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Plug-'n'-Play USB Virus Makes MacBooks Fall to Pieces watch!

gizmodo.com — Behold, a video of the Newton Virus. Back in 2005, Troika, the British-based art collective that was behind the Heathrow Terminal 5 sculpture that some of you recently described as a "disco turd," created a virus for Macs, called Newton. It came on a little USB key that looked like a cross between a malevolent Apple and Pac Man and was aimed at,

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  • clak, on 03/04/2008, -139/+795LOL. Even our viruses look more pretty than Windows.
    • Blajano, on 03/04/2008, -37/+5lol
    • InnerBlueAbyss, on 03/04/2008, -85/+33Its still a fruit box, which means it fails by default
      • bbardlbradd, on 03/04/2008, -31/+6I think your message is being conveyed incorrectly, but I'll spare you a fail by correcting it myself.

        "It's still a fruit box, which means windows fails by default seeing as it's a /real/ OS, but still less useful than a fruit box".*
      • ophello, on 03/05/2008, -12/+6fail fail fail.

        if osx is not useful to you, thats your fault, not the OS.
        • Latentsage, on 03/05/2008, -3/+13If my car cannot run, it is my fault not the car designer's.
          Of course... It's sooo shiny.
        • sephers83, on 03/05/2008, -5/+5maybe you should have maintained your car
          • bbardlbradd, on 03/05/2008, -1/+1Agreed. But if you're using the car as a metaphor for windows, it's a 73 chevy pickup with a volkswagen engine. Not worth it.
    • Awspire, on 03/04/2008, -17/+30Ya, but, uhhh... Nevermind, that was pretty good.
    • KinGvsKinG, on 03/04/2008, -18/+113"more pretty"? okay...
      • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -10/+4Yeah, he should've said "prettier" but anyway, is there an embedding code? I'd like to embed it on a question/answer about this virus at http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/626789
      • Terr01, on 03/05/2008, -9/+2I like to take a different lesson from this than clak does.

        This "virus" is in fact no true virus but a small piece of effete eye-candy designed to seduce the suckers who prize form over function. It isn't created to accomplish work, but as an appeal to the vanity of the user and designer. The primary reason that anyone gets it is because it "looks cool", even though it is in fact no more capable than it's counterparts and in many respects arguably worse.

        Now why does that make me think of the larger Mac vs. Intel-PC debate...?
      • wraptor347, on 03/05/2008, -13/+8I think more pretty is actually grammatically correct, though it is awkward. I think the problem arises when you use more before -ier, so "more prettier" would be incorrect. Either "more pretty" or prettier would be correct. Similarly, you can say someone is more fast or faster, but not more faster.
        • SpeedSteamBoat, on 03/05/2008, -0/+11No. Go back to English class.
        • arcticblue, on 03/05/2008, -1/+2I hope you guys never travel outside of your perfect English speaking bubble. They butcher English so bad in other countries, it might make you guys have an aneurism. May I suggest avoiding Japan?
        • Archon810, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1something in the depths of my brain tells me that "more" is used when there are 3 or more syllables, but I may be wrong.
        • wraptor347, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2Ok so I was incorrect, the rules for comparative adjectives are if it's two-syllables you use more except if it ends in -y, though there are some exceptions (more friendly is correct). And there are some adjectives that allow for 'more' or 'er'. Anyways whatever, I never stated my original thought as fact for a reason; I wasn't sure about it. Good to know for future reference though.
        • darlyn, on 03/16/2008, -0/+1You literally fail.
    • Weejay, on 03/04/2008, -24/+48I bet your turds smell better as well.
      • PabloMac, on 03/04/2008, -8/+65Thanks for noticing.
      • norman619, on 03/04/2008, -6/+23You go around smelling people's turds?
        • Gir53457, on 03/05/2008, -2/+9Boy do I have some 4chan copy pasta for you.
      • Je55e0wn5y0u, on 03/04/2008, -7/+21Like sweet sweet roses.

