Is Freedom Of The Press A Danger To Computer Users?

Desktop publishing opened up an avenue of ‘the press’ for millions of computer users and businesses over the past 20 years.

Today, personal web logs do the same for tens of millions more as online publishing is all the rage; mostly by people whose opinions are best kept at a distance. Is Mac safer than Windows? Why or why not? Leo knows.

I came across an article by Leo Notenboom that asks a valid question: “Are Macs inherently safer?”

We hear that from time to time from Windows users and it’s a question that will persist as long as ‘safety and security’ are issues on computers, and as long as the Mac remains ‘safer and more secure’ than Windows.

Leo, a self-admitted, non-Mac user, also asks, “Is it true that Macintosh is very safe in that viruses cannot get through? And what about emails? Can others sniff and get info using mac (sic)?”

If you’ve been a Mac user even for a year can see the problem already. Leo doesn’t know anything but has figured out a good way for his web site to get a ton of hits; from Mac users screaming at him because their hair is on fire.

That won’t happen to me. First, I don’t have enough hair left to catch fire. Second, I don’t have an issue exposing Leo’s conclusions point-by-point, and exposing him as a troll looking for hits. Third, this is fun, and I only scream when I’m having fun while doing one thing.

Leo went to the trouble to create his own web site, then went on to write an article that he knew would draw thousands of ‘hits’ and increase his page count and Google ad hits. So, let’s let Leo speak for himself (to start):

“First, a disclaimer: I do not own a Macintosh. I’ve come very close a time or two for various reasons, but have yet to do so. What follows is my opinion based on my understanding of the technologies involved, the state of the industry, and some assumptions about how hackers think.”

So, Leo is going to tell us why Windows and Macs are the same (I’m jumping ahead to save a little time), but has not owned a Macintosh so can’t be much of an authority.

Leo is giving us an opinion, which, except in crowded theatres and when you’re of select Middle Eastern origin, is something of a constitutional right. In this case, though, it should be defined as entertainment, rather than a consititutional issue.

And, not being a hacker, Leo is going to tell us how hackers think. Having been a hacker, and consorting with known hackers over the years, and been accused of hacking, I’ll give you a brief opinion on his conclusions there, too.

Idiocy knows no bounds. Leo shows us that by saying, ”...a Macintosh is very safe (presumably in comparison to Windows based computers) and that it is also not any safer.”

OK, to make sure I fully understand this momentary drivel from Leo, does it sound to you as though he’s saying a Mac is very safe compared to Windows, but it’s not any safer?

Yes, Leo would make a good politician. Let’s vote him into office somewhere so he doesn’t do any more damage to computer users.

Leo’s first premise is The Macintosh is no safer than Windows.

That very ugly, ill informed, and illogical (based on what he wrote earlier) statement is backed up by another, “All software has bugs. Period.” His conclusion is that all software has design flaws and bugs, therefore is inherently the same as Windows.

The next premise is The Macintosh is much safer than Windows.

His conclusion to that trip on the proverbial limb is hackers could hack the Mac but don’t because the Mac’s market share is too small so no one’s bothered to do it.

I see in Leo, a gentleman who’s fully versed in Syllogistic Logic but can’t tie his literary shoestrings.

The ramblings continue as Leo tries to stop thinking logically and tries to think like a hacker, and regarding hacker attempts on the Mac, concludes, “It’s not worth it.”

If enough monkeys could type long enough on enough typewriters would they eventually type the Bible? Yes, according to Leo’s next paragraph where he stumbles onto some truth:

“Apple and the Macintosh simply aren’t as big a target as Microsoft and Windows. As a result, you are inherently safer on a Mac, because almost no one is actively trying to cause you trouble.”

The Mac isn’t as big a target as Windows, and you’re inherently safer on a Mac, and part of the reason is because almost nobody is actively trying to cause Mac users trouble.

Just when you think Leo’s medicine is kicking in and he’s back on the road to recovery, he says, The Macintosh is no safer than Windows, which is followed up by another bi-polar rant, ”... don’t think you’re totally safe because you’re on a Mac. Safer, yes, but immune? Not at all.”

It’s often hard to pin a politician down on a subject because they know how to cross the fence and come down on both sides of an issue. Vote for Leo.

He finally admits that the Mac is safer because it’s just not as big a target (forget the fact that Windows has thousands of viruses, spyware applications, trojan horses, and the like, but with a mere 25-million users or so, the Mac has ZERO!).

Leo asks questions better than he answers them. Such as, “Why is Windows so popular?”

Leo’s answer (besides the usual drivel about more software for Windows, Macs are expensive, more manufacturers, etc.), “Many corporations and schools have standardized on Windows.”

Sigh. “Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no idocy” must be uncovered. I may not be on a mission from God, but surely even He has trouble granting salvation to folks with flea-like brain power.

Leo seems not to know about Microsoft’s criminal activity which helped to establish a monopoly position (manufacturers who didn’t pay Microsoft for machines that didn’t even contain Windows could be banned from selling Windows on their machines).

Leo needs to meet up with Larry Loeb of Security IT Hub for a drink and a confab on Mac security. Only the insecure, uninitiated, naive and mostly Windows users believe the logic Leo uses to reach the same conclusion Mac users already have.

Macs are more secure because they were designed that way. Windows PCs are less secure because, guess what?... they were designed that way.

Jack D. Miller
I’ve almost stopped using my Windows PC. I only start it up on Sundays to run the anti-virus, anti-spyware software.

Carol Mary Miller
Take a clue from Tera, Jack. Use your spell checker more often. Tera does.

Alexis Kayhill
Does anyone have a list of any viruses or spyware for Mac OS X? Surely there’s at least one hacker out there who’s trying to make a name for himself.

Barbara Marie Hambi
Tera, lack of hair doesn’t seem to have dulled your thinking. I notice from Leo’s picture that he has plenty of hair. What a pity it’s wasted.

Tera Patricks
I almost forgot: ‘Is freedom of the press a danger to computer users?’ Nah. So long as the press can expose the dangers.