Mac vs. PC Internet Security

Contributor
Megan Kurcwal

Official Topic
Mac vs. PC

The difference between Mac and PC internet security- which one will keep the viruses out and your computer spam free.

Introduction
Within the past couple of years, Mac has made a major push to compete with Microsoft as the number one computer company in the world. Mac's easy-to-use software, and virus protection already loaded onto the computer has made their computers very user friendly. The release of Microsoft Vista did not dampen Mac's growth as there have been multiple issues and complications with the software. Some may argue that the problems Vista has encountered has helped Mac and fueled their commercials, bashing PC. Either way, Mac is seeing extreme growth thanks to the younger generation of tech-savy 20 somethings and younger who cannot get enough of the monopolized ipod and extra software on Mac computers such as Photobooth, Garageband, and Dashboard.

What will hook the older adults or capture the trust of parents though? As internet security is highly important when it comes to new features offered by companies, such as online banking and online stock trading, it is safe to say that an effective and relatively affordable security software is at the top of the list for many. So, has the idea of having everything already loaded on the computer prior to the customer purchasing it, paid off for Mac? Specifically, is the virus protection, already installed in Macbooks superior to the virus protection PC users have access to? Which security system really protects your computer and keeps the spam at bay?

What's all the fuss about?
Mac computers are in an all-out race with PC, and from the preliminary results, Mac is in the lead. With arguably the best operating system available, Mac is proving to be the winner in all aspects of computer software and security. Families have been a marketing target with easy-to-use parental controls so that parents can manage what their children are allowed to do and when they can do it. One possible reason why the Mac operating system is superior to that of PC may be the fact that Mac software is made by the same company that makes their Mac computers. All software and applications are perfectly integrated into the computer and upon purchase you receive the most up to-date programs-including internet security-on a completely stable system.

One claim to Mac's relative immunity to viruses is that "virus writers only write viruses for PCs because they are used by '90%' of internet users". Although this claim cannot be proven or rejected for certain, either option is good for Mac. If this claim is true, it means that by buying a Mac you are out-smarting your local virus writer. Great! No one wants to hack into your Mac, so you're safe because of the unwillingness of hackers to tap into that miniscule 10% of users. This, however, is an unlikely reason to Mac's greater success over PC at blocking malware. More than likely this claim is false. Assuming that virus writers only target systems which are easy to hack into, this means that Mac's security is more difficult to breach than PC's. From this assumption we can come to the conclusion that PC security is not as up to-date and powerful as Mac's, therefore, Mac internet security should be superior.

The 2006 rumour of 2 viruses targeting only Macs turned out to be false. In reality, these 'viruses' were in fact trojan horses that could only replicate themselves if they made their way into your operating system. Apparently, these trojans were barely capable of even that and Symantec security investigators documented only a few users actually receiving it. Mac has seemed to remain resilient from possible virus outbreaks, thanks to their ongoing work to keep ahead of the virus writers.

Alarming Risk?
Recently, Mac has moved to the Intel Platform which now makes it possible to run both Windows and Mac operating systems on Mac computers has raised some concern among users. Thankfully, there is nothing to worry about. Why? Because the platform partitions your hard drive into 2 sections- One for your Mac operating system and one for you Windows. Since Mac and PC uses different and incompatible methods to store information and organize data onto their respective hard drives, a virus made for PCs will not affect your Mac partition. Viruses can still attack your Windows software just the same as if you had a computer from Dell or Gateway. The difference is that the viruses only recognize the Windows methods of operation so they don't see or know that the Mac partition is there. Therefore, only the Windows sections will be affected by the virus.

The downside?
The biggest reason holding people back from buying a Mac is the cost aspect. Since everything is already added onto the computer prior to purchase and there is no need to purchase additional software (unless you'd like Microsoft office instead of using the office-type programs that Mac has already installed for you), the upfront cost of the computer is more expensive.

As with everything that's new, a new Mac user will experience an amount of time where the learning curve process takes place. This has nothing to do with it's powerful security protection, but it will take a little bit of time to become familiar with the way Macs work and their different programs. The learning curve is short though and you're sure to become hooked on Macs when you realize that your computer is safe and secure without having to update your security every couple of weeks and pay for the privilege of being spam free.

The Mac internet security has only received positive reviews from bloggers and journalists. It is safe to say that although it is impossible to have a system that is 100% fail-proof, Macs are as close to that magical word as possible- at least, way closer than PCs.