        *****
      • bbardlbradd, on 03/04/2008, -9/+28HA! HA!

        Premise A: Windows bites.
        Premise B: Apple bites less.
        Premise C: Windows < Apple.
        Conclusion: Windows users find the smell of Apple users feces to be agreeable.

        nonsense.
        • mnky9800n, on 03/04/2008, -1/+1Now that is one big pile of *****. ~ Ian Malcolm
      • BlueStarr, on 03/04/2008, -12/+1My ***** actually doesn't stink. How did you know that? The secret? Healthy diet and a lot of fiber. :) lol
    • Hayes, on 03/04/2008, -81/+410:rofl: I find it absolutely ***** hilarious you associate yourself with Apple by saying "our". How pathetic are you?
      • DirkBelig, on 03/04/2008, -47/+170Mac lunatics have no identities of their own, relying on the prestige of the Apple brand to give their empty, meaningless lives the appearance of substance.
        • HoratioHellpop, on 03/04/2008, -15/+5Wow.
        • Merendino, on 03/04/2008, -25/+15and bashing on said mac users give meaning to the pc users life? I use both, like them both. Not all mac users are smug.
          • RealmDown, on 03/04/2008, -7/+9I have to admit that I haven't noticed one.
          • dark_helmet, on 03/04/2008, -2/+10Yes, but not all Mac users are 'lunatics'. its them that are giving the majority of users a bad name.
        • scuba7183, on 03/04/2008, -14/+4linux
        • wellyuk, on 03/04/2008, -7/+1Haha!

          Tosser.
        • twigboy, on 03/04/2008, -6/+1BaaAaaaAAaAAA!
        • xsquirrel378x, on 03/04/2008, -14/+15lol well put. i would have used nastier words. macfags are the scum of the earth
        • ArchiTech, on 03/05/2008, -10/+8Kevin Rose was carrying a MacBook Pro during the last webcast. Perhaps people should just embrace both platforms and get over their one tracked minds. I run the same laptop, with parallels of Linux and Windows, the best of all worlds, in a device that has a simple and elegant design.
        • DSizzle, on 03/05/2008, -0/+9Well if Kevin Rose was doing it...
        • jeeky, on 03/05/2008, -2/+1*sigh*
          It makes it even more pathetic that you "winfags" think you can stop it.
      • ligyron, on 03/04/2008, -9/+1I think it's appropriate in the situation. He is making the comment online with a Mac, afterall

