[SC-L] eWeek says "Apple's Switch to Intel Could Allow OS X Exploits"

[Kenneth R. van Wyk]

Interesting article, I suppose, but I'm not convinced of its conclusion:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1915923,00.asp

The article claims that Apple's use of Intel chips will result in more 
software exploits because, "'Attackers have been focused on the [Intel] x86 
for over a decade. Macintosh will have a lot more exposure than when it was 
on PowerPC,' said Oliver Friedrichs, a senior manager at Symantec Corp. 
Security Response."

I was hoping to find some hint of a hardware architectural feature that the 
powerpc has that provided an additional means of protection, but the article 
mentions none.  Instead, the only reason that it cites for the (presumed) 
increase in software exploits is attackers' knowledge and experience base.

After all, didn't attackers also have access to powerpc systems to build 
attacks on during the same timeframe that Symantec suggests?  Does the 
powerpc architecture provide some inherent protection against (say) stack 
smashing than the x86 does?

Am I missing something here?

Cheers,

Ken
-- 
KRvW Associates, LLC
http://www.KRvW.com