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Zero Day

Ryan Naraine, Emil Protalinski and Dancho Danchev

Apple warns of Mac attack risk via image files

By | August 5, 2009, 2:20pm PDT

Summary: Apple today warned that opening or viewing image files could lead to remote code execution attacks against Mac OS X users. In an update that contains fixes for a total of 19 documented vulnerabilities, Apple said malicious hackers could rig PNG (Portable Network Graphics) and other images to take complete control of unpatched Mac systems. Here’s the [...]

Apple today warned that opening or viewing image files could lead to remote code execution attacks against Mac OS X users.

In an update that contains fixes for a total of 19 documented vulnerabilities, Apple said malicious hackers could rig PNG (Portable Network Graphics) and other images to take complete control of unpatched Mac systems.

Here’s the skinny on the image-related vulnerabilities fixed in Security Update 2009-003:

  • CVE-2009-1728 — A stack buffer overflow exists in the handling of Canon RAW images. Viewing a maliciously crafted Canon RAW image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
  • CVE-2009-1722 — A heap buffer overflow exists in ImageIO’s handling of OpenEXR images. Viewing a maliciously crafted OpenEXR image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
  • CVE-2009-1721 — An uninitialized memory access issue exists in ImageIO’s handling of OpenEXR images. Viewing a maliciously crafted OpenEXR image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
  • CVE-2009-1720 — Multiple integer overflows exist in ImageIO’s handling of OpenEXR images. Viewing a maliciously crafted OpenEXR image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
  • CVE-2009-2188 — A buffer overflow exists in ImageIO’s handling of EXIF metadata. Viewing a maliciously crafted image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
  • CVE-2009-0040 — An uninitialized pointer issue exists in the handling of PNG images. Processing a maliciously crafted PNG image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.

The update also fixes serious security flaws in ColorSync, kernel, CoreTypes and Networking.

* Image source: charliekwalker’s Flickr photostream (Creative Commons 2.0)

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Topics

Ryan Naraine is a journalist and social media enthusiast specializing in Internet and computer security issues.

Disclosure

Ryan Naraine

The most important disclosure is of my employment with Kaspersky Lab as a member of the global research and analysis team. Kaspersky Lab is a global company specializing in anti-malware and secure content management technologies. I do not own stocks or other investments in any technology company.

Biography

Ryan Naraine

Ryan Naraine is a journalist and social media enthusiast specializing in Internet and computer security issues. He is currently security evangelist at Kaspersky Lab, an anti-malware company with operations around the globe. He is taking a leadership role in developing the company's online community initiative around secure content management technologies.

Prior to joining Kaspersky Lab, Ryan was Editor-at-Large/Security at eWEEK, leading the magazine's and Web site's coverage of Internet and computer security issues and managing the popular SecurityWatch blog, covering the daily threats, vulnerabilities and IT security technologies. He also covered IT security, hacker attacks and secure content management topics for Jupiter Media's internetnetnews.com.

Ryan can be reached at naraine SHIFT 2 gmail.com. For daily updates on Ryan's activities, follow him on Twitter.

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RE: Apple warns of Mac attack risk via image files
birumut Updated - 29th Apr 2011
Well done! Thank you very much for professional templates and community edition
seslisohbet seslichat
0 Votes
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Wow, lots of critical vulnerabilities in there!!
NonZealot Updated - 5th Aug 2009
I can't believe how many of these bugs allow for arbitrary code execution! Viewing an image file shouldn't result in arbitrary code execution.

Oh well, at least they were fixed within nano seconds of the vulnerability popping into existence. There was absolutely no time between the release of the vulnerable code and the fix of the vulnerability for anyone to actually take advantage of any of these, right?
0 Votes
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Well, just make sure...
A Grain of Salt 5th Aug 2009
...you do the update on your mythical MacBook Pro happy We wouldn't want
you to the first to get malware on a Mac would we.
0 Votes
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I would be far from the first
NonZealot 5th Aug 2009
http://www.macworld.co.uk/business/news/index.cfm?newsid=25756&pagtype=allchandate

Sorry but OS X is far from invulnerable. happy

I did like this quote from the article though:
There is no doubt that this is a unique event; it is the first such botnet created using Mac computers, whether more will follow is debatable.

