{"id":1922,"date":"2010-06-18T14:26:39","date_gmt":"2010-06-18T14:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1922"},"modified":"2010-06-19T18:44:52","modified_gmt":"2010-06-19T18:44:52","slug":"lies-damn-lies-and-apple-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/2010\/06\/lies-damn-lies-and-apple-marketing.htm","title":{"rendered":"Lies, damn lies, and Apple marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier today I retweeted<\/a> The Guardian’s technology editor, Charles Arthur’s tweet about a Sophos blog post<\/a> highlighting an undocumented change to Mac OS X, that appears to guard against a particular malware exploit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The response I got was accusation of having a half-empty iGlass and being an iHater. To be fair, the “accuser” was a friend of mine, and the comments were probably tongue in cheek (maybe not, based on the number of follow-up tweets…) but I was sure I’d read something on the Apple website about Macs not getting viruses, so I had a quick look…<\/p>\n

Here is a quote from the Apple website<\/a>, on why you’ll love a Mac:<\/p>\n

“It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get PC viruses.<\/strong>
\nA Mac isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t susceptible to the thousands of viruses plaguing Windows-based computers. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s thanks to built-in defenses in Mac OS X that keep you safe, without any work on your part.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course not – Macs (which these days have almost nothing, other than design aesthetics and operating system to distinguish them from any other PC\u00c2\u00a0– i.e. a personal computer running Windows, Linux or something else) don’t get the same viruses as Windows machines.\u00c2\u00a0 No, they have their own “special” sort of (admittedly rare) malware, that Apple is fortunate enough to be able to patch within the operating system.\u00c2\u00a0 That will be the “built-in defenses” (sic) they talk about then.\u00c2\u00a0 So why not be transparent and mention them in the release notes for the updates?<\/p>\n

That’s the big text… then we get:<\/p>\n

“Safeguard your data. By doing nothing.<\/strong>
\nWith virtually no effort on your part, Mac OS X defends against viruses and other malicious applications, or malware. For example, it thwarts hackers through a technique called \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sandboxing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d restricting what actions programs can perform on your Mac, what files they can access, and what other programs they can launch. Other automatic security features include Library Randomization, which prevents malicious commands from finding their targets, and Execute Disable, which protects the memory in your Mac from attacks.<\/p>\n

Download with peace of mind.<\/strong>
\nInnocent-looking files downloaded over the Internet may contain dangerous malware in disguise. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s why files you download using Safari, Mail, and iChat are screened to determine if they contain applications. If they do, Mac OS X alerts you, then warns you the first time you open one.<\/p>\n

Stay up to date, automatically.<\/strong>
\nWhen a potential security threat arises, Apple responds quickly by providing software updates and security enhancements you can download automatically and install with a click. So you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not tasked with tracking down updates yourself and installing all of them one by one.<\/p>\n

Protect what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important.<\/strong>
\nMac OS X makes it easy to stay safe online, whether you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re checking your bank account, sending confidential email, or sharing files with friends and coworkers. Features such as Password Assistant help you lock out identity thieves who are after personal data, while built-in encryption technologies protect your private information and communications. Safari also uses antiphishing technology to protect you from fraudulent websites. If you visit a suspicious site, Safari disables the page and displays an alert warning you about its suspect nature.<\/p>\n

As a parent, you want your kids to have a safe and happy experience on the computer. Mac OS X keeps an eye out even when you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. With a simple setup in Parental Controls preferences, you can manage, monitor, and control the time your kids spend on the Mac, the sites they visit, and the people they chat with.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now, to be fair to Apple, with the exception of the bit about viruses (and let’s put aside the point that viruses are only one potential form of malware), they don’t suggest that they are unique in any of this… but the page does infer this, and talks about how Macs are built on the world’s most advanced operating system (really?). So let’s take a look at Apple’s bold claims:<\/p>\n