Zach Kleppe's blog: "Dork Digital"

The best thing about technology and computers today is how diverse everything is. While it can be overwhelming when you're having to look into new computers, phones, tablets, hardware, touchscreen monitors and much more, there is something out there for everyone. This is one topic that always comes up between people a lot today that use these technologies as tools in their everyday life.

Which one is better?
Is one system better than another?

I don't write a whole lot but this topic is one that I would like to get off my chest; from my point of view. I have a Bachelor of Computer Science and regularly work with different types of computers, operating systems, tablets, phones and networks. There is one thing that almost every technology has in common. Keeping you connected to the people/information you need and use in your everyday life. With desktops and laptops people become divided into three groups.

Mac users, Windows users and Linux/Unix users.

These are just the three common groups that I notice all the time. With tablets now coming out in growing numbers. I can name these groups of operating systems.

Windows, Linux and Mac users

Now the Linux list of operating systems for tablets and computer systems could go on forever but everyone knows or has heard of the Android system for phones and tablets. Also, Meego is another linux system used in tablets and there are many more for computer, tablets and phones.

Now this goes a little off topic, but focus with me on this. All through life you meet and become friends, acquaintances, and/or family with people all around you. The more popular someone is, the more criticism or exposure they get to others. After a while of getting to know this person it's not hard to point out their flaws as no one is perfect!

Ok, so now look at what operating systems are more popular and used more in the real world. Most people who read this probably won't have any idea or know much about the Linux system, while most of you reading this will know much, much more about Mac systems and Windows systems. With tablets and phones, this is the same.

One side note: When talking to people about what system is better is like talking to people about what religion is better?!?!?

Windows is used in offices around the world as it is also sold with almost every computer that you can buy in most stores. Mac's are also becoming more and more popular, as offices around the world also use this system, and more stores are starting to sell them. Windows has more people attacking its systems because it is more popular than mac, so more vulnerabilities are obviously going to come up. Now Mac systems aren't any better than Windows systems, it is just not as commonly used in everyday life like windows is. Below is a list of vulnerabilities for Mac systems.

Mac OS X Virus: Inqtana.A Worm
OSX/Inqtana.A is a Java-based worm that exploits the directory traversal vulnerability in the Bluetooth file and object exchange services in Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger).

Leap.A aka Oompa-Loompa virus
The Leap.A (aka Oompa-Loompa) infects applications in Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) running on PowerPC processors.

Mac.Simpson Virus
A mass-mailing email worm affecting only Macintosh OS9.0 and above, Mac.Simpson directs users to an online archive of The Simpsons episodes.

* This is a good link to check into more issues with Mac computers that not many users are even aware of.
http://antivirus.about.com/od/macintoshresource/Macintosh_Viruses_and_Mac_Virus_Resources.htm

This gripe of mine goes for every technology we use for the rest of our lives. When the first version of a system is released you can blame the flaws, but after a while if that system is still being used, it is being used for a reason. The more popular any one system becomes, the more people will point out vulnerabilities. Where as, the uncommon systems won't necessarily be more secure but they won't have the popularity of the masses to point out their vulnerabilities as quickly.

by Zach Kleppe
Mar. 3, 2011 : www.dorkdigital.com