Does anybody else think its disingenuous for Apple to market its computers as immune to viruses?

[Clintonista2]

Of course they can get viruses. The reason they generally don't get viruses is because hackers don't want to waste time on a brand that commands less than 10% of the market. To all the Apple "fans" (cultists), do you believe that Apple is justified in lying to its customers so blatantly?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. No

[terrapinwelcher]

4. Of Course It Is

It is just marketing hype. Apple has built a reputation as being consumer friendly, but the truth is that when it comes to markets where they are the dominant player like iTunes/iPod, they are complete a-holes.

(edited grammar error)

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. And I've had nothing but great experience with their customer service

Also no virus ever. 18 years, several Apple computers.

[Dappleganger]

2. Never had one.

So I have no idea if they are being disingenuous.

We just never given any thought to getting a virus on the Macs (have been using them since 1999). The oldest son was told he was on his for dealing with his PC if it gets a virus. We have a little netbook but it is only used for light browsing and youngest ds' school papers.

Do Macs crash--sure. But not because they have a virus.

[Clintonista2]

3. The point is, they *CAN* get viruses

There was a virus a while back that allowed hackers access to mac's due to an exploit in safari (the webbrowser that comes with macs). It took apple almost a year to fix the exploit, yet they STILL market their computers are immune to viruses.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. But they don't

I don't know anyone who owns a Mac who has ever had to deal with a virus. No one.

[Dappleganger]

42. Exactly.

[Clintonista2]

46. Tell that to all the people who had their information stolen due to the Safari virus

That took apple 8 months to fix

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Pwn2Own-CanSecWest-2009,7322.html

[gristy]

5. Can you give an example of such marketing? Where they say they are "immune"?

[Clintonista2]

6. Here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQb_Q8WRL_g&feature=related

[Touchdown]

10. Watched it twice. Neither one said "Immune"

Where did they say "Immune"?

[gristy]

13. I think there is certainly a strong implication.

But no, they don't say they are immune.

[Touchdown]

16. No there isn't.

It true. Macs do get far less viruses than Windows does. Macs cannot get Windows viruses anyhow, since it would have to be written for OSX, so Justin is fully justified in not being worried he'll catch John's virus.

[Clintonista2]

15. Where did I say they called themselves immune? I said they marketed their computers as immune

Are you suggesting that that advertisement is not implying that their computers can't get viruses?

[Touchdown]

18. That's exactly what I'm saying. That commercial implied nothing of the sort.

And since you seem to dream of swarms of cult members attacking you, may I suggest a psychiatrist to help you get over your unhealthy obsession with a computer company?

[Clintonista2]

22. The commercial had one person with a virus, and the other saying don't worry, I'm a mac

the implication being he can't catch the virus, because as a mac, he is immune. If you don't think that they are marketing themselves as immune to viruses, then I think we need to get you into therapy to undo all the damage the apple cult has done to your critical thinking abilities.

[Touchdown]

24. Of course he can't! No Mac can catch a Windows virus! It can only catch Mac viruses!

Do you even know what your talking about?
Of course you don't as you've ran out of arguments and resorted to name calling. Want your thread locked? Start throwing "Cult Member" around to anybody who questions you.

[KonaKane]

20. That's not what your headline says.

It says that Apple IS marketing them as immune to viruses. Now you are down to accusing them of "implying" it, which is a very different thing. Perhaps you should rethink your OP.

[Clintonista2]

25. No, my headline says apple markets itself as immune to viruses

Not that apple SAYS they're immune to viruses. The difference being, for example, if mcdonalds were to release its new "diet bigmac" (with only 1 beef patty instead of 2), and have a bunch of fit people excercising and eating their diet bigmacs. Though they may never directly use the word "healthy," clearly they are marketing it that way.

[Technodaoist]

27. Your literal argument

misses the point.

Marketing is not literal.

[Touchdown]

29. No it doesn't.

Macs do get a fraction of the viruses Windows does. That is not literal. If I had a flu shot, I would not be so concerned with coughing neighbors as I would if I didn't get the vaccine.