ROFL. Yeah, they'll just quit now that they've proven it can be done. happy
0 Votes
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Anything is possible.
A Grain of Salt 6th Aug 2009
"ROFL. Yeah, they'll just quit now that they've proven it can be done."

You have proven anything is possible by switching to Apple, albeit
running Windows (baby steps), so maybe they will quit now. But, I doubt
it.

I must say though, your vitriol towards Apple has decreased markedly
since your switch; you were almost positive about OS X the other day.
The boards are just not going to be the same happy
0 Votes
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I notice that you conveniently ignore...
vulpine@... 6th Aug 2009
... that it was people trying to get something for nothing who
opened their Macs to that attack. Legal machines running legal
software were unaffected.
I forgot.

Oops, but the bad guys didn't forget!
http://blog.intego.com/2009/06/19/new-rsplug-trojan-horse-variant-found-on-game-sites/

I especially liked this part from that article that specifically makes fun of your apology!!
Previous versions have mostly been found on porn and warez (pirated software) sites, leading some commentators to say that only users involved in illegal activities are likely to get infected. (We?ll skip the argument about whether or not pornography is illegal?) This time, however, users going to web sites that provide game downloads end up downloading an installer that gives them a serious Trojan horse. While some of these games are intended to be pirated copies of low-priced commercial games, others are often found on web sites for free for on-line play.

EPIC FAIL!!! happy
0 Votes
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Free software is 'something for nothing.' And even that article
pointed out that it was 'hacked' versions, not legitimate versions.
0 Votes
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What on earth are you talking about?
NonZealot 6th Aug 2009
I did say they tried to get something for nothing...

Yikes, if you are going to discount all trojans that come in pirated software and in free software then guess what, there are no trojans in the Windows world either. Sure you want to go there?

And even that article pointed out that it was 'hacked' versions, not legitimate versions.

How can you tell the difference between the "hacked" version and the "legitimate" version? If the program is freeware, you aren't doing anything illegal or immoral by downloading it so for all you know, the free program you just downloaded is the legitimate version.

In the end, the free ride is over. Hope you enjoyed it. happy
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He can't be the first...
ShadowGIATL 5th Aug 2009
it's already happened. Although not widespread, Mac malware has already been seen in the wild earlier this year, including a nice botnet.

Just saying..
0 Votes
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I can't comment. I have never had a virus or trojan since using Apple ('97)
No More Microsoft Software Ever! Updated - 6th Aug 2009
Even in my Windows days I only had 2 instances. One from email (in '95), one from a floppy (in '90)(remember those things?).

0 Votes
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Trojans
zdnet-gregc 6th Aug 2009
I think it is in the realm of possibility to have, or have had, a trojan without knowing about it. But as far as I know, I've never had one.

I've had exactly one virus that I know of, back when I was running Windows '95. It munged all the JPEGS on my disk. That was back when WINSOCK on Windows was so buggy that I had to download a fixed version from my ISP in order to connect to the internet through their dialup Point-of-Presence servers.

At about the same time, a hacker I knew who was running a home network behind a software firewall running on a freebsd machine had his network severely cracked.

No one is completely safe, folks. Software has bugs. Bugs are potential security holes. When I think of all the systems out there in the world today, I'm surprised that I'm not constantly deluged by reports of major electronic security events. Hey, Twitter just went down ... happy
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It was a Gateway 386-DX. Win3.1 came with it.
Soon upgraded to win95 and since then I've only had 2 new machines (one just purchased last year) Yeah, Boy, Windows has really cost me a ton. In almost 15 years maybe 300.00.
Anyway, I've never had a virus. Lucky me, eh?
Actually it had nothing to do with luck, but being smart. It takes little effort to never get infected on ANY version of windows. And zero cost.

