2006 will go down as the Year of Misinformation for mainstream media tech writers, columnists, pundits, and others.

Their crime? They proclaim a special status as know-it-alls, but can’t find a clue or a fact with both hands and a flashlight. We’ve removed the promo buttons on Mac360’s home page and article pages for Jackass Alert. Why?

Too many jackasses have caused our readers to wear out the buttons. Still, jackasses are easy to spot these days. Take into consideration Patrick Marshall writing for The Seattle Times.

Perhaps we should give Seattle computer users a break, since they’re so close to Microsoft headquarters, and so far removed from pleasurable computing. In what almost looks to be a question aimed at tripping up an unaware journalist posing as a guest columnist, Phil of Tacoma wrote:

“I’m considering purchasing my first Apple iMac computer, the type that can run both Apple software and Windows software. How should I protect my system from viruses, scams and intrusions under this duo system? If I communicate through e-mail via the Apple side will I be protected from viruses? I’ve read that the only reason there aren’t many viruses for the Apple is because the hackers haven’t been that interested in “attacking” that system. Is that true or is there a difference in how the different systems communicate with the Internet environment?”

It can no longer be said that Macs don’t run as much software as Windows PCs. Why?

Macs run everything Windows PCs can run and everything that Macs can run. Phil’s consideration and concerns are worthy discussion.

For example, if he’s just running Mac OS X, he doesn’t need much protection from viruses and spyware because none exist in the wild for Macs.

Phishing is a different issue, and no one is immune, but Windows Internet Explorer 7 has some new tools to help on a Windows Mac. As to viruses on Windows on a Mac? Hey, it’s Windows. Get prepared or keep it away from internet access.

Phil even tosses an easy-to-hit softball regarding why there aren’t many viruses for “the Apple.” Then he turns hardball.

”Is that true or is there a difference in how the different systems communicate with the Internet environment.”

Good question. What does he get from the tech guru? Shiny crapola completely devoid of fact.

“You definitely want to install and maintain up-to-date anti-virus software for whatever operating system you’re going to use. Yes, there is some truth to the notion that there are fewer viruses that attack Apple Computer systems, in part because the operating system is less popular. It’s understandable that a virus writer would want to make the biggest splash possible. But there are a great number of viruses that can afflict Apple computers. For more information, you may want to take a look at [url=http://www.securemac.com]http://www.securemac.com[/url].”

While installing and using anti-virus software for Mac OS X won’t kill you, it’s not going to do much either. Poor misinformed Patrick Marshall also misinforms Phil of Tacoma, and probably many other readers.

He says, “there are a great number of viruses that can afflict Apple computers.” That’s a great phrase, a worthy quote, and totally, completely false.

As his proof, Marshall links to SecureMac, not the most reputable source for information, which lists a single virus for Mac OS X, albeit one that didn’t work.

Readers of The Seattle-Times should ask their editors to provide more accurate reporting than this:

“At the same time, it’s true some operating systems are more vulnerable than others. There are reportedly more vulnerabilities that can be exploited in Windows XP than Mac OS X. But that can be taken as a challenge by virus writers, too. Until the first virus appeared for Mac OS X, there was quite a bit of speculation about how long it would take. I’m sure there were a number of virus writers competing to see who could be the first.”

”There are reportedly?” That’s a distortion. There are tens of thousands of viruses, spyware, exploits for Windows. How many for the Mac?

Come on, Patrick. Give good advice. What you’ve provided to readers of The Seattle-Times is ancient poppycock. Then again, I noticed that your photo is black and white, so I assume color hadn’t been invented when you were learning computers.

If it’s true, as you say, that there’s a “great number” of viruses which afflict the Mac, name five.

I knew you couldn’t do it, but looks to me as though your hyper virusfest has infected other publications, too—so says fellow womanly Mac user Mary Tyler on ArsTechnica.

Various Vista Builds (betas) have been let out into the wild and one can assume there are fewer users of said builds than OS X. From what I understand, Vista has already been successfully infected.

I like the logic though. Who would make a bigger impact… the writer of the first truly damaging virus on the Mac? Or a writer who contributes one of 100s of thousands of viruses on the PC?

There just might be some validity to fundamental design differences between Windows and OS X that makes OS X more secure. If correct, one would expect far fewer successful attacks on OS X. Hmmmm.

And what about these Server OSes from MS that run the big iron? I read somewhere they they are targeted as well and have been brought down many times. Not very many users, so how can that be?

This fact impaired article was mentioned on MacDailyNews yesterday, and they encourage their readers to email people who spread FUD to correct them. I emailed him and kindly asked him to fix it and why. He emailed me back, and we started an exchange, I think I may have changed his mind. I sent him to this page and it seemed to help: http://www.apple.com/getamac/viruses.html You said “While installing and using anti-virus software for Mac OS X won’t kill you,...”, I disagree, AV software tends to just muck things up. Meh. I’ve never used AV on my two machines, and have never had an issue. Love my Macs.

