Security Vulnerablilities 2007: OSX v. Windows

[slgrieb]

Think you have a good handle on relative security between OSX and Windows XP/Vista? Maybe not. http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=758

[NooNoo]

The comments are quite interesting to read. I tend to agree with some of the comments that his research is probably flawed in that he only used one source and did not check those numbers against anywhere else. Someone else brought up that the mac OSX flaws listed where not restricted to just 10.4 and 10.5, so that casts doubt on his research as well.

On the whole though, despite being whizzbang headline numbers, it shows that M$ have been successful in their aim to ensure their code is as secure as they can make it.

There will always be flaws... simply because when the code was tested, you need to imagine possible attacks. Short of hiring the attackers and keeping an extreme paranoids on the staff (preferably in a tinfoil lined closet) you are not going to be able to imagine every possible scenario or interaction with other programs.

[slgrieb]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=757

Overall, I consider this to be a good thing for Mac users because it means Apple is finally starting to take security issues seriously, and not just spout that same old sales pitch about their lack of vulnerabilities. I think Apple could have dealt with some of these issues in a more timely manner, but better late than never. The biggest issue I still see with Mac security (other than the Ostrich Syndrome) is that the Software Updater isn't very effective about delivering needed updates.

Yes, I especially like the replies. Note how many responses have been deleted.