Why do I even have virus protection for my pc?

[Medusa]

Get an Apple computer. We have had iMacs for 10 years now, and have never had a virus.

I know, anything is possible, and one of these days . . . . . . . I'm just saying that for 10 years life has been good.

That's what my son says. He plans on getting a Mac as his next computer. The one I have is only 2 years old so I'm reluctant to buy a new one right now w/taxes coming up, etc. However, when I do finally buy another one, it'll more than likely be a Mac. Question: I've heard that transferring everything to a Mac is a hassle. True or false?

[Grace]

That's what my son says. He plans on getting a Mac as his next computer. The one I have is only 2 years old so I'm reluctant to buy a new one right now w/taxes coming up, etc. However, when I do finally buy another one, it'll more than likely be a Mac. Question: I've heard that transferring everything to a Mac is a hassle. True or false?

Sorry, I have no idea. We never had any other kind of computer. So all the transferring we've done is from one iMac to another.

[Alysser]

Take it from me, who ruined TWO computers with a virus. Well actually it wasn't *really* my fault as I never downloaded anything/or went on any bad sites that I know of. My brother has had his Apple for 2 years now virus free. From my experience, DELLS ARE CRAP! I have one currently, and will never ever ever buy one again. Macs may be more expensive but in the long run they are better then these pieces of s***. I have a dell laptop that can't come off the desk, so there's no point in this laptop anymore.

[lvpets2002]

I have had it with Norton & McAfee.. I only use WebRoot now.. It goes deep into the computer for updates & cleanups on viruses..

[Barbara]

I never had a virus here at home (knock on wood). Of course I update my virus scanner daily. I think the basic reason is I only go to a handful of websites- like PT, my bank, my e-mail account, some very serious magazines, wikipedia etc.
People who download from non-serious sites are in much bigger danger. Or people who believe it when something pops up telling you you win or can download cute emoticons or whatever.

[Alasse]

If you are an avid downloader of files (especially from non certified places), then alot of times viruses ride in with the download. If you let it in its hardly the Antivirus programs fault *L* That is the risk you take unfortunately

[Puckstop31]

The reason PCs have more viruses is not because Windows is more vulnerable for a design standpoint. Windows is actually the most secure OS out there, if you look at security updates. The problem is they are by far the biggest target. OS-X, etc, all have the same buffer overrun flaws that allow bad code to run, just nobody has taken the time to attack Macs yet. Not enough people to piss off to bother I reckon.

Now, Macs are wonderful for home use or if you are a graphic/web designer. Want to run a real business though? Forget about a Mac.

Macs = Play
PCs = Work

More or less.

PCs can be configured to run well, be safe and do what they are supposed to. Problem is, that means staying off Limewire, Facebook, Myspace, etc...


So Mac people... Pound your chest all you want, but the reason there are no Mac viruses is just because nobody has written one yet. Now, as Mac gains market share..... Lets just say that the first Mac virus is going to be a hoot. LOL Understand I say this knowing my next machine for home is going to be a Mac.


Oh and as for Dell. My company is a Dell partner. My one simple piece of advice... Stay away from Dimension and Inspiron machines. Those are the products targeted at the retail market and they SUCK. Buy Optiplex desktops of Latitude laptops. These are the business line of products, use better hardware and have a MUCH, MUCH cleaner OS install.

Buy from http://outlet.dell.com Save about $400 per PC. Same warranty, same hardware. (NO, my company has zero vested intrest in this site. I nor my company make any money off this site.)

[Hellow]

The reason PCs have more viruses is not because Windows is more vulnerable for a design standpoint. Windows is actually the most secure OS out there, if you look at security updates. The problem is they are by far the biggest target. OS-X, etc, all have the same buffer overrun flaws that allow bad code to run, just nobody has taken the time to attack Macs yet. Not enough people to piss off to bother I reckon.

Microsoft designed their OS so that, by default, the first user on the computer is the administrator. One of the large flaws in Windows. Another one is the fact that their firewall defends against incoming, not outgoing, attacks. Yet another one is proven by the large list of security patches they release weekly, that their OS is full of holes. Mac OS X and Linux/Unix are probably the most secure OSs out there, if only by design. OS X is based off Unix, and Linux is based off Minix which is based off Unix. All of them have the best firewall ever seen on the face of the earth integrated into the Linux/Unix kernel. So far, I have gotten about 2 security updates this week, and one was from firefox, the other being from a small hole in a lib file. The last major security breach in Linux/Unix happened a few months ago, from PGP keys being exploited. They fixed that in about 2 days, and I helped on the Ubuntu side. It is a few years back when something like that has happened in Linux, and that seems to be discovered weekly/monthly in Windows. Linux/Unix is the most popular server platform there is, so it is attacked millions of times daily, and they still have not found anything major or most anything minor wrong. Windows is /not/ the most secure OS .

Heh, I tend to get way too passionate about these types of things .

[Hellow]

That's what my son says. He plans on getting a Mac as his next computer. The one I have is only 2 years old so I'm reluctant to buy a new one right now w/taxes coming up, etc. However, when I do finally buy another one, it'll more than likely be a Mac. Question: I've heard that transferring everything to a Mac is a hassle. True or false?

Sort of. Macs are proprietary, which is both good and bad for the end user. The good part is that Apple can design the OS knowing that it will be running on their own hardware only. The bad part is that it is a royal pain to get anything else to work on it/with it.

[jennielynn1970]

Reggie, they're a lot less worse than they used to be. You can have almost any application that runs on a PC by Microsoft on a Mac. They have come a long way. Plus, there are so many apps that Mac makes now that rival the PC apps, it's really not an issue.


PS...
Was watching 48hrs mystery the other night on NBC (I think), and saw the case about the guy who invented the Linux system who killed his Russian wife and buried her in a hole a few miles away. I was shocked! I had no idea he had done something like that! He had some real mental issues, wonder if it was one of those where you're so brilliant, and then you just sort of crack.

[Randi]

Mary, it sounds like your son is a bright guy! I don't think you need to worry, I've had Office on my Mac for at least 6 years without a problem. I can assure you that it's a lot more pain getting anything to work properly on a PC, AND clumsy too!

[Medusa]

Was watching 48hrs mystery the other night on NBC (I think), and saw the case about the guy who invented the Linux system who killed his Russian wife and buried her in a hole a few miles away. I was shocked! I had no idea he had done something like that! He had some real mental issues, wonder if it was one of those where you're so brilliant, and then you just sort of crack.

Computers can do that to ya. I nearly cracked and buried mine in a hole a few miles away. LOL

[Hellow]

Was watching 48hrs mystery the other night on NBC (I think), and saw the case about the guy who invented the Linux system who killed his Russian wife and buried her in a hole a few miles away. I was shocked! I had no idea he had done something like that! He had some real mental issues, wonder if it was one of those where you're so brilliant, and then you just sort of crack.

If you mean Hans Reiser, he was the person that created the ReiserFS, which was critical in the early years of Linux. No, the original creator of Linux was Linus Torvaldes. He whom keeps a nunchuck under his bed and prays to penguins.