I shall make my mark by pointing out to the writer that this house receives home delivery of the times. For now.

ibookfast - 06 November 2006 11:24 AM

This fact impaired article was mentioned on MacDailyNews yesterday, and they encourage their readers to email people who spread FUD to correct them. I emailed him and kindly asked him to fix it and why. He emailed me back, and we started an exchange, I think I may have changed his mind. I sent him to this page and it seemed to help: http://www.apple.com/getamac/viruses.html You said “While installing and using anti-virus software for Mac OS X won’t kill you,...”, I disagree, AV software tends to just muck things up. Meh. I’ve never used AV on my two machines, and have never had an issue. Love my Macs.

I’ve never noticed any problems with my iMac when running Intego Virus Barrier (made by Mac users for Mac users)—then again, I’m the type to always carry an umbrella in my daypack in case it rains, even in the middle of summer…

i have a g5 Mac , basically all i would like to know is are there any viruses out there
that could harm my computer, and why is the linux system so good at keeping
them at bay, 

also do i need to have extra protection just in case, if so what should i use or are Macs
that good i need’nt bother…?

i did read the artical above but found it a bit confusing, i dont have any extra protection on
my computer at the moment and ive always been a bit paranoid because of it

i always think knowing my luck i will get a major bug or virus one day !

Thanks for any help
Kev

There are zero known viruses for Mac OS X. There are a couple “proof-of-concept” trojans that have never been released “in the wild”.  In turn, there is no known, real-world malware that can effect your G5.

thanks for your answer, im interested to know why is that , why is it so hard to write a
virus for a Mac computer, also do you think someday it will happen,  im guessing if its hard to do
already, then if it did happen there would’nt be many ?

cheers

Carol Mary Miller - 06 November 2006 03:09 AM

Perhaps we should give Seattle computer users a break, since they’re so close to Microsoft headquarters, and so far removed from pleasurable computing.

I know it’s silly responding to a nine-month-old thread, but as a new member, I just now read it. I would like to say a few words in defense of my hometown. I was born and raised in Seattle, currently live in Seattle, and plan on dying in Seattle. I hope to convince you that a lot of very nice people live here.

First of all, don’t quote anything from the Seattle Times as a news item (since this was in the dumbass alert section, that’s OK.) It’s nothing but a right-wing rag, the Fox News of the print medium. Just to show you how in touch they are, they endorsed Bush in the last election while the city they supposedly “serve” voted 80-20 the other way.

Secondly, while there may be a lot of Microsoft fanboys here in town, remember we’re a lot closer to the Belly of the Beast than the rest of you, so I assure you there are a very large number of the most virulent Microsoft-haters you would ever want to meet here as well. Of course, MS keeps moving farther and farther out of town; first Kirkland, then Bellevue, now they’re way to hell and gone out in Redmond. I expect them to retreat east of the mountains next!

I can’t explain the fact that while Seattle is a very nice place to live and very liberal in temperament, we have spawned several of the most ruthless, sociopathic corporations ever to pounce on the flanks of an unsuspecting world: Microsoft, Boeing, PACCAR, just to name a few. Historically, Seattle has always been eager just to bend over when Big Business came up behind. Boeing (before they said their big “screw you” and moved their headquarters to Chicago) was always the biggest offender. For every dollar they “pumped into the economy” (if I read that phrase one more time I’m going to scream!) they’ve sucked out five in tax giveaways, sweetheart deals, outright bribes, and otherwise unnecessary infrastructure improvements. Even after they thumbed their nose at us and moved, their demands continue.

Microsoft hasn’t sucked as much of our bone marrow yet, but give them time! Believe me, a LOT of us aren’t taken in by all the money Boeing and Microsoft have “pumped into the economy” (AAARRRRGH!) I don’t have the figures to back me up, but I’m willing to bet that there’s a higher percentage of Mac users here than in any other major metropolitan area in the country. (There are a lot of artsy-fartsy types here, and I guarantee they all use Macs.)

So don’t judge us solely by the plagues we’ve unleashed on mankind; we really are very nice people. Of course, Chairman Bill and his minions live on the other side of the Lake….

People like to get attention, and they know saying stuff like this will get them attention.

Gatesbasher - 19 August 2007 11:35 PM

So don’t judge us solely by the plagues we’ve unleashed on mankind; we really are very nice people. Of course, Chairman Bill and his minions live on the other side of the Lake….

I spent a week in Seattle one night—surrounded by Windows users.

It’s hard to believe that this post is nearly a year old and we still hear the same tired, regurgitated phrases from the tech media. You’d think they would understand the issues better than mainstream journalists but that’s not the case.

Muckraking is alive and well in the 21st century. Too many online sites obviously train their writers to create imaginary issues just to see the hits to the site go up.

The way it works is almost magical. They write something ludicrous but pass it off as plausible. The article gets picked up by 50 Mac blogs and sites, and suddenly the hits go up. Credibility, fact checking, reason and logic go out the window as the tech sites troll for hits.

It’s shameful.

I can’t believe some money doesn’t change hands when these kind of stories appear. Microsoft apparently can’t buy a clue at any price, but they can procure this sort of “journalism.”