Is the Mac Really Safer Then a PC

[ShCGirl]

Everyone claims the mac is safer but realisticly isn't it less safe because most people on a mac are not as cautious as pc users. Pc users are running software firewalls to see what connections are coming in and out, sandboxing type software and other security type programs. If someone personally knows you are on a mac seems they could target you better since they know you proably won't be looking for anything out of the ordinary. What do you guys think

[Nytemare37]

It's not really based on your operating system, more-so the safety software you run. Though, I don't use any safety software because hackers know how to put viruses into the updates, and I don't do anything that puts myself at risk of viruses. And no, you can't get a virus from a game, unless the people at official server of the business send the virus from their network. So to answer your question, yes and no, it depends on what YOU run, but I THINK, though I'm not sure, that maybe more antivirus programs can run on PC than a mac so if anything PC > Mac for safety concerns.

[zeekgenateer]

It depends on what OS you're using and what programs you are running. If any of the programs you run have a back door, then you are screwed. Also the OS you're running also determines what security you get. I think the most secure is a PC running Linux, behind a fire walling computer (also running Linux). This is the setup I will have once I buy a switch and more cable.

[Corbs]

Originally Posted by ShCGirl

most people on a mac are not as cautious as pc users.

Sorry, but it's probably the complete opposite. Knowing most computers are opperating under Windows (no idea what's the exact % of the market, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was over 70%), I'd say the PC habors way more idiots than the MAC.

Since the market is owned by Windows, you'll be seeing way more viruses (compatibility) under Windows, hence why it's more dangerous. Then again, there's nothing safer than knowing what you're doing, but since there's way more stations operation under Windows, you'll notice that the total amount of viruses found on Windows exceeds by far the total amount of viruses found on MAC (which is why people are saying MAC is safer, but is not necessarily true).

[187 Phantom]

viruses are not as much of a problem as spyware and malware, which are usually programs that install themselves off websites and run in the background and send targeted ads to your PC. a computer with alot of spyware will begin to see a big decrease in bandwidth, and a general slowdown of your computer.
there are a few really good programs out there that will search your computer for these and delete them. i use spybot: s&d and ad-aware together and ive cured a few of my friends computers using them, two of the computers i fixed for my friends had a -dramatic- increase in performance after I was done.

spyware is a much bigger and more widespread problem than viruses. lol i could post a whole thread about how to keep ur computer safe from them.
you can keep your computer free of viruses usually by always knowing what you are downloading, and running a virus check on ANY file you download before you open it.

[Falcon]

Theoretically, no. If the mac OS faced threats that were proportionately equal to the threats that face Windows, it's very unlikely that it would be able to protect the user. However, the majority of malware is coded for Windows-based operating systems. It is simply more profitable to target the Windows user market than the Mac user market.

However, that does not mean that a Mac-based PC (that's right, Mac's are PC's too) cannot "catch" a virus, like Apple likes to claim.

Apple doesn't give a damn about security. They tend to prosecute hackers who come to them and present Mac's flaws, rather than using that information to better their OS.