“It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality.” ? Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief
Denial of reality may be comforting in the short term, but it will inevitably come back to bite you.
Microsoft has toiled to improve its responsiveness to security issues after years of embarrassing failures to now emerge as one of the more secure environments in use today, as long as you keep up the security patches. Both Microsoft and the majority of its user base are aware of, and accept, the real potential of malware and other security threats as part and parcel of working with computer. With this acceptance, they openly work on and take proactive precautions. The elephant in the room is not only named, but fed, watered and mucked out regularly.
The Apple world on the other hand, appears to be still in denial. Kaspersky claims Apple is “10 years behind Microsoft” on security– 10 years?! An overly active PR function, where “face” takes precedence over customer care doesn’t help matters, not does the convictions of the user base.
I can understand the fervent devotion a brand like Apple instils in its loyal customer base. When we love something, someone or some idea, we tend not to want to see the flaws and shortcomings. What I don’t get is the blind need to defend the brand as some infallible deity, to the point where we put our own data and businesses at risk.
When I had a Mac in the 80s and early 90s, I had anti-virus software installed as a matter of course, in the same way that I always lock up when I leave the house or car. By my accounting, the risks are simply not worth the cost involved.
Here’s an interesting timeline of Mac-based malware from 1982 to 2011.