Is it really that bad?
PCs have been the number one leader in computers for decades. Unfortunately, the tides are turning now and Mac is giving them a hard-earned run for their money. One of the main focuses is the superiority of the Mac internet security that is already installed in their computers. Viruses are known to attack only the weaknesses in an operating system or applications running on it. Windows is also known to have multiple weaknesses, hence the many virus attacks it suffers- especially with the newest version, Vista. Microsoft also tends to need frequent updates and security patches to keep your computer protected. This is a lot more than Macs require.

The frustration of PC users is ever-growing, and many are making the choice to switch to the new and "cool" Mac computer. The frustration arises from the consistent updates and firewalls that seem to block things you want and allow the things that harm your computer. Kind of an oxymoron. To battle this problem, PC users have bought additional protection that Mac users have no need for. If the right security program is bought, it can drastically help solve those unsightly situations of viruses "sneaking" through your computer's defenses. The downside to this extra? First of all, there's a cost associated with it. And not just a one-time cost either. There is a yearly fee to keep your computer safe and sound. A fee that Mac users are immune to, but yet, still receive more than adequate protection against viruses. There is definitely some inequality in that respect. Secondly, unless you have paid for the upgraded and brand new Norton Anti-Virus protection program, you will probably experience noticeably slower internet service and application running time. In a generation that has lost patience and the willingness to wait for anything for more than 3 seconds, slow internet service is unacceptable.

All in all, PC internet security has not lived up to its expectations and Mac is surpassing them in quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. There are still many viruses or spyware that can and do infiltrate your PC computer, even with the extra expense of additional anti-virus software.

There's got to be something good right?
PCs are available in much more affordable versions than Macs- some for as low ass 600$. Unfortunately, there is plenty more software that you will more than likely want to buy. The upfront cost of a PC is cheaper, but on top of that users will need to buy additional programs, including anti-virus protection programs that start at 50$/year (at this time, Norton anti-virus is rated the best and PCs offer a 60-day free trial from the company). When comparing the same configurations of a Mac with a PC, the PC computer will usually run up a higher cost than the Mac, which only further proves Mac's superior quality.

The good news for PCs is that Norton Anti-virus is one of the top rated anti-virus protection programs. The newest edition boasts updates every 5-15 minutes to ensure that your computer is protected from the latest threats, including spyware, viruses, and worms. Norton also requires minimal memory from your computer's hard drive, ensuring that the speed of your computer is not affected because of the security program. The new technology found on Norton 2009 relies on online intelligence so that it will only target the sections of your computer that are at risk. This enables way shorter and less frequent full computer scans that force you to pry your fingers away from your computer for a period of time until the scan completes.

Symantec gives Norton 2009 5 stars saying that "Norton remains strong". This is a good indication that PC users can trust the effectiveness of this program and know that their computer is safe at all times.

The Bottom Line
While Mac shows a lot of resiliency against viruses, neither operating system is 100% bulletproof. If the user is careless or ill-informed of the trickery that can be found on the internet, any computer faces the vulnerability of an attack. As Mac computers increase their popularity, virus writers may find more weaknesses within the system which will enable the rise of the risk of virus attacks on Mac computers. This is no surprise to CEOs of the company and they are working hard to stay one step ahead of these virus writers; "We try to do a good job in anticipating attacks and listen to the security community about potential attacks,” says Philip Schiller, the senior vice-president for Apple world product marketing. One piece of advice for PC that seems to come from everyone, is that they need to focus more on quality than on how cheap they can sell their product for. Their 60-day Norton Anti-Virus Protection program is nice; however, you need to be willing to dish out 50$/year after that to keep Norton in running form on your computer. Although Macs are more expensive, they come with all the software needed, and all the internet security features that effectively protect your computer from viruses and spam. It's a pay-upfront technique that seems to be working well for Mac users who do not need to pay for upgrades or yearly fees to keep them safe and protected.

In the end, it really comes down to the user of the computer and how they surf the web. Yes, PCs are more vulnerable to viruses and are targeted by many more trojans and spam than Mac, but Mac security protection can only help you so much until the your own carelessness commences the demise of your computer. So, a little word of advice, keep away from pornography sites, illegal music downloading (like Limewire), giving out your passwords via email, and insecure websites if you'd like to keep your computer free of that nasty little malware.