Apple's Last Word and Last Laugh on Security
News Commentary. The Apple security document that caused so much fuss Dec. 2 is gone. |
It disappeared while I was writing yesterday's post lambasting my blogging and journalist peers for misreporting about the now defunct "HT2550" technical note. Many bloggers and journalists had falsely reported that Apple had suddenly changed position on Mac security by recommending that Mac users use anti-virus software. I credited Gizmodo for getting the facts right, but got e-mail overnight that MacDailyNews told the straight story first. Apologies for the oversight.
Two problems with the many other blogs or news stories:
- The notice updated an older June 2007 technical document.
- It didn't make the widely reported recommendation to get anti-virus software.
The notice read:
Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple anti-virus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.
The notice then offered a list of "available" anti-virus products. Apple didn't say Mac users should use anti-virus software, but instead encouraged its widespread use. The distinction may be lost on some people, but I promise that a technical note like this one was carefully worded.
Now it's gone. Poof. What does that say about Apple's position on Mac security? Nothing. I infer nothing. But the company did send me a statement that might as well have read: "Apple slaps the multiple faces of bloggers and journalists so that news readers have a more accurate perspective of our position, thus making the whole process of writing misinformation more difficult."
What the statement really said:
We have removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was old and inaccurate. The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box. However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, running anti-virus software may offer additional protection.
The key phrases are "old and inaccurate" (even though I saw a date of yesterday on the technical note), technologies "provide protection ... right out of the box" and "anti-virus software may offer additional protection." Emphasis: may.
The statement makes clear that Apple's position hasn't changed, that the company doesn't suddenly believe there is more need for its customers to use anti-virus software. Even banks with the best security can be compromised, like in last night's "Fringe," where the crooks pass through walls to get the loot. Yeah, that's an editorial comment.
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Comments (1)
I'm really starting to get into this Fringe thing.
I keep ClamXav on my computer, i occasionally launch it to update it and even do a scan now and then, the rear occasion it finds something is in mail junk mail.
Posted by Mystical | December 4, 2008 10:57 AM