Microsoft EMET - advanced free security system for Windows

[clearcutter]

I think Microsoft treats students pretty good, so that's why i like them. I will check out that security system for sure. When i was a student i was able to get all the Office Ultimate for cheap. Plus i was able to get a copy of XP Professional, Windows 7 Professional, Visual Studio 2010 & the Expression Studio all for free.

 

[Tony Aroma]

Microsoft has a 91% market share as far as operating systems go. If you want to build a virus you go for the OS that has the biggest market share; that means Windows. It's partially an illusion that other OS's are more secure. Most of the reason that they are safer is because they are not worth targeting.

Windows users like to talk about the "safety through obscurity" myth. But there are a few other things to consider. If you want to create a virus, wouldn't you go for the easiest target? Much like LEO goes after pot smokers instead of murderers. Seems just as likely as targeting the most common platform.

Also consider other operating systems. iOS and Android have about equal market share, yet Android has had some serious security issues. iOS, not a one. How does that fit into the safety through obscurity explanation?

Anyone that believes Apple is secure without purchasing anti virus and no extra security is sadly mistaken and in for a surprise.

Cool, I like surprises! Seriously, I'm a computer professional, and I've been using MacOS for over 10 years with no security software and no malware infections. (Been using Apple products since 1981.) Are there any Windows users that can say that? The only Mac users that use security software are the ones that don't know any better or have been duped by the security software vendors' scare tactics. People who only use Windows assume that's the just the way computers work. But it's not. Windows and Mac OS are very different. Windows requires additional software to be safe, MacOS does not. Of course nothing can prevent you from doing stupid stuff, like downloading corrupted files.

 

[PhenoMenal]

iOS and Android have about equal market share, yet Android has had some serious security issues. iOS, not a one.

Yes, it's true ... it's impossible for iOS to have any security issues.

"A new security flaw discovered in Apple's mobile operating system lets anyone bypass the passcode lock on iPhones running iOS 6.1 in a matter of seconds, revealing access to the phone's contacts, voicemails, and photos."
Oh wait...

 

[ak-51]

Windows users like to talk about the "safety through obscurity" myth. But there are a few other things to consider.

Of course. The prevalence of a system is not the only factor in its security.

Also consider other operating systems. iOS and Android have about equal market share, yet Android has had some serious security issues. iOS, not a one. How does that fit into the safety through obscurity explanation?

Obscurity is not the only way to obtain security (it's actually not the best way to obtain security IMO). Just off the top of my head I would say that iOS has less issues because Apple hand-approves each and every app on their app market. Google does not. The rate at which android gets malware is due mostly to the open nature of the platform and the abject failure of carriers and manufacturers to push updates to their phones in a timely manner. Keeping their devices up to date is an area where Apple is really doing great. It can't be that hard considering they have only ever made 6 different (phone) models. There's well over a thousand different devices running android.

I'm a computer professional, and I've been using MacOS for over 10 years with no security software and no malware infections.

If you're a computer professional you probably wouldn't have gotten any viruses had you been using Windows either. IMO most infections are caused by something the user shouldn't have done. Going to the wrong website, downloading the wrong software, etc.

Of course nothing can prevent you from doing stupid stuff, like downloading corrupted files.

Exactly.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

When i was a student i was able to get all the Office Ultimate for cheap. Plus i was able to get a copy of XP Professional, Windows 7 Professional, Visual Studio 2010 & the Expression Studio all for free.

Yep, feed them crap when they're young and they'll never doubt you.

They've been subsidizing students for decades. Make sense to create buyers that young, gets them the longest cash-in potential.

Stay Safe!