Heads up on a trojan for MAC's

[rjfvillarosa]

Half a million Mac computers 'infected with malware'

BBC News - Half a million Mac computers 'infected with malware'

[David M]

Heads up.

[HAL9000]

I see the "A Mac can't get a virus" crowd is staying pretty quiet. I figured there would be a pile of excuses in here by now.

[MyCattMaxx]

I know a guy who works at a Apple tech center.
He said that they get some that have been infected, but they tell the customer that it was hardware issue or something else.
They won't tell people they had a virus to keep the image going.

[HAL9000]

You mean to keep the sheep happy LOL.

[David M]

Originally Posted by HAL9000 I see the "A Mac can't get a virus" crowd is staying pretty quiet. I figured there would be a pile of excuses in here by now.

I was thinking the exact same thing but decided to say "Heads up" instead so as not to risk antagonizing them.

[MyCattMaxx]

IF I was an unscrupulous person I'd write viruses aimed at Mac just to shut the fanboys up.

[jdeb]

Linux users are a little more realistic but I do occasionally hear that they are immune, which is not the case. I will also admit that I have never had a virus in Windows either.

[acr98disc]

Originally Posted by MyCattMaxx I know a guy who works at a Apple tech center. He said that they get some that have been infected, but they tell the customer that it was hardware issue or something else.

So, they don't care about hardware image, I guess?

They won't tell people they had a virus to keep the image going.

Yes, like people are so stupid and never going to find out...

I have been to a couple Apple stores in the area. What I see there is only a handful of people really know Mac, others are there "just because", to fill in the blank.

[HAL9000]

Originally Posted by acr98disc Yes, like people are so stupid and never going to find out...

Ummm... I dunno about you, but I've done jobs dealing with the public for about 5 years in the credit card business, about 10 years in the computer business.... YES... people ARE that stupid.

[martson]

There was a time not so long ago when buying a Mac might have been good because of 3 points:

1. Macs are stable and according to Mac users who post on threads about Windows problems, Mac computers are much better ('buy a Mac' is the usual advice).

2. Macs are immune to malware.

3. Macs are nicely styled.

In answer...

1. It seems that Macs can have problems much the same as any other computer. It's only necessary to go to a few Mac forums to see that.

2. I think people's faith in Macs being immune to malware will have been rocked recently.

3. Yes, they are nicely styled.

With 1 and 2 gone, 3 doesn't seem a good enough reason to buy a Mac.

[MyCattMaxx]

There is nothing wrong with a Mac if:
You don't mind shelling out more money than a PC can be bought for.
You are the type that needs plug and play
You don't mind giving up apps that are PC only
You don't mind becoming a "Fanboy"

Yes, You can run windows on a Mac, but why pay that kind of money to run windows?
I can run OSX on a PC but I choose not to.

[acr98disc]

To me, people who "complains" about Mac and points to all the horrible things it can do to you are the one's that just can't afford it. Of course, I can be wrong here...

It's not like you gotta have it because someone else does. It's still a computer, it's still an OS, just different. For me, it has to be per need basis. I don't have Mac personally, because I don't need it, but would like to be at least a power user on any of them, whether it's Mac, Windows or Linux. They are all unique to me, and I wouldn't preach about any of them...

[David M]

Mac's are fine for people who are not interested in playing with what's under the hood or hardware customization. They just want a computer for getting stuff done.

Different strokes for different folks.

[jdeb]

I would think many people buy them for the OS and advanced design. They are also great for artist's looking for the creative edge in terms of software/hardware integration. As an artist, I wish I would have paid more attention when I had an Apple Lisa but the fact is, I became comfortable with other software.

In my opinion, they have the best retail/commercial desktops. They me be more money but their attention to detail and quality components are premium. I have always admired their hardware design and chassis. Furthermore, I think their laptops are second to none.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Originally Posted by jdeb I would think many people buy them for the OS and advanced design. They are also great for artist's looking for the creative edge in terms of software/hardware integration. As an artist, I wish I would have paid more attention when I had an Apple Lisa but the fact is, I became comfortable with other software. In my opinion, they have the best retail/commercial desktops. They me be more money but their attention to detail and quality components are premium. I have always admired their hardware design and chassis. Furthermore, I think their laptops are second to none.

That pretty much sums it up why they're 'better'. If they're so terrible, why are other companies always trying to imitate them (HP's Envy and Acer's Aspire S)? One wonders. Verily, when compared to Windows machines that are built to the same quality standards the price difference is pretty negligible. If there's a premium, so what? Are artists not allowed to price their own work as they see fit in a manner that compensates all the effort that went into it? Nobody is obligated to buy it. But if some want to continue turning their Yugos into 'hot rods' and then spit out vitriol about Porsches I guess no one can force them to shut up either.

Mac still can't get Windows viruses, and Unix malware is rare. Java is what causes the problem, and it's everywhere; thus, even your car or refrigerator can get a virus if its computer uses it.

The main problem with the Mac platform is not malware or lack of innovation, but the fact that Apple is indeed an arrogant company and is gradually becoming Microsoft-like, in addition to pushing their cloud, all-connected model onto its customers. Now, Microsoft would do that if they could (they've been trying), same with Google and any other conglomerate. These corporations and their models aimed at mass control are scarier than any virus any crook can unleash.

[David M]

Control freaks versus open source. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

[martson]

Originally Posted by jdeb They are also great for artist's looking for the creative edge in terms of software/hardware integration. As an artist, I wish I would have paid more attention when I had an Apple Lisa but the fact is, I became comfortable with other software.

I've heard Macs are better for artists but why? I like to do a bit of artwork for fun and interest. The programs (CorelDraw' - 'Xara Photo & Graphics Designer' - PhotoPaint) have always worked well in XP and Windows 7. How would a Mac give improvements in the way the programs work and the results turned out?