However, with OS X and Linux getting root-kitted and becoming part of botnets....the most recent an embedded Linux used in routers (a debian variant) that is getting root-kitted from lax security.
And look at all of those who thought root kits and botnets were a Windows only problem.

But since it's something that happens to all OSes, I guess we should all be on the same team, that being against the bad guys, not just MS or not just Linux based OSes or not just Apple.
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And I disproved that
Wintel BSOD Updated - 6th Aug 2009
...in that other thread you were on concerning that Fake M$ patch.

Didn't you say the following?

http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12691-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=67571&messageID=1284826

"Please point to one Windows incident that has cause any harm to people or stopped the economic systems of any country or gave away top secret national security information."

Now do I really need to repeat my answer to that? wink
0 Votes
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Well Said!
zdnet-gregc 7th Aug 2009
"But since it's something that happens to all OSes, I guess we should all be on the same team, that being against the bad guys, not just MS or not just Linux based OSes or not just Apple."

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Curious question...
ShadowGIATL 6th Aug 2009
are you running AV?
The nice thing is that while these vulnerabilities may have
existed, they weren't attacked. Can you say the same for
Windows?
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I am NOT one of you
NonZealot 6th Aug 2009
Sorry but the products I buy (or don't buy) don't define what groups I belong to. How sad that you would admit that this isn't the case for you. sad

Can you say the same for Windows?

What do I care if Windows is attacked as long as I never get hit with anything. And I haven't. Ever. Even once. So attack away!! happy
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Are you using a Mac? Yes you are...
vulpine@... 6th Aug 2009
You're one of us, now.
0 Votes
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One of Us
bobiroc 6th Aug 2009
What exactly do you mean by that? I own a Mac and use it for Work and support and Manage the Macs in my organization. But I am not blinded by lies and FUD like some Mac people are which I can only assume means people like you.
  • Flagged
0 Votes
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I find that people who come from a PC world and or Mindset can do OK
supporting Mac's but usually only get that far OK. I assume you are OK
at it but not great. So you take your OK skill set and blame the
Macintosh or OSX maybe even Apple or Steve Jobs for not being more like
that in which you excel.

Pagan jim
0 Votes
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What?
Badgered 6th Aug 2009
I assume you are OK at it but not great. So you take your OK skill set and blame the Macintosh or OSX maybe even Apple or Steve Jobs for not being more like that in which you excel.

Not knowing anything about the person, what in blue blazes would cause you to even make an assumption about him much less that assumption?
0 Votes
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It also proves how unintuitive OS X is
NonZealot Updated - 6th Aug 2009
Not knowing anything about the person, what in blue blazes would cause you to even make an assumption about him much less that assumption?

Funny how they rant on and on about how intuitive OS X is and then turn around and blame the stupid user whenever anything goes wrong! happy
0 Votes
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I've read a lot of this persons posts and gathered through careful
listening and observation that this person has a mentality similar to
mine back in the day. I was raised on DOS and was at that time a real
WIZ with it. I had the mentality for it for it was all I knew. I came
across Apple's ProDos and found it difficult for it was not what I was
comfortable. When I first met the Mac I was not liking it at all for it
met change for me. As time went buy however I found myself working
less and less hard and accomplishing more as I went to the Mac/Apple
world. Getting paid the same or better than when I was a PC only tech
and finding working on the PC more bothersome and time consuming.
Eventually I specialized in the Mac end of things and have no regrets
for I learned that I can work less hard and make more money. A
win/win for me personally.

Over the years I've met a lot of people who could not or would not
make the leap from what they already know and are comfortable with.
My circumstances might have been different and the transition easier
for me for any number of reason so I do not judge the reasons why
they have not seen the wisdom of change but I do recognize that
having a MS mind set limits ones ability to work with Mac or to make
them work as well as they can be made to work. Mind set plays a
HUGE role in support my friends.

Pagan jim
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@Jim
Badgered 6th Aug 2009
Over the years I've met a lot of people who could not or would not make the leap from what they already know and are comfortable with.
My circumstances might have been different and the transition easier for me for any number of reason so I do not judge the reasons why they have not seen the wisdom of change but I do recognize that having a MS mind set limits ones ability to work with Mac or to make them work as well as they can be made to work.


