is it possible for mac to get hacked?

[spp]

i'm so clueless when it comes to mac. my roomate has a mac and she thinks that her ibook is hacked into. What would be the best way (virus scan?) to find out?

thanks

 

[RallyMaster]

most likely an issue of PEBKAC. who would even bother hacking into a Mac? there's a .00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% chance it may happen.

 

[KLin]

Take a baseball bat to it. Best thing you can do for her. :thumbsup:

 

[Platypus]

very unlikely but not impossible.

more than likely user error

 

[Platypus]

if she's worried about virii tell her to check out Intego.

 

[spp]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
most likely an issue of PEBKAC. who would even bother hacking into a Mac? there's a .00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% chance it may happen.

well, i don't deny the possibility, but i just want to give her a scan for the peace of mind. otherwise i would happily take suggestions on how to tell her she's crazy in a nice way.

 

[RallyMaster]

tell her the truth. ok fine, tell her the truth in the way that makes Macs not worth having.

 

[chusteczka]

This sounds like a big mac attack.

 

[us3rnotfound]

OH sh1t son, Big Mac be at it again :Q!

 

[spp]

so where's all the mac fanboy?? I would think that they would jump in to defend the almighty mac by now?

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: spp
so where's all the mac fanboy?? I would think that they would jump in to defend the almighty mac by now?

macs are unhackable, uncrackable, and the bestest OS in the entirest world!!!!one!1
Happy now?

Seriously though, I use a hardware and software firewall, a non-admin account for daily use, and don't download crap I don't trust. Same as if I were on Windows or Linux, all of which I use on a daily basis. Never had a problem on any of them (except the one piece of spyware that got through on my XP box).

 

[skwicz212]

It has more to do with the user than the OS.

 

[Captante]

Is it possible? Of course ... any computer system built by one human can be hacked by another.

Is it likely? No.

 

[her209]

Subscribe to Secunia.

 

[spp]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan

Originally posted by: spp
so where's all the mac fanboy?? I would think that they would jump in to defend the almighty mac by now?

macs are unhackable, uncrackable, and the bestest OS in the entirest world!!!!one!1
Happy now?

Seriously though, I use a hardware and software firewall, a non-admin account for daily use, and don't download crap I don't trust. Same as if I were on Windows or Linux, all of which I use on a daily basis. Never had a problem on any of them (except the one piece of spyware that got through on my XP box).

haha... yea i've never had problem before with mine either. but it's my roomate we're talking about here. i actually just got housecall to start scanning.... hopefully it'll shut her up about her computer going crazy.

 

[nweaver]

yes....

they only safe box is the one turned off and locked in a bank vault disconnected from everything....

 

[ScottMac]

OS is only part of the battle.

As long as people are slack with security (weak passwords, poor wireless practices, poor physical security, downloading software from unknown sources ...) the system is open and available for the taking.

FWIW

 

[Jules]

which whoppers?

 

[Atheus]

Hacked? Sure, no problem, unix based systems are attacked all the time. Even if there aren't any system vulnerabilities you could still social engineer your way in via email or IM, penatrate the wifi network or tap the line, all manner of things...

Infected by a virus or mass automated attack? Statistically unlikely compared to windows but still possible.

 

[DaShen]

Yeah, easily actually. But who would bother. OP, hackers hack for information and money. It is more cost effective to hack a bunch of computers with crucial financial informaiton arther than hack one computer with video and media information.

The Mac is linux'ed based, so why couldn't it be hacked?

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: DaShen
Yeah, easily actually. But who would bother. OP, hackers hack for information and money. It is more cost effective to hack a bunch of computers with crucial financial informaiton arther than hack one computer with video and media information.

The Mac is linux'ed based, so why couldn't it be hacked?

No, it uses a mach micro kernel based on FreeBSD.

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: DaShen
Yeah, easily actually. But who would bother. OP, hackers hack for information and money. It is more cost effective to hack a bunch of computers with crucial financial informaiton arther than hack one computer with video and media information.

The Mac is linux'ed based, so why couldn't it be hacked?

easily? Not hardly. OSX has been proven to be more secure out of the box than XP. It has less virii, spyware, and attacks in general (although some can be attributed to lower market penetration). XP SP2 and Vista have come a long way though. MS learned it's lesson and while not as secure IMO as OSX and Linux out of the box, it's still a solid OS. As it's been said before, it's usually the [L]user who's the weak point in any attack nowadays.

 

[Laughingman12]

Wait you have a girl roomate!!!??

ONTOPIC: My friends use a mac and he didn't have any protection whatsoever

 

[her209]

Yes, Macs can get hacked