Letters to the Editor
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Mac OS X is Safer, Period
Mac OS X is safer because of its Unix foundation, period. It is not a matter of popularity.
To put it simply, Windows has always had problems giving too many permissions and services by default, while Mac OS X is almost perfectly locked down by default. Unless you are using a Root account in OS X (which requires special actions, and is not available by default), it is very, very difficult to tamper with the system settings without the user knowing. In contrast, in XP the default account is Root (Administrator), so by default programs can be installed without permission or knowledge, services can be abused, etc. Hence, the malware explosion of the last few years.
XP and Vista can be made very secure--but the issue is that it takes the kind of time, effort, skill, and patience that most users do not have (nor should they have to I think, in order for things to "just work" without fearing becoming a spam-bot or having your identity stolen).
While I'm sure there will be future problems for Mac OS X, there's a reason there are over a hundred thousand viruses for Windows, and "in the wild" viruses for Mac OS X number zero. The reason is that the code is fundamentally more secure, and it is fundamentally more difficult for your system to be compromised without your knowledge or permission, which has and will continue to be a major problem for Windows. Popularity has nothing to do with that.
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baloney
To put it simply, Windows has always had problems giving too many permissions and services by default, while Mac OS X is almost perfectly locked down by default. Unless you are using a Root account in OS X (which requires special actions, and is not available by default), it is very, very difficult to tamper with the system settings without the user knowing. In contrast, in XP the default account is Root (Administrator), so by default programs can be installed without permission or knowledge, services can be abused, etc. Hence, the malware explosion of the last few years.
Of course, some of us are adults, who have done a little work to educate ourselves about our operating system, and don't need an Apple-enforce nanny state looking out for us. Look, it is not hard, at all, to make a Windows PC completely secure. I am not a hacker by any means. But I have done the necessary work to know how to operate my computer safely and securely. The answer to 90% of the Mac snob complaints about Windows vulnerability or difficulty is, "don't be an idiot." If you aren't a moron, your PC doesn't have to be insecure or unstable.
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Appliances shouldn't require security expertise
"...don't need an Apple-enforce nanny state looking out for us. Look, it is not hard, at all, to make a Windows PC completely secure."
Uh, no, it is actually quite difficult for the average person (i.e. people with actual lives) to 'completely secure' a Windows machine. An entire generation of IT professionals owe quite a tidy living and debt of gratitude to MS for selling their swiss cheese of security products to the world. That 'they should just buckle down and become security geeks' meme is what Apple has shown to be a fraud.
The problem with the 'Windows is just a bigger target' argument is that MS faults are due to both neglect and intent. Security holes such as ActiveX are/were the result of predatory engineering (e.g. the intent of burying Netscape with a technology aimed at giving them a cheap, quick edge. A playground for malware? "Who cares.")
BTW Farhad, you can't have it both ways... either Apple is being a marvelously responsible by preventing 3rd party crapware from being loaded on the machine, or you think that being security conscious is 'a bug'.
Nevertheless, kudos for recognizing that Apple will likely deal with such security revelations quite responsibly.
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Re: Freddie, Stickmon
The problem is, Freddie, that a large proportion computer users do lack the knowhow or fundamental interest to go through the measures, research included, to make their PCs safer. Say what you will about this population, but this is a reality. As such, not making the security measures you desribe as being very easy automatically part of system defaults (or at least far better organized/pulicized in Windows Help) does make Windows less secure, if only because the security you are utilizing is not the default.
I do disagree with your assertion, Stickmon, that the closing of the iPhone to third party developers can't be both a "bug" and a security aid. One need only look at the microorganisms in our intestines or the process of accidental mutations becoming valuable adaptations to suggest this. In a lot of ways, it is definitely unfortunate because of all the potential applications iPhone users are missing out on. But at the same time, a reality is that a byproduct of that is increased stability and security, for the time being.
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iPhone security hole
To me, it is that bad. Why would I want to risk that info? I already get everything I want with my Treo, including getting my digital music wirelessly through the "M" app from Mercora. I see no reason to switch; I'm happy with what I've got.