Ferrari Mailing List: Re: NFC - What Mac to get?

[Pat Scopelliti (pscopell]

Hi George,

Ummm..... no.  MACs essentially are Unix systems with the Apple windows
interface (rather than X-Windows).  They don't "sandbox" apps, dragging a
running app to the wastebasket doesn't uninstall the app and they do use
shareable code libraries ("sharing of millions of tiny routines") just like
every other operating system.

As has been mentioned, they are no less resistant to bugs and viruses than
Microsoft Windows, or Solariis or Red Hat or Ubuntu or Android or VMS or
Target credit card stations or Iranian centrifuges.  They are all written by
humans who occasionally make errors or mistype or mis-design, or just fail
to take into account some circumstances or requirements. 

As to whether these vulnerabilities are found and exploited.. well that all
comes down to "Are you worth targeting?"  If you're a hacker and interested
in creating damage or stealing information, you'll focus on the 90% of
laptops and desktops that run Microsoft Windows to get the most bang for
your buck.  As MAC usage has grown, so have the number of viruses and
attacks.  Did the Apple coders get dumber?  No, they are just becoming more
of a viable target and thus warrant more probing and investigation.

In the long run, it comes down to your last paragraph.  Does it work for
you?  People don't pick operating systems, they pick applications (though
the line between operating systems and applications has gotten very fuzzy).
If Apple has the apps you need or the interface you like then that is where
you go.  If you need some massive CAD-CAM system, then a Unix flavor is
where you'll go.

In any case, protect yourself!  Run a good anti-virus, don't trust
everything you see on the net and don't click on those spam emails!

BTW just starting "Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the
World's First Digital Weapon"   Pretty good read.

Pat
 
Pat Scopelliti
pscopell [at] stny.rr.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ferrari [mailto:ferrari-bounces+pscopell=stny.rr.com [at] ferrarilist.com]
On Behalf Of George's hotmail
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2015 10:21 PM
To: Pat Scopelliti
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: [Ferrari] NFC - What Mac to get?

Charles mentioned how things are configured on a Mac.  This is one of the
"genius" things they did.  All the applications are "sandboxed" so if one
develops a problem, you just drag it into the trash (this uninstalls it),
and reload it.  None of this sharing of millions of tiny routines to make an
operating system nonsense of Windows (what on earth were they thinking????).
It's also why they are so resistant to bugs and viruses.

And yes, I'm no techno-geek - I just want the silly thing to WORK.  I really
don't care HOW it works, just so long as it works.  (Don't worry Rick
Lindsay - this is not how I feel about my cars!  More on that later....)

gp

Sent from my iPad

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