Tell me if I'm misinterpreting your comment - You were able to do it, some people you know weren't... so you then assumed he isn't good at his job (or at least the Mac administration portion of his job), based on your interpretation of his talk back comments. Is that about right?
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He or she would smoke me going head to head on PC support for I am
OK at it but not good enough for I don't have the mind set for PC
support. Jack of all trades master of none. I suspect he is close to or
is a master of PC support but a jack of all trades in the Mac end of the
business. Its NOT an insult.... just a well known fact you rarely if ever
can find an individual who is good at tow different trades. Look at
Michael Jordan... He was an excellent basket ball player and a
wonderful athlete yet he could not trade that athletic skill into another
sport. He was at best a so/so minor league baseball player and I hear
he's OK at golf. There is not insult here as you keep trying to make it
sound.

Pagan jim
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Good Enough
bobiroc 6th Aug 2009
To Pass Apple's Certifications. Sure I am better with Windows, but I am way more than OK with MacOS too
0 Votes
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Still certification is like college many people go to College and pass even
with very high grade averages but still when they take that environment
of tests and try to make a living at it... well. Taking tests and doing the
actual work in a real world situation are very often quite a bit different.
Besides that does not cancel the effects of mind set. You my friend by all
accounts have a PC mind set and that will effect how you deal with and
handle Mac's.

Pagan jim
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What I excel at
bobiroc 6th Aug 2009
No I think you have me pegged wrong. While I do excel at Windows and I am very good at MacOS if I do not know the answer I have the ability to research, use Forums, Vendor Support to get the answers I need. The internet is full of information and I know how to get it.
0 Votes
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Still there is no substitute for mind set. As I state in another reply to you
if you are going to try and force the Apple/Mac Peg into the MS hole and
get upset with the peg for not fitting your mind set is wrong to begin
with and no amount of research and rich source material is going to alter
this.

It's not the individual piece or pieces its the greater whole my friend now
grab the pebble from my hand grasshopper.

Pagan jim
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@ Pagan Jim
bobiroc 6th Aug 2009
Well seeing as most of the world is on Microsoft and the features and usability that Microsoft gives us wouldn't be nice to see Macs do some of the same. So next time I get asked by my Teachers why can't the Macs do all the stuff Windows can I will just tell them I cannot force Macs Sqare Peg into Microsoft's more rounded hole. I mean I guess I am a jerk for trying to support them and give my teachers and students a very similar user experience on both platforms. Shame on me. I do not go around and say Macs suck like some and tend to think I am relativively opened minded. I spent manu hours with Apple support only to be told (quite rudely and with condescending tone I might add) that it cannot be done that way unless my school spends $1000's of dollars on third party tools and even more to pay Apple to set it up and even then it would only give some of the features our teachers were asking for.

In response to your other comment about my age, yes I am only in my mid-30's. In school I used Apple IIgs model computers and my first home computer was a 8086 processor on a Tandy I think. I know the first Mac came out in the mid-80's but even by 1991 when I started using them they were still very early in the game. What did they have back then, 1% Market and in 25 years they have grown to a whopping 4 - 5% maybe?

So I guess next time my Teachers ask for something on their Macs I will not provide the best support I can and just throw up my arms and say it cannot be done instead of trying to support them and make it easy for them to do their jobs.
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is nothing wrong with that. That said because you are still staring
very strongly at the tree's you can still not see the forest and all it has
to offer you and your teachers.

Now tell me what is the wisdom on Apple's part to play a game
created by its competitor i.e. MS? Not all that long ago Apple had a
less that full 3% market share in the US now its getting close to 10%
and back then Apples world wide market share was 2? or less and
now its around 4% ish. Back then MS's share in the US and world was
around 98%. MS is now in the lower 90's is it not? So what you see as
a problem for Apple I see as a benefit not playing MS's game that is.

