[DM-MUG] Why can't Mac OS X be on our server?

Sun, 30 May 2004 14:14:31 -0500

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On 5/30/04 10:41 AM, "HWelch7625@aol.com" <HWelch7625@aol.com> wrote:

> I know I ask a lot of questions, so here is another one! We finally have =
gone
> from zero Macs to 14 at my school. We knew they couldn't go on the networ=
k,
> and we agreed to it. But what is the problem? I've been given many answer=
s
> (all different). I've been told that Macs "carry" viruses, even though th=
ey
> don't get them. The latest reason has to do with the security of the syst=
em.
> We know that our system protects PCs, but if Macs go on the server, there=
 is
> no way to know what they will do? Is there an easy solution for this?
>=20
> Thanks,
> Holly Welch

What a load of crap, from a bunch of Windows-centric idiots who=B9d rather
make guesses and repeat rumors than actually learn the facts.

   (1) Macs, with proper virus protection software (not expensive or
difficult) are no more likely to =B3get=B2 or =B3carry=B2 viruses than the PCs.  If
the PCs don=B9t have virus protection software, that=B9s not the Macs=B9 fault.
And if the network is behind a firewall, that will protect all the machines=
,
PCs and Macs, from the outside.

   (2) Mac OS, especially X, is incredibly stable and secure, and will not
compromise the security of the Windows network, IF that network is itself
stable and secure.  Again, the Macs can=B9t be held responsible for holes in
the Windows network=B9s security.

   (3) In order for a virus to propagate, it needs to have the correct OS
and software conditions in order to run.  A Windows-native virus, exploitin=
g
Outlook=B9s address book (a very popular method in such cases), will not run
in Mac OS or in Linux, and can=B9t exploit the address books of Apple Mail,
Entourage, or Netscape (the most popular mail programs on the Mac platform)=
.

   (4) Honestly, there just aren=B9t as many Mac viruses around to infect us.
Why?  Because there aren=B9t as many Macs, and the hackers want to hit the
most machines possible in the least amount of time?  Because Mac users tend
to be a tighter-knit group, and just don=B9t want to cause pain to fellow Mac
users?  Because more people (Mac, Linux, and Windows users alike) hate Bill
Gates more than Steve Jobs?  I don=B9t know why, but it just happens to be th=
e
case.

   (5) On the human side, those who are diligent about not opening email
attachments except from known, trusted sources have a much smaller chance o=
f
infection than those who are not diligent.  If Joe Windows opens the .exe
file from a bulk email, how can Mary Mac be held responsible?

   (6) As has been said elsewhere in this forum, everything needed for the
Macs to join the Windows network is right there in the Mac OS.  Just go to
your System Preferences, turn on Windows File Sharing, enable DHCP, and
voila, you=B9re connected.  You can become your own Mac Network Administrator
in about an hour, and your poor Windows NetAdmin never even has to touch th=
e
scary Macs.

I=B9ve had Macs and PCs networked together in my own home and small business
for ten years.  I=B9ve only received a virus on one Mac, one time, and it
didn=B9t even propagate to the other Macs on the network.  The two attacks on
my PCs were my own damn fault for not having virus protection software on
the PCs, and (in one case) because I opened the wrong email attachment (liv=
e
and learn).  I consider the Macs in my own network (running Mac OS 7, 8,
8.5, 9, and X) to be the more secure portion of my network, and the PCs to
be the weak link.

Unfortunately, it=B9s hard to convince the Windows dittoheads that most of
what they =B3know=B2 about the Mac platform is speculation, exaggeration, or
just plain wrong.  But hopefully a little truth may help to counteract the
myth.

Peace,
CW

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<TITLE>Re: [DM-MUG] Why can't Mac OS X be on our server?</TITLE>
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On 5/30/04 10:41 AM, &quot;HWelch7625@aol.com&quot; &l=
t;HWelch7625@aol.com&gt; wrote: 
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>I know I ask a lot of questions, so here is another one! We finally =
have gone from zero Macs to 14 at my school. We knew they couldn't go on the=
 network, and we agreed to it. But what is the problem? I've been given many=
 answers (all different). I've been told that Macs &quot;carry&quot; viruses=
, even though they don't get them. The latest reason has to do with the secu=
rity of the system. We know that our system protects PCs, but if Macs go on =
the server, there is no way to know what they will do? Is there an easy solu=
tion for this? 
 
Thanks, 
Holly Welch 
</BLOCKQUOTE> 
What a load of crap, from a bunch of Windows-centric idiots who&#8217;d rat=
her make guesses and repeat rumors than actually learn the facts. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) Macs, with proper virus protection software (not expe=
nsive or difficult) are no more likely to &#8220;get&#8221; or &#8220;carry&=
#8221; viruses than the PCs. &nbsp;If the PCs don&#8217;t have virus protect=
ion software, that&#8217;s not the Macs&#8217; fault. &nbsp;And if the netwo=
rk is behind a firewall, that will protect all the machines, PCs and Macs, f=
rom the outside. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) Mac OS, especially X, is incredibly stable and secure=
, and will not compromise the security of the Windows network, IF that netwo=
rk is itself stable and secure. &nbsp;Again, the Macs can&#8217;t be held re=
sponsible for holes in the Windows network&#8217;s security. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) In order for a virus to propagate, it needs to have t=
he correct OS and software conditions in order to run. &nbsp;A Windows-nativ=
e virus, exploiting Outlook&#8217;s address book (a very popular method in s=
uch cases), will not run in Mac OS or in Linux, and can&#8217;t exploit the =
address books of Apple Mail, Entourage, or Netscape (the most popular mail p=
rograms on the Mac platform). 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4) Honestly, there just aren&#8217;t as many Mac viruses=
 around to infect us. &nbsp;Why? &nbsp;Because there aren&#8217;t as many Ma=
cs, and the hackers want to hit the most machines possible in the least amou=
nt of time? &nbsp;Because Mac users tend to be a tighter-knit group, and jus=
t don&#8217;t want to cause pain to fellow Mac users? &nbsp;Because more peo=
ple (Mac, Linux, and Windows users alike) hate Bill Gates more than Steve Jo=
bs? &nbsp;I don&#8217;t know why, but it just happens to be the case. 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(5) On the human side, those who are diligent about not o=
pening email attachments except from known, trusted sources have a much smal=
ler chance of infection than those who are not diligent. &nbsp;If Joe Window=
s opens the .exe file from a bulk email, how can Mary Mac be held responsibl=
e? 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(6) As has been said elsewhere in this forum, everything =
needed for the Macs to join the Windows network is right there in the Mac OS=
. &nbsp;Just go to your System Preferences, turn on Windows File Sharing, en=
able DHCP, and voila, you&#8217;re connected. &nbsp;You can become your own =
Mac Network Administrator in about an hour, and your poor Windows NetAdmin n=
ever even has to touch the scary Macs. 
 
I&#8217;ve had Macs and PCs networked together in my own home and small bus=
iness for ten years. &nbsp;I&#8217;ve only received a virus on one Mac, one =
time, and it didn&#8217;t even propagate to the other Macs on the network. &=
nbsp;The two attacks on my PCs were my own damn fault for not having virus p=
rotection software on the PCs, and (in one case) because I opened the wrong =
email attachment (live and learn). &nbsp;I consider the Macs in my own netwo=
rk (running Mac OS 7, 8, 8.5, 9, and X) to be the more secure portion of my =
network, and the PCs to be the weak link. 
 
Unfortunately, it&#8217;s hard to convince the Windows dittoheads that most=
 of what they &#8220;know&#8221; about the Mac platform is speculation, exag=
geration, or just plain wrong. &nbsp;But hopefully a little truth may help t=
o counteract the myth. 
 
Peace, 
CW
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