Looney Writer Says Mac Users Need To Wake Up.

By Jack D. Miller • Thursday, October 19, 2006 • Home » Forum Topics »

Dumbass of the Week Whatever happened to logic, reason, or coherent thoughts in writing?

When did headline grabbing become a sport engaged in by weak minded pseudo-journalists?

Is this a recent phenomenon? Or, have headline mongers always been with us but have a new online forum?

Is it possible that our Dumbass of the Week Alert system is working, and Mac users are more aware than ever?

The latest call to arms is for Alex Zaharov-Reutt, writing for ITWire.

Dear Alex starts off with a timely reference to Apple’s recent iPod virus problem, which received some notoriety.

We even wrote about it in Mac360, and nearly forgot—it’s old news. News that won’t die.

One of Apple’s manufacturers shipped a few iPods with video that included a Windows virus.

Apple confessed, owned up to the error, poked at Microsoft, but handled the affair in a straightforward manner.

Repeat: some iPods carried a Windows virus. That’s the kind of news that gets old fast, especially for Mac users.

Repeat: Mac users are not affected by Windows PC viruses (unless you’re running Windows on your Mac).

Alex Zaharov-Reutt doesn’t seem to understand that, hence his ability to have his thoughts exist in the universe and a parallel universe.

See if you can tell when Alex leaves our universe and heads to another where anything he writes makes sense:

“While the small batch of Apple iPods infected with a Windows virus pose no threats to iMacs or the iPods themselves, the fact they were infected at all is a big worry. Now, the potential for virus and malware writers to start targeting Mac OS X in a bigger way cannot be ignored, and should be a massive wake-up call to Apple and its users: owning a Mac does not mean you’re invulnerable.”

Somehow we went from a Windows virus on an iPod that would not affect Mac users to a “massive wake-up call” for Apple customers.

Owning a Mac does not mean we’re invulnerable. Mac users already know that. Windows users just want to be as nearly invulnerable as Mac users.

Alex points out the successful Apple TV commercials where the “I’m a Mac” guy tells “I’m a PC” guy that “I can’t be affected by your viruses and spyware.”

Our tech writer Alex does a quantum mechanical leap over to his own universe with this:

“It’s only a matter of time before a big outbreak on Apple systems occurs, similar to the ‘Code Red’, ‘I love you’ virus, ‘Nimda’ and other attacks that swept the PC owning world over the past few years.”

Why? Why is it just a matter of time? Maybe it’s just a matter of time before tech writers understand the technology they write about.

“What’s scary about anecdotal evidence that I have gathered is that the majority of Mac users really do think they’re invulnerable to viruses, spyware and other attacks, so don’t even bother to find out what Internet Security options are available, and so don’t install anything. In one sense, they’re right – no Windows virus or spyware is going to infect a Mac. But what happens when we start seeing virus writers and hackers upping the ante?”

I want Alex to show up on The Daily Show and get grilled by Jon Stewart on The Seat of Heat.

Adding insult to his injured repuation as a tech writer, Alex goes on the offensive with offensive rhetorical questions aimed at Apple:

“Apple, we want to see more proactive leadership on security, no ads on TV that seem to make Macs appear invulnerable and no more viruses on iPods… so that an Apple a day really does keep the doctor away. Good luck!”

Hmmm. OS X’s record on security is virtually perfect, but needs more? More what? If Macs are not invulnerable, and no one is saying or implying they are, then the record is still quite good.

That virus on the iPod, Alex—that was a Windows virus. There are no Mac viruses.

Apple’s record is as spotless as it can get. Except for alert tech writers who know little about the technology they write about and prefer to sling word mud balls hoping one will stick and readers will return.

Is it just me that thinks this, or are there really more media and tech pundits these days who truly do not have a clue about what they write?

Click Here to see reader comments on this article in the Mac360 Forums.

Classy Mac360 Photo By Jack D. Miller | I work for a US technology company in Paris, France and switched from Windows PCs to the Mac 12 years ago. My wife said it would improve our marriage, give us more friends, and reduce stress. It did.

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