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by martson I've heard Macs are better for artists but why? I like to do a bit of artwork for fun and interest. The programs (CorelDraw' - 'Xara Photo & Graphics Designer' - PhotoPaint) have always worked well in XP and Windows 7. How would a Mac give improvements in the way the programs work and the results turned out?

That is a great question. This is from what I know working with other artists and comparing their hardware / software to mine. I have a beast of a workstation but it is a PC. Things I have noticed... The graphics, color, and typography are better in terms of on screen "true color" and printing is noticeably clearer and precise. There are more tools and applications built in to complement Adobe products. Mac also have a plethora of advanced photo editing software that is free, pc is not even close. If I recall, I was very impressed with their keyboard shortcuts;intuitive as well as logical.

I strictly use mine (PC) for creative composition. I rarely print anything or should say if I do it is usually no bigger than 4 x 6 for quick reference. My PC is simply for taking an idea, expanding and tweaking it. In the end, I use paint media with a brush. The color thing is important and at rare times, I wish I had that Mac. It really is amazing at the difference on the screen.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by David M Control freaks versus open source. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

I go with whatever gets the job done with a minimal amount of hassle. Unfortunately, more often than not, macs and mac software ends up being too restrictive because it was designed to do one task (and one task well), but if you try to do anything other than that one task or alter that task in any way, you're outta luck (unless you want to go rummaging around in the CLI).

Originally Posted by jdeb That is a great question. This is from what I know working with other artists and comparing their hardware / software to mine. I have a beast of a workstation but it is a PC. Things I have noticed... The graphics, color, and typography are better in terms of on screen "true color" and printing is noticeably clearer and precise. There are more tools and applications built in to complement Adobe products. Mac also have a plethora of advanced photo editing software that is free, pc is not even close. If I recall, I was very impressed with their keyboard shortcuts;intuitive as well as logical. I strictly use mine (PC) for creative composition. I rarely print anything or should say if I do it is usually no bigger than 4 x 6 for quick reference. My PC is simply for taking an idea, expanding and tweaking it. In the end, I use paint media with a brush. The color thing is important and at rare times, I wish I had that Mac. It really is amazing at the difference on the screen.

If you throw enough money at the apple platform, yeah, you can get it to do some interesting graphics and multimedia stuff. I can typically do more with less on the PC platform--although that may change with Windows 8.

[martson]

Originally Posted by jdeb That is a great question. This is from what I know working with other artists and comparing their hardware / software to mine. I have a beast of a workstation but it is a PC. Things I have noticed... The graphics, color, and typography are better in terms of on screen "true color" and printing is noticeably clearer and precise. There are more tools and applications built in to complement Adobe products. Mac also have a plethora of advanced photo editing software that is free, pc is not even close. If I recall, I was very impressed with their keyboard shortcuts;intuitive as well as logical. I strictly use mine (PC) for creative composition. I rarely print anything or should say if I do it is usually no bigger than 4 x 6 for quick reference. My PC is simply for taking an idea, expanding and tweaking it. In the end, I use paint media with a brush. The color thing is important and at rare times, I wish I had that Mac. It really is amazing at the difference on the screen.

(I hope it's OK for threads to wander. If not, I won't grumble if deleted).

I'll bow to the knowledge jdeb. Afterall, you have tried both platforms and I haven't. However, I've never thought that the programs I use are unable to perform to well or that printing is unclear.

I sometimes like to create vector graphics, or vector graphics with photographic content added. I know this is not true artistry but it puts the programs through their paces nonetheless and I think I get some pleasing results. I have seen the programs mentioned in my last post used for more artistic purposes and the results are pretty spectacular.

Xara Photo & Graphics Designer doesn't offer a version for Macs but if there was one, I can't see it would give better results than it does on a PC. If you mean that the programs included with Macs are better for the purpose, I can see that but not that the actual platform makes all the difference. If an artistic program is designed to work with Mac and PC, wouldn't they produce the same results on either platform? There are some excellent art programs to choose from for PCs.

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by martson (I hope it's OK for threads to wander. If not, I won't grumble if deleted)

martson. don't worry for now, but if this thread takes on a whole new direction we can always divide it up and start a new one.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by martson (I hope it's OK for threads to wander. If not, I won't grumble if deleted). I'll bow to the knowledge jdeb. Afterall, you have tried both platforms and I haven't. However, I've never thought that the programs I use are unable to perform to well or that printing is unclear. I sometimes like to create vector graphics, or vector graphics with photographic content added. I know this is not true artistry but it puts the programs through their paces nonetheless and I think I get some pleasing results. I have seen the programs mentioned in my last post used for more artistic purposes and the results are pretty spectacular. Xara Photo & Graphics Designer doesn't offer a version for Macs but if there was one, I can't see it would give better results than it does on a PC. If you mean that the programs included with Macs are better for the purpose, I can see that but not that the actual platform makes all the difference. If an artistic program is designed to work with Mac and PC, wouldn't they produce the same results on either platform? There are some excellent art programs to choose from for PCs.

I am just saying that I noticed the differences. I am not an Apple fan-boy nor do I own a Mac. The platform can make a difference, especially to a graphic designer but are they worth it? I don't know but the artists I hang with have seen my PC and they would never jump ship. I can out-render them though and from an architectural or web-development standpoint, leave them in the dirt. I guess it is what the you are using the tool for. I just kind of stand behind the Mac guys because they get a lot of grief and I have seen first hand what both machines do.

[David M]

650,000 Macs are now infected.

Flashback infections not waning after all; 650,000 Macs still hijacked