If Apple were to do as you seem to wish it would in effect benefit MS
greatly and harm Apple. In fact I would hazard a guess that it would
make Apple just another clone maker. Making Apple product nor
more unique than a given Dell or HP.

Now I feel sorry for your problems at work and making Apple
products work in a MS world. A world I think you very well may have
played a part in creating. So for your sake I hope your school decides
to get rid of its Mac's there are others schools adding Macs so the
effect on Apple will be minimum.

Don't get me wrong I take features into account. One of the reasons I
only recently purchased an iPhone 3gs and I have to say I'm liking it:)
Still features in not the Apple magic that I for one adore and you can
not seem to grasp. To me the greater magic is you will is not the
features but how well they come together. Its not how may features a
given product has but how well they work together and how well or
easily they can be used/accessed. IT'S THE FOREST!!!!!

I am certain based on my years of experience supporting and
repairing Mac's that I could design an all Apple environment that
could more than satisfy your students, teachers and administrators.
For I would avoid the how peg, hole issues myself:)

Pagan jim
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supporting Mac computers
kjpino 7th Aug 2009
I guess I've just always wanted clarification on this oxymoron that seems to come up again and again...

I am constantly told that Mac computers don't have problems - but then am told about good or bad 'Mac Support'... being one of the people that provides support for 'Sad Macs' I am curious how both statements can be true...

1. Mac's dont have problems
2. he/she is good/bad at Mac Support

seems contradictory - again, to someone like me who actually helps people fix Mac problems...

just a simple clarification would be nice - one without contradiction would be great - and an honest one would be wonderful...
0 Votes
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Not difficult at all...
James Quinn 7th Aug 2009
Mac's do have problems. Sometimes hardware for all things made by
man are going to have flaws from time to time or fail. Sometimes
software because when you have multiple sources making software
and putting them on a given system again human nature means some
bugs f flaws will be present. Sometimes the OS will present a
difficulty again the whole HUMAN thing. Sometimes in fact many
times its the user... as both the Windows and Mac world can attest to.
Sometimes its the mind set of the organization or support people.
The worst thing one can do with a Mac is try to make it into a glorified
PC. If that is the company goal or the support personal's goal then it
is doomed to failure and the attempt will create problems in the use of
the computer system.

I have never claimed that Macs do not have problems. However I
would say that it has been my experience that if setup and run
correctly with reasonable/realistic expectations of what a Mac was
made to do and well trained users that a Macintosh under those
circumstances have a lot fewer problems than a PC setup under the
same conditions.

Pagan jim
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@ Pagan Jim
bobiroc 6th Aug 2009
See you are making assumptions about me. While I agree that some people can pass a test on memorization and such I actually apply my knowledge and use it every day by doing the "actual work" as you put it. I guess I do have a bit of a PC mind set, maybe it is because my experience with Macs, which goes back all the way to the early 90's, has shown me that there is nothing that a Mac can do that you cannot do just as good and usually less expensive on a PC. I used them day in and day out in College on OS7 and 8 andwhile I believe they are a good computer brand and make quality products I do not believe they are vastly superior as some Mac Mindset people feel they are. I feel Apple likes to think they should dictate what their customers want or need and it is evident in their products. Here are a couple examples.

1. Today's iMac doesn't even have standard slots on it for reading Memory Cards like from Digital cameras. At least the 17" and 20" iMacs we have at my school don't and neither do any of the ones I have seen at the store unless they really hide them somewhere. This goes for their laptops as well unless their most recent models changed something because the 2 - 3 year old Macbok doesn't have one. Sure that is a small feature but it is one that many people want and like because one of the things people list as wanting a computer for is digital photos.

2. Lets use their iPhone (which I also have) as another example. I have often asked why the iPhone doesn't have a SD slot or something. I mean wouldn't be nice to take out your camera card and show your photos on the bigger screen of the iPhone. But when I mention that Apple Mindset people defend them and the lack of features other phones and portable devices offer standard. Continuing with the iPhone they did not offer options lime MMS and Cut and Paste and Voice Dialing to name a few until customers complained so loud they added it and then left their older customers in the dark. I mean I have an iPhone 3G and I would have to upgrade to the GS to get voice dialing or buy an app. Pretty crappy if you ask me. Now that being said I like my iPhone as it is a good device overall despite its lack of some features I would like. It plays music well and is easy to use.

