Windows users pray for increase in Mac HaXXors
By Triston McIntyre
It’s fairly obvious all those “I’m a Mac” ads are having their effect; a recent report by WebSideStory and Net Applications reported that Mac usage has increased 100% over the last 8 months. Adrian Kingsley- Hughes, a writer for ZDNet, believes the recent increase of Mac users from our long-standing 3% to a whopping 6% only forecasts an increase in security exploits…I say nay, good sir.
The number one problem I’ve found with Microsoft-minded individuals is they have a serious problem breaking the mental confines of a Microsoft mentality; for example, many Microsoft users are so adjusted to dealing with the viruses and malware associated with Windows (not to mention basic security flaws), they assume that Mac users MUST be dealing with the same issues, surely…again I say nay.
Hughes states, ” This kind of huge and rapid increase in Mac users online in the US is just what the hackers and cyber criminals are waiting for.” I’m sure to someone who could only dream the world’s supply of hackers will redirect their malicious efforts to Macs, such a notion arouses a giddiness of the stomach region.
However, I would say this to all those who believe that an increase in Mac usage will cause a mass redirection to Mac exploiting: Frankly, a jump from 3% to 6% is still only 6%…out of 100%. That means it is still insignificantly small of a number in comparison to Windows usage (sorry Linux boys and girls…I don’t mean to exclude you, but honestly…)
Secondly, the numbers still being inscrutably small, if there wasn’t a fleet of hackers trying to break Macs at 3%, there are a few changes that could (or could not) happen. First, the same people that weren’t trying to hack Macs will still..not be trying to hack Macs.
Apple is having nearly no trouble dealing with the small security flaws that have appeared in OS X to date; I really can’t believe that it isn’t prepared for the threat of increased security exploits. Apple is still going to maintain the small margin of threats (parallel to the number of users), and frankly that won’t be anywhere near the stress Microsoft security lackies must experience day to day.
Sadly, Mr. Kingsley-Hughes, I must inform you that the miserable low lifes who now aim to destroy the Windows community daily will not be rushing to the Mac market. If it really is that much of a problem that Windows users must hope beyond all hope that Macs will catch some of the infection, perhaps more of them should just make the switch to Mac.
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May 9th, 2007
[...] The number of people surfing the Web using a Mac has doubled in the past eight months to 6%, but this number is still not enough to attract hackers’ attention. It makes me wonder whether the commonly-held ”Mac is more secure than Windows” belief is true? [...]
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