but others are out there as well http://esupport.trendmicro.com/solution/en-us/1056510.aspx

Once a system is infected with one kind of malicious code it is very difficult to determine how many other pieces of bad code may have been installed. Safest bet is to back up your documents, wipe the hard drive clean, and reinstall your operating system.

Edited by alma
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MS has put a momentary lock on my "Security Essentials" PC app., until I order something from them via their links? ...

Huh?! WHAT?!? I've never heard of even MS stooping that damn low! Try uninstalling and reinstalling and see what happens.

I used the kindly supplied detectors, PC is clear.

It was MS, doing a re-direct to their own site for purchasing upgrades: Essentials being "free" had nothing to do with it wanting to sell me their "upgrades", icon went to amber from green with a warning and the re-direct, and of course support has cancelled so it is now red.

No biggie. In the purchase processes now for Apple product. Thanks again...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I wasn't thinking that this could be the popups that started on XP last month warning users that support was ending. I am sure many have been confused by them but regardless of which new operating system you move to you would certainly be long overdo for an upgrade if you are seeing those warnings from Microsoft.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...
  • 11 months later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...