Another good reason to get a Mac or use Linux. A Windows-only virus can "visit as many as 40 child porn sites per minute" filling the unsuspecting computer owner's hard drive with child pornography. It has already ruined at least one couple's life.
Virus loads child porn on unwitting users' computers
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Obviously, the next virus evolution would be to have one that downloads illegal mp3s to your hard drive and simultaneously tip of the RIAA.
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wonder if the virus was made by a paedophile as a get out, eg. whats all this child porn? oh i have that virus thing.
This has got all the earmarks of FUD, doesn't it? While I don't doubt for a moment that this kind of exploit can be perpetrated, it's all too perfect stormy: kiddie pr0n, computer viruses, and scary, scary internets. The HuffPo piece (are there other sources, btw?) is just vague enough on the details to be credible.
What AP investigation? It's not linked and I'm too lazy/skeptical to look it up. A virus? Which virus? The articles cites a few cases that may or may not be related.
As ever, the moral is be afraid, be very afraid. I call bullsh*t.
I agree with your point Maneki, but I believe the writer meant his own investigations, since he is the "AP Technology Writer".
While I agree that we should be skeptical, there are other indications that this may be true. A Wikileak (while always potentially fabricated) seems to ring true and would add some veracity to this article. I'm not saying I believe it 100%, but I don't think it can be dismissed out-of-hand either, and certainly not solely because it may serve certain interests.
The leak: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/An_insight_into_child_porn
Would someone please point out to me in the article where it says "Windows only", "doesn't affect anything but Windows" or even the word "windows"?
I was going to point that out as well. Mac and Linux machines are just as vulnerable to viruses as a Windows machine. To think otherwise is ridiculous.
While none of those operating systems are completely immune from viruses, it's a well-documented fact that Windows is by far the most popular operating system for virus writers.
If you're looking to get a computer virus your best bet is to buy a Windows-based machine. To think otherwise is ridiculous.
A rather specious argument considering it's based on volume of viruses written for one OS compared to the other. Adding that no one is "looking to get a computer virus" (except maybe pervs, it seems).
Though my point wasn't (and won't be) to argue the merits of one OS over the other. Simply that there's nothing in the article to suggest that it wasn't an Apple product that was infected.
There's a primary school principle in New Zealand who was caught with child porn on his computer, hired an IT guy, and he claims a virus downloaded the porn. Apparently there are logs showing when the images were downloaded, and they occurred at times when the principal was in meetings etc. It seemed moderately convincing at the time. I'm sure if it is true that people have been caught out by it.
I'll let some Unix-heads argue the technical merits of the operating systems but the reasons why Windows gets more viruses is irrelevant to most users. The bottom line is that Macs and Linux machines are far less likely to be compromised by viruses, which I believe was the point of Mark's comment.
...which was completely unfair and unfounded based on the confines of the article. There is nothing indicating that it is "A Windows only virus" or that using a Mac or Linux computer will protect you from said virus.
The article said "PC Virus." Yes, I know that a Mac or Linux computer is technically a PC in the sense that both are a type of "Personal Computer," but in the parlance foisted upon us by both Apple and Microsoft's ad campaigns we both know that when someone says "PC" they generally mean "Windows Computer."
That said, if my presumption is wrong and this turns out to be one of the oh-so-rare viruses that attacks the Mac or Linux OS I will apologize. I bet Mark might even issue a correction. Until then, "avoid Windows" is still the best advice for people who don't like viruses.
i'm not sure i understand why this needs to be a plug for Macs or for using Linux. i use all 3. all have their strengths and weaknesses. all have reasons for being. and i hope people realize the reason there's not a major virus problem on non-PC platforms is largely because of market share. virus-makers and script-kiddies make viruses and use tools made for the largest number of people they can infect.
if you want to stay safe, it's not necessary to change platforms. just educate yourself. i haven't had a virus on any computer of my own for over 10 years. i have no anti-virus software on my PC and haven't for 5 years (most are overbearing, intrusive, inflated, obnoxious pieces of software). it's not that difficult. avoid dubious websites (porn, warez, etc). don't download and run dubious attachments (anything with an executable or that can harbor binary code is bad). don't run suspicious-looking programs (do research before running them). don't use IE. just don't. try firefox, and use script-blocking plugins (NoScript, for example). always block pop-ups (they're mostly out of favor anyway, and you can simply choose if you want to let a certain website use them). as far as i'm concerned, getting viruses is 99% preventable, as long as you're willing to take a little time, be cautious, and be smart about your internet habits.
i really see no reason to blame PCs for viruses. it's kind of like blaming the Amazon for having piranhas. maybe just don't swim where they're known to congregate?
Everybody always hates the popular girl. Viruses are also written to bypass the top five or so anti-virus programs. And nobody designs websites to render well on Netscape Navigator any more. Naturally, more viruses are aimed at the biggest target.
This whole thing seems like it was cleverly designed by Apple.
I do so hate it when OS bickering throws comments off topic.
The fact that there are more viruses for a certain OS doesn't necessarily increase the OS's vulnerability to viruses.
A security leak is either there, or it isn't, regardless of how many viruses exploit it or not. As it happens, there are less such leaks with FOSS Unix-like operating systems. To be fair, even proprietary Unix derivatives such as MacOSX are probably more secure than windows.
Do we really need to blame Windows for this one? All OSes can get viruses, Mac and Linux included. And no, I'm not an apologist, I just hate the misguided criticism.
On topic, there are a lot of great viewpoints in this article, especially the guy from WhiteHat Security at the end. The law generally assumes that whatever happens on your computer is your doing, but who has access to your computer? Well, your wife or husband, your kids, anybody else who ever comes into the house, any program you've ever installed, every website you've ever visited, and potentially any other computer that tries to access your computer. Virus scanners and passwords are by no means a perfect defense -- ask any computer tech who has to clean out an infection. Virus writers are always one step ahead of the antivirus, and that means you can always be infected by a virus. And the first thing any competent virus will do is try to prevent you from removing it, usually including disabling the antivirus, hiding itself from Windows, and preventing you from even running basic system administration tools.
It's true, some-other-dude-did-it is a common excuse, but with computers, it's entirely possible and almost entirely impossible to disprove.
I feel sorry for the poor people who will be falsely accused due to this, but hopefully it won't take long for the law to realize computers are anything but good evidence.
If your mac got a virus then you are doing it very very very wrong.
All OSes can get viruses, Mac and Linux included.
And both genders commit sex crimes, but if I read a news item about a violent rape that doesn't explicitly mention the sex of the attacker I'm going to go ahead and assume it was a man.