I am sure I can find more examples but those will do for now. I am not Anti-Mac but I do know their limitations and frankly there are less limitations with Windows and I do not think you can deny that, but I am sure you will try.

0 Votes
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Do us all a favor. Don't buy Apple products!
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 6th Aug 2009
Stay in your Windows world while the rest of humanity leaves you behind.
0 Votes
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@No More Microsoft..
bobiroc 6th Aug 2009
So now you are going to tell me what I can buy and use? Seeing as Apple is barely pushing 3 - 4% world wide I think you have a inaccurate perception of the world and who is behind.
0 Votes
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Since the 90's eh? Man you are young:P
James Quinn 6th Aug 2009
Look I can go on and on and on about the "features" that any number
of Apple products have supposedly lacked. Now you are correct that
as the iPhone has matured some features have been added but I do
not think that it was due to complaints from iPhone owners or users in
general. I think the iPhone has been an INCREDIBLE success since its
start not all that long ago. There has been no sign of customer or
user rebellion as far as I can tell especially due to a lack of features. In
fact it can be argued that in its very long history Apple has made a
certain fame for not being feature centric and that in fact "features"
are a MS thing. Pack those features into a given product and make the
list of features a selling point. That said a glut of features with little to
no consideration for their practical use or usefulness is hardly
something I personally find interesting.

What I have noticed is this. Take the iPod. I remember year after year
after year people like yourself pointed out features that it lacked as a
device and pointed to other devices that had said features and still vs
the iPod which still does not. Yet year after year after year the iPod
still ruled the MP3 player roust. As it still does. Your challenge my
friend is to figure out why? Same with the iPhone from its start it
lacked features and yet that has not harmed sales and or popularity
any again why? Same for the Mac and its lack of what was that again
come camera card reader thing? OK the Mac still makes good money
for Apple and each one sells with huge margins much better than any
given Dell or HP so once again can you figure it out? If not and I
assume since you've had since the 90's (Oh so young in the industry)
you probably will never figure it out and you waist much time and
effort trying to get the Macintosh way to fit in the MS box which is
why you are not nearly as good in the Mac environment as someone
like myself and you never will be. You keep trying to put that round
peg into the square hole and are angry with the peg because it does
not fit as you think it should:P

Here is a hint. Don't miss the forest for the trees. Another hint.. tree's
representing individual features. The forest representing the greater
whole. Sure you need trees to make up what is traditionally thought of
as a forest but there is so much more than just tree's in a forest.
0 Votes
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The Best Computing Platform is?
Appreciate-Tech 7th Aug 2009
Hey Dudes, wake up! Different strokes for different folks! Different tools
for different lives, different tasks and different jobs by different people
using different computers! Select the tool best for your task or job and
quit complaining about differentiating Mac or PC. Rolls Royce and Fords
are different too, both are cars, both do transport well. It is thereafter
left to you to decide which is the best method of transportation for you!
They are different tools not religion! The best tool for the job is what is
needed, the easiest for your use! Life is far too short for nonsensical
debates about silicon technologies when our planet, yes the big
spaceship on which we all travel, is in trouble due to the pollutants used
in manufacturing hardware, that may result in a crash nobody recovers
from. I myself am biased to quality and I hate spending the entire day
fixing or tweaking software and hardware, or finding software or
hardware work around to problems missed in Redmond or Cupertino. I
spent hundreds of dollars on computing so I use Apple products as for
me I find them more reliable in day to day use. I run windows when
necessary using VMware in the machine therefore the best of both
worlds is available to me in owning two computing solution, actually three as I run Linux on my Mac Pro and Mac Book Pro 17 daily. How
much am I saving by running three computing OS's on one OS and
platform? Hundreds of dollars is the answer to that question as I can't
run Mac OS 10.5.8 on any Windows exclusive hardware. And by the way,
a message to the whiners, you get exactly what you pay for, so stop
complaining about what other people chose as the primary computing
platform and worry if you have purchased the correct platform for YOUR
needs not the needs of others as clearly each mans needs is unto his
own task to complete!
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Whoa ! One of US ?
Jkirk3279 6th Aug 2009
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

Just because somebody buys a Mac doesn't make him "one of us".

Just like going to church doesn't make you a Christian.



Remember, we all got together and agreed Rush isn't really one of us, so there's
precedent.



Sorry, NZ, but you're not invited to the company picnic.

Unless of course you buy Apple stock: then we have to let you come.
  • Flagged
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Letting NZ come!?!
James Quinn 6th Aug 2009
Well at least now I know why he insists on an actual keyboard on his
smart phones so he can type with one hand:P

Pagan jim
  • Flagged
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Jim, that was too gay. Even for you! (NT)
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 6th Aug 2009
NT
  • Flagged
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Pagan jim
  • Flagged
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NT
  • Flagged
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Pagan jim
  • Flagged
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That is hilarious
Wintel BSOD 6th Aug 2009
Sorry but the products I buy (or don't buy) don't define what groups I belong to.

Oh really? wink

lol...

How sad that you would admit that this isn't the case for you.

Well I certainly don't mind admitting it. Why don't you do the same instead of going on with this charade of magnanimity.
  • Flagged
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They're certainly beating Microsoft
Trolleur 5th Aug 2009
... in terms of the sheer number of vulnerabilities!
This has been an eye-opening couple of years for the Mac crowd. Oops KERNEL PANIC! Oh no, I rebooted and somebody took over my Mac. I guess I shouldn't have bragged about not needing anti-virus so often. When nobody uses it, nobody hacks it. Now that more use it, more are hacking it. Welcome to the real world.
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Now Now
bobiroc 6th Aug 2009
I have been told over and over by Mac Fanboys that exposing (or exploiting) of vulnerablilities has nothing to do with Market Share. I try to say as more people use the OS the more likely someone is going to find value in attacking it but I have been told I am wrong.
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OS vulnerabilities
zdnet-gregc 6th Aug 2009
It's been a long time since it was my job to worry about these specific sorts of vulnerabilities but, back in the distant past, we used to instrument our code such that attempts to access uninitialized memory, stack overflow, array bound overflow etc, etc, would bring our software to a halt. One of the reasons we never would have shipped a product instrumented that way was because it was too resource intensive. But couldn't we spend some of the benefits of Moore's law on increased security? I'm just asking.
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What "real world" are you living in?
TCollinsG3 6th Aug 2009
Whoa, there, pardner, slow up just a hitch there. If it's the "real world" we're?
dealing with and we're going to view things objectively, this is still a world?void
of Mac OS X exploits, right? Zero, zilch, nada. The story makes clear that?the
only hacks that have taken place are *vulnerabilities* that have been?identified
by a guy whose job gives him the luxury of time most of us simply do?not have
to find theoretical, possible ways to hack an OS. I'm not denying or?minimizing
the fact that these vulnerabilities existed, but they were patched?immediately,
practically eliminating any "real world" threat to Mac users?because of them.
With that in mind, who's living in the reality distortion field you?PC hackers love
to talk about so much?

If it were merely on the basis of the number of vulnerabities identified--and of?
course there's a lot more than that to recommend the Mac platform--I would
still ?like?my chances pretty well. If we were on baseball teams, your team
would be?down by ten runs in the eighth inning, and what articles like this would
be?observing is that one of our relief pitchers in the bull pen has a sore
shoulder. It's?not that I wouldn't want to know that or want to address that, it's
just that your?trumpeting to the world that the game is now over for us would be
laughable if it?weren't so constant and annoying.?
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RE: Apple warns of Mac attack risk via image files
birumut Updated - 29th Apr 2011
Well done! Thank you very much for professional templates and community edition
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