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

[Crispin Cowan]

Kenneth R. van Wyk wrote:
> 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."
> ...
> Am I missing something here?
>   
Security by obscurity. It is lame, but for fending off bulk infections,
it works well. I agree with the article that Macs will get more exposure
and attack now.

However, Mac OS X (and Linux and *BSD) still hold the major advantage
over Windows that it is uncommon to run the mail client as
root/administrator, so the infection rate will remain much lower than on
Windows. Only when attackers have an actual exploit for the Mac/*NIX can
they 0wn the machine. On Windows, they just need a good line and a user
dumb enough to click on the attachment.

Crispin
-- 
Crispin Cowan, Ph.D.                      http://crispincowan.com/~crispin/
Director of Software Engineering, Novell  http://novell.com
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