        I doubt he says "our" when referring to Apple when you're talking to him in person
      • clak, on 03/04/2008, -15/+8Sorry, guys, that was shameless trolling. I was about to write Mac instead of Our, but I knew the Apple haters would ***** in their pants. You guys are actually worse than our, I mean, "Apple" fanboys.
        • kayvman78, on 03/04/2008, -3/+11That was a good one. I will give that to you. Got me hook line and sinker... :) But I have to disagree with the PC people being worse. I work on a Mac everyday at work and I quite enjoy it. But I also love PCs because I like to tinker and try different programs and really get into the guts of the thing. Mac fanboys (or at least the many that I call friends) cringe at the sight of a PC. Like it was sent from Lucifer himself to damn us all. So I think on both sides there are the usual fanatics and they both need to get lives... :) I tell my friends all the time.. IT'S A METAL BOX YOU'RE WORSHIPING!! FALSE IDOL!! ... HAHA.. I love that..
          • Bootes, on 03/05/2008, -5/+4Assuming you're talking about tinkering with software, since you did mention programs, you can do just as much tinkering with OS X as you can with Windows. Hardware is a little different.
        • SpeedSteamBoat, on 03/05/2008, -1/+4Nice back-peddle, but you're still a lame fanboy.
          • kayvman78, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1If you actually used that noggin of yours for more than looking at Apple porn, you would understand from my post that I'm neither a Mac Or PC fanboy. They are both just objects that sit there and process *****.
        • truspect0r, on 03/05/2008, -1/+1*****.
      • darlyn, on 03/05/2008, -12/+5Deep down, we're all Apple fans, no matter how much we like Windows.
      • Novakog, on 03/05/2008, -6/+10What? "Our" implies multiple people possessing things. Like, I don't know, a group of consumers owning Apple computers. If a virus infects your computer, it becomes part of your computer, which you f'ing own. The use of the word our is completely sensible; get over your inferiority complex.
        • stupidStan, on 03/05/2008, -3/+3ha... 'inferiority complex' apple zealots are funny/sad
        • Novakog, on 03/05/2008, -0/+0Sorry, I was unclear, I'm actually a Windows user, and just because someone has an inferiority complex doesn't necessarily mean they are inferior, but I felt obligated to point out a dumb insult. http://xkcd.com/386/
        • diggimator, on 03/05/2008, -0/+3Shh....! Logic doesn't work on digg bashing threads.
      • Raptor007, on 03/06/2008, -3/+1Why the hell are people digging up Hayes for his idiotic comment??
    • kayvman78, on 03/04/2008, -30/+109Are you serious? So you must be from the Jobs family. OUR? Come on dude. It's a metal box with micro chips in it. It doesn't define YOU. Wow. I'm flabbergasted. Good luck with that. I also recommend finding a real human girl to fill your time.
      • coldfusion1970, on 03/04/2008, -18/+11So, i say "we" when i talk about Manchester United.
        Whats your point?
        • oderdigg, on 03/04/2008, -12/+16I think his point is that you're both douche bags.
          • kayvman78, on 03/04/2008, -8/+3Awwww.. look at the little one trying to be all grows up.. Sooo sweet. :)
        • kayvman78, on 03/04/2008, -3/+14Well then I suggest all of you get your heads checked. And the next time YOU (as in all of YOU) say " Hey! WE should destroy this stadium and start a riot." You should look inside and say "Hey is that something 'I' would do? All I'm saying is attaching your identity to a box, or a team, or anything other than yourself and your immediate family is not healthy and is not something that should be assumed to be normal. Just my opinion. Not really a statement.
          • jackminardi, on 03/06/2008, -0/+3its an innate human desire to attach yourself to a group. there are multiple sociological studies that show we are constantly aligning ourselves with groups and forming an us vs them. i would link you but i am too lazy and dont care whether you believe me or not.
          • supermanred, on 03/09/2008, -0/+2DIdn't get a date in high school eh? Weren't allowed on the team? Not good enough for the team? So now you sit in your basement alone and hate anyone that would congregate in social groups.

            ***** off. Attaching your identity to your favorite team, your group of friends, your country, your planet is healthy. It's how we've survived (See I said WE as in HUMANITY) for thousands of years.
      • betobeto, on 03/05/2008, -0/+5What's that sound? Oh I see, it's the hordes of fashion victims falling to the floor, having a spasm attack upon reading your words.
      • zulfy26, on 03/05/2008, -3/+6oh snap he played the girlfriendless nerd card!
      • appleswitch, on 03/05/2008, -2/+2You could say the same thing about sports teams, you anti-fanboys have done it again...
      • samssf, on 03/05/2008, -2/+2Buried. Macbook Pro > female human.
      • tehrich, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2Wasn't it just a joke? Why so huffy?
    • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -8/+8*sniffle* Now I want a Mac emulator!
    • norman619, on 03/04/2008, -17/+27That's not a virus. Remember Mac's don't have viruses. That's just an Easter Egg. A hidden feature!
      • RealmDown, on 03/04/2008, -4/+47Of course it's not a virus. Apples don't get viruses. They get worms.
        • Sixcolors, on 03/04/2008, -1/+6Que rimshot. :)
          • thunderer, on 03/05/2008, -4/+2Cue rimshot. :)
            Unless you want it to form a little line instead of sounding.
          • drakenlot, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1thunderer, you're thinking of queue.

            que is translated to 'what'
      • banmaster, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1A 'feature' just like the macbook moo??
      • cyberscape2, on 03/05/2008, -0/+5I guess nobody understood it was a joke?

        I laughed...
      • branton87, on 03/05/2008, -0/+0"I see what you did there."
    • clak, on 03/04/2008, -26/+11I was going to write "Even Mac viruses look more pretty than Windows," but I knew the "our" would bring out the haters. LOL, you guys are so predictable.
      • cardboardbox, on 03/04/2008, -10/+1So you're trolling? REPORTED
        • Xiata, on 03/05/2008, -0/+5Caps lock cruise control for cