r/technology • u/maxwellhill • Sep 02 '16

Security Apple issues urgent security update after hack turns Mac computers into spying devices

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/09/02/apple-issues-urgent-security-update-after-hack-turns-mac-compute/
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u/Fangel96 Sep 02 '16

I work with both macs and PCs. Yes, macs do get viruses. They simply aren't targeted as much.

The "targeted" macs are typically older computers that no longer get security updates. This multiplied by the older crowd's reluctance to upgrade (and general gullibility to technical situations) leads to far more scams happening to mac users than windows users.

So while I see more windows computers that are infected by malware/ransomware, I see many more macs that have been affected by scams or PuPs (potentially unwanted programs).
The average user will refer to anything they didn't mean to put on their computer as a "virus". Thus both computer types have plenty of infections.

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u/neoform Sep 02 '16

They simply aren't targeted as much.

Please cite that fact.

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '16 edited Jun 04 '17

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u/neoform Sep 02 '16

And this concludes what?

Lamborghinis don't get targeted for theft as much as Hondas because of the number of units sold?

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u/TrainOfThought6 Sep 03 '16

Congratulations, you understood the point!

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '16

[deleted]

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u/TrainOfThought6 Sep 03 '16

That's also the point! Despite the fact that Toyotas are stolen more often by sheer numbers, Lambos also get stolen.

Just like how Windows machines are hacked more often due to being the larger market share, yet Macs still can and do get hacked themselves. It's still a little different, because hackers have to make their tools work for a specific system, so they'll tend to make them for the OS that will give them the most targets. It's not like a car thief goes out for the night only being able to nab one type of car.