Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

[apollo_1444]

source and full article on: http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/04...zovi/index.php (yes macworld)

Dino Dai Zovi, the New York-based security researcher who took home $10,000 in a highly-publicized MacBook Pro hijack on April 20, has been at the center of a week?s worth of controversy about the security of Apple?s operating system. In an e-mail interview with Computerworld, Dai Zovi talked about how finding vulnerabilities is like fishing, the chances that someone else will stumble on the still-unpatched bug, and what operating system ? Windows Vista or Mac OS X ? is the sturdiest when it comes to security.


From your research on both platforms, is there a winner between Mac OS X 10.4 and Vista on security?
I have found the code quality, at least in terms of security, to be much better overall in Vista than Mac OS X 10.4. It is obvious from observing affected components in security patches that Microsoft?s Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) has resulted in fewer vulnerabilities in newly-written code. I hope that more software vendors follow their lead in developing proactive software security development methodologies.


seems there is a benefit on upgrading after all...

[asdf_admin]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

bullshit. this is the funniest thing I have ever read.

history will tell a different story. and facts speak for themselves. they got paid out by Microsoft to write that. For a million or two, I would to the same.

Interesting read. Thank you.

[beanzncheez]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

The safest security is in my anus. Unless, you have cookies.

[Kamal]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

I personally feel security is a double edged sword that's often misunderstood. In my opinion, security can be addressed in 2 ways centering around how well can an external piece of software be planted on an OS or a weakness within a system be exploited to allow someone to

a) completely gain access of a machine with the intention to control it (a hack attack)
b) render the machine susceptible to xxxware or virus attack to steal personal info

In both cases, if you see the number of times a windows machine gets cracked vs. a unix/linux based machine is astronomical and in most cases virtually with minimal user intervention. Not to mention, in either case and as far as I've read, you can't easily compromise the structural integrity (i.e. stability) of a unix/linux machine unlike a windows box, especially under point b) above - (unless if you hack a XXnux box and delete all the core install files as SU)

[KinKyJ]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyGUrPxG1iM[/youtube]

Spoof:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFAJDbV9Vfs[/YOUTUBE]

[toasty]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyGUrPxG1iM[/youtube]

This is spot on IMO. Seems like I get prompted by Vista for authorization to do the most routine of tasks. Drives me nuts. I've tried to figure out how to shut off the alerts, but haven't had any luck. Anyone have any intel that can point me to the right area to adjust those settings?

[beanzncheez]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

You gotta remember that the reason there are so many security faults with Windows is because of the size of Microsoft so there will always be many, many people out to try and exploit every single avenue in there. Now, before you start your retort, I'm not saying this is a justification. I'm merely stating why you hear more about the security breaches and holes in an MS OS versus Linux, Unix, Apple, etc. What do people have to gain by trying to break into something that's signicantly less in terms of overall distribution?

[toasty]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

You gotta remember that the reason there are so many security faults with Windows is because of the size of Microsoft so there will always be many, many people out to try and exploit every single avenue in there. Now, before you start your retort, I'm not saying this is a justification. I'm merely stating why you hear more about the security breaches and holes in an MS OS versus Linux, Unix, Apple, etc. What do people have to gain by trying to break into something that's signicantly less in terms of overall distribution?

Oh, I get that 100%, and I suppose on balance I would rather be bothered than have someone hack into my system. On the other hand, I had to authorize the computer 3 times over the course of about 2 minutes to download updated virus definitions.

1. Would you like to update your virus definitions?

switch back to IE, see icon flashing

2. You have asked NAV to update your virus definitions -- do you want to continue?

switch back to IE, see icon flashing

3. You have asked to run LiveUpdate -- do you want to continue?



FFS, can't these permissions be consolidated into one another? Why would I authorize it to update my virus definitions but have a problem with it doing the other two things?

I am willing to accept that this could probably be adjusted through tweaking the settings some, and I haven't had an opportunity to do that yet, but the default just seems like overkill. When I set it to automatically d/l updates, though, is it going to still have to stop and ask for authorization?

[apollo_1444]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

well that was the opinion of a "super mega geek hacker" that knows his shit. if you own a mac and use firefox then i guess you are ok for the moment. if you own a pc with windows vista and are enjoying of better support for software, faster load times, better games and what not just make sure you dont download anything stupid and you'll be ok

[Kamal]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

You gotta remember that the reason there are so many security faults with Windows is because of the size of Microsoft so there will always be many, many people out to try and exploit every single avenue in there. Now, before you start your retort, I'm not saying this is a justification. I'm merely stating why you hear more about the security breaches and holes in an MS OS versus Linux, Unix, Apple, etc. What do people have to gain by trying to break into something that's signicantly less in terms of overall distribution?

volume in distribution does not justify core OS insecurities. Yes you can find loopholes and break into ANY OS out there but the extent of XXXWare + Viruses that infects MS vs. XXNix is astronomical and on the rise each year. That too it kills the core functionality of system once infected.

And Unix has been around since the mid 60's iirc so I dont buy that merely mass populations of the planet means that the OS WILL be insecure. Fuck sake they are also the RICHEST company on the planet which means they can easily stay one step ahead in the game by doubling their security team. YET, we find ourselves bickering and justifying why MS is bound to be more virus + hack prone.

Mind you I'm not MS bashing by a long shot, they have unquestionably added enormous value to the home PC / multi-tasking environment for the average Joe. But if they'd only not be as profit driven but bear responsibility of investing tons more in redesigning the core system of how it operates and how its prone to infection (not hack attacks) in addition to how it performs, they may just have the winning ticket.

[beanzncheez]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

@ toasty, I don't know where to start as I haven't used Vista in almost a year but I do remember people talking in other forums about turning off the Notification feature that will eliminate all of your problems. Maybe it's time to head on over to those geek forums for a search and answer.

[beanzncheez]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

@ encryption, that was the reply I was trying to avoid but I guess it doesn't matter. Some read while others just want to reply. It's all good. I know there are people out there that understand.

[Kamal]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

@ encryption, that was the reply I was trying to avoid but I guess it doesn't matter. Some read while others just want to reply. It's all good. I know there are people out there that understand.

amen

[beanzncheez]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

^ ^ At least you admit it.

[Kamal]

Re: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

yea, I admit you do tend to talk a lot.