[Touchdown]

7. The reason you gave is a wives tale.

And always has been. Unix, and by extension Free BSD has always been more secure than DOS based operating systems.

Do they really market them as "Immune to viruses", or is that your characterization? I, as a Mac user would not believe Apple is justified by saying what you said they say, but you're going to have to prove to me they say it.

[Clintonista2]

9. Here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQb_Q8WRL_g&feature=related

[Touchdown]

14. Nope!! Neither John, nor Justin said "immune"

Care to revise your story?

[Clintonista2]

17. I never said they said immune. I said they marketed it as such

Are you suggesting that they aren't implying that their computers are immune to viruses?

[Touchdown]

19. Not answering you twice. Pick a sub thread.

[Dappleganger]

43. I think that they are saying their computers are safe and easy to use

with very few, if any, troubles. At least that's what their marketing says to me.

And over the course of the past 12 years (1999) that has been my experience and that of everyone else I know who owns a Mac--we know quite a few local Mac users because that's what our schools use in their classrooms and offices.

[gristy]

11. I had the same reaction to the OP's claim

But the ad he posted in response to my post pretty much backs him up.

[Touchdown]

21. No it doesn't

[WeDidIt]

8. I'd actually buy an Apple computer

if their hardware and software wasn't absolute crap.

[KonaKane]

12. Relatively, no.

I used Macs from about 1990 to 2001, and only got one virus (the "delb" worm if anyone remembers that). I used PCs from 2002 to last year, and had three machines go down from probably a hundred various viruses.

Of all the things to bang on Apple about, you picked a bad one.

[Statistical]

30. You might want to use antivirus software.

hundreds of viruses? Wow.

[jtracy]

23. I believe it is because the OS is based on a Unix derivative

BSD, in one flavor or another. Unix and its children - BSD and Linux, are more difficult to gain control of.

I'm no computer science major, though. :)

[Technodaoist]

26. Absolutely.

The reason you have no viruses is no one is going to waste their time writing a virus for something that has such crap market share. Spend time and effort breaking into 10% of the machines in existence or maybe hitting the other 90% running a Microsoft product.

Apple's whole approach leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

[Touchdown]

28. The virus writers would also have to know OSX and Unix, but they're too busy...

bashing Apple on the internet to learn it.

[Technodaoist]

36. Steve? Is that you?

[Touchdown]

38. No.

According to the OP though, the questions I ask make him uncomfortable enough to call me a "Cult Member" so he can dodge them.

[Statistical]

31. Of course Mac would need to get to 10% marketshare first.

:rofl:

[Touchdown]

33. Which is fine for us Mac users. Even if the market share meme had any truth to it,

it still would not negate the fact that Macs get hardly any viruses.

[Statistical]

34. My PC hasn't go a virus in 5 years. I guess I must have a Windows 7 "Mac".

Previously a Windows XP "Mac".

[Touchdown]

35. I have had Macs since 1990. NEVER had one virus.

You must be using anti-viral software.

I never have.:hi:

[Dappleganger]

44. Same here.

I don't ever have to think about it.
Ever.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Let me guess, you RUN anti virus software

and update it religiously.

This is a step I don't have to take on the macbook.

By the way, my windows boxes haven't gotten any of them virus in four years... but that has to do with being religious with that. That said, on a windows 97 box we got a cutie... it took a magnet to get rid of that. And I mean an industrial magnet...

It's a good thing hubby knows white hats.

:-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Wake me up when I get a virus

here is a hint. The reason they don't is the OS branch they use. UNIX is that much more secure. NT Kernel (aka Win 7.0 and Vista) is not.

By the way, they have not pushed that angle,and if you REALLY, REALLY want it, Norton's makes Anti Virus software for the Mac too.

I run a free one... when I remember... mostly due to the Windows environment.

[whyverne]

41. You admit that they hardly get any viruses, yet you say they lie?

Linux here. No firewall, no anti virus software, no registry, no viruses.

And nobody steals your car cause it's ugly.

[Swamp Rat]

45. I think Apple should stop selling last year's technology for double the price today.

And I'm an OS X fanboy.... time to build that hackintosh.