Mac users - be aware

Mayayana wrote:

| Locked down how? You do know you are talking about free open source
software
| here where if something is disliked it doesn't have to be/get used. This
| isn't MS or Apple foisting on the users what the Company wants the user
| to have.
|

Sure. Firefox is also OSS. They've gradually been
removing options to satisfy their overlord, Google.
(Now Yahoo.) Even just having a setting for javascript
now requires an extension. The cookies settings are
hidden by default, with 3rd-party cookies (by definition
spyware) being enabled by default. Do you suppose
Mozilla's doing that because it's what people asked for?
A lot of people are not happy with Mozilla's actions in
recent years, as they make over $100 million/year
almost exclusively from an advertising company. Of course
people could start their own fork of Firefox. I may as
well state that pointless disclaimer before you do.

The main point here is firefox isn't on OS. Use another browser if you don't
like it.

Android is also a version of Linux. That doesn't make
it necessarily clean or unrestricted software.

No it isn't.

Chrome is OSS based. It's also spyware made by Google.

No it's not, but even if it were you are free to use a different browser if
you don't like it.

Simply being OSS doesn't mean very much for the average
person. It only means that anyone who's capable can edit
and recompile the code for themselves. By that definition
my pickup truck is also "open source". I can rebuild the
engine at will, any time I like. All I need is the time, tools
and knowhow.

It also means that all code can be openly peer reviewed, major advantage in
keeping nefarious code out.

| My impression has been that Ubuntu is even worse,
| with ads and little control, but I've never actually tried
| Ubuntu or any of its variants.
|
| I don't know about current variants, the version of Kubuntu I tried a
| few years ago wasn't, And Debian, which all the *buntus are derivatives
| of
most
| certainly is very traditional.
|

I had no trouble finding this link:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/1...and-data-leaks

Completely configurable if you want to turn it off, besides you are
completely free to use a different distro if that one is not to your liking.
Unlike windows or OSX. There is no other windows or OSX.

I don't dispute most criticisms of Windows and Mac.
There are plenty of problems to go around. But if
you're going to be a fanatic defender of *any* system
you lose credibility.

If pointing out the errors in your post is considered fanaticism then we're
in trouble.

You only needed a quick search and
a look at the first few links to check my statement
about ads on Ubuntu.

Your choice to use it or not, it's not locked down though is it?

--
sid

Savageduck wrote:

On 2015-08-09 20:16:11 +0000, sid said:

How much malware is out there in the wild for OSX? You know stuff that
actually gets into the system not user installed browser hijackers.

None.

That's the point isn't it? Why then are Apple removing the ability to do as
you will with your system, all in the name of your security, if there is no
perceivable threat?

--
sid

In article , sid
wrote:

It doesn't matter what Apple call it, if you log on as root but you
can't actually do anything serious you're not root just some user with
some elevated privileges. The real root user is the one that *can* log
on and do serious stuff.

there is only one root user. there is no 'real root user' along with
other root users.

So if one logs on as root they can do anything?

what specifically do you want to do?

What has that got to do with my question?

because if what you want to do is not blocked, it is just ****ing in
the wind.

what do you want to do that requires root?

if the task you want to do is not blocked, then there is no issue.

So that's a no then. Why not just say that.

because you didn't say what the tasks are.

maybe it will be blocked and maybe it won't. unless you specifically
say what it is you want to do, there's no way to know if it will be an
issue or not.

on the other hand, if the task is writing malware to pwn the system,
then it will be blocked, as it should be.

So there is no middle ground then, you're either a dumb user or a nefarious
cracker out to conquer the world.

wrong on that too.

that's the whole point.

How much malware is out there in the wild for OSX? You know stuff that
actually gets into the system not user installed browser hijackers.

very little, almost all of which is user installed, but that's not the
point.

the point is that root exploits will no longer work, making writing
malware that actually does something *much* harder.

people still can be tricked into installing trojans, but even that will
not be able to do much.

at the end of the day, the system is more secure.

You don't seem to be very
clear here. Can you as a user install software anywhere when logged in as
"root" or do you have to have special permission from Apple?

of course users can install software!

That doesn't answer my question does it?

yes it does.

where in the world did you get the idea installing software would be
blocked??

Where in the world did you get the idea that I thought installing software
would be blocked. Why are you making ridiculous assumptions about what I
think when I've written no such thing.

because you asked,
"Can you as a user install software anywhere when logged in as "root"
or do you have to have special permission from Apple?"

the answer is of course users can install software and *without*
logging in as root, which is a dumb idea in the first place.

why would anyone need to log in as root to install an app??

and you don't need to be root to do that, which is a *really* bad idea
anyway.

So can users who are not root willy nilly install what ever they like over
OSX then?

they don't need to be root to install stuff.

do you really log in as root to install apps?? wow.

And to prevent
further misunderstanding I mean the software obtained from Apple that
carries with it a special encrypted password that tells the computer that
real root privs are allowed.

there is no encrypted password from apple.

It'll be very easy to crack if it's not encrypted.

root's password is whatever the user chooses, not what apple chooses,
and cracking it won't help. that's the whole point.

not only that, but whatever serious stuff you might want to do can
easily be done *without* needing to log in as root at all, which is a
bad idea anyway.

That has always been the case on a correctly administered system.

then why are you yapping about logging in as root above?

You started it, I've just asked some questions about what you said.

i never mentioned logging in as root. you came up wit that.

on os x, the root user is disabled. you *can't* log in as root (unless
you explicitly enable it which is even more stupid).

it's a very good thing and long overdue.

I haven't expressed an opinion either way I just wanted to know how it
worked. Now I know how it works, I wouldn't want it on my system, too
much like windows 10 and their must have "updates".

not a single thing you've said indicates you have any clue how it
works.

If you don't understand something just ask for clarification.

yet you haven't done that.

I understand what's happening, despite the lack of serious threats Apple is
moving you over to a black box scenario on the pretext of your own security.
Not dissimilar to modern western governments placing more and more
restrictions on their own citizens in the interest of "security"

that's not what they're doing at all.

you're making all sorts of incorrect assumptions and dismissing it as
bad even though it makes the system *significantly* more secure.

Of course you can quote me saying it's a bad idea?

then why did you say:
'I wouldn't want it on my system, too much like windows 10 and their
must have "updates".'

So once again you are assuming things about what I think without me having
written them. Isn't that one of your pet grievances with other people here?

answer the question.

if you don't think it's a bad idea, then why did you say you don't want
it on your system and now say it's a black box, like governments
restricting citizens?

In article 2015080914113444669-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom,
Savageduck wrote:

How much malware is out there in the wild for OSX? You know stuff that
actually gets into the system not user installed browser hijackers.

None.

almost none.

In article , sid
wrote:

How much malware is out there in the wild for OSX? You know stuff that
actually gets into the system not user installed browser hijackers.

None.

That's the point isn't it? Why then are Apple removing the ability to do as
you will with your system, all in the name of your security, if there is no
perceivable threat?

they aren't removing the ability to do as you will.

you can still do that and always have been able to do that.

On Sun, 09 Aug 2015 11:53:38 -0400, nospam
wrote:

In article , PeterN
wrote:

Qualifiers are not necessary to indicate that a statement is an
opinion and not a fact.

then how does one determine when a statement is one or the other??

You really can't. Context gives a good indication. Tone gives an
indication. But, some statements are unidentifiable as to whether
they are opinion or fact.

in that case, you should ask rather than assume.

That has been tried. rarely has a straight answer been forthcoming.

bull****.

But then, neither do you ever ask for clarification.

you never ask, 'did you mean x or y?'
you always assume, twist and lie and then argue against what was never
said.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

| Chrome is OSS based. It's also spyware made by Google.
|
| chrome is not spyware.
|

For anynoe who cares, the details are he
https://www.srware.net/en/software_s...me_vs_iron.php

I think you've met your match in sid. Like you,
he changes the topic at whim to accomodate
his certainty. I'm guessing this thread is going
to set records... if that's possible.

On Sun, 9 Aug 2015 14:11:34 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

On 2015-08-09 20:16:11 +0000, sid said:

How much malware is out there in the wild for OSX? You know stuff that
actually gets into the system not user installed browser hijackers.

None.

See https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/mac/

and https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

On Sun, 9 Aug 2015 19:53:43 -0400, "Mayayana"
wrote:

| Chrome is OSS based. It's also spyware made by Google.
|
| chrome is not spyware.
|

For anynoe who cares, the details are he
https://www.srware.net/en/software_s...me_vs_iron.php

I think you've met your match in sid. Like you,
he changes the topic at whim to accomodate
his certainty. I'm guessing this thread is going
to set records... if that's possible.

Not with nospam. He is adamant that CDs are better.
--

Regards,

Eric Stevens

On 2015-08-10 02:06:24 +0000, Eric Stevens said:

On Sun, 9 Aug 2015 14:11:34 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

On 2015-08-09 20:16:11 +0000, sid said:

How much malware is out there in the wild for OSX? You know stuff that
actually gets into the system not user installed browser hijackers.

None.

See https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/mac/

Software which depends on FUD for sales. Sold mostly to folks
indoctrinated with a Win malware mindset. These folks are in th
business of selling software.


and https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435

....and Klaus1 of Somerset UK has posted this to an Apple forum. This is
not a post from Apple Corp. However, some of what he writes is sound
advice. Note that ultimately any trojans, or other malware is only
going to infect a Mac if the user initiates the infection him/her self.


--
Regards,

Savageduck