This isn't even new. Even on Tiger, if you have Safari set to open "safe" files automatically and then go ahead and willy-nilly provide your admin password whenever asked, you're toast. But, it's no different from leaving your passwords on your desk, in plain view, in large, friendly letters. Apple can't protect people from "user stupidity". Nobody can.
Concerning the Trojan, you forgot one thing: the reason someone would be an idiot enough to perform the three steps is specifically so he can get to some free porn. Considering all the free porn that is available, not only would a person be a moron to perform those steps, but he'd also have to be horny and too lazy to type "porn" in a search engine.
Carl wrote:
"HP and Dell are Microsoft's customer, not you. And these hardware vendors are the people who drove Microsoft's growth."
Windows is sold using the "partner" model. So it is more accurate to call HP and Dell as "partners" with Microsoft where they make decisions together.
P.S. Anyone notice the Zune 30GB Brown is #1 on Amazon MP3 Player list. Zune 30GB Black and Zune 80GB (pre-orders) are in the top 20 also. Strange, huh? Wonder if this will keep up?
Disclosure: I own diversified mutual funds.
I have said for years that no computer is safe from trojans. I haven't been alone. Many Mac pundits have said the same. All a programmer needs is a hook, like porn or a popular singer or actress, to entice a user to install their malware. So users must be vigilant. They shouldn't, for instance, download applescripts that send "rm -fR ~/" to the shell that look like Microsoft Office installers like that chap did a few years back.
Trojans, as you point out, are not viruses. They need users to be stupid in order to install. Viruses just need the computer to be on and they can get busy in the background. Macs do not have viruses for all the reasons you pointed out and more. Obscurity is a weak reason considering how many tens of millions of Macs there are out there. And as long as Apple keeps on top of vulnerabilities as they are discovered I don't see this changing in the near future no matter how much some PC users hope otherwise.
Good article.
~Douglas
☆ The Splintered Mind - Overcoming Neurological Disabilities With Lots Of Humor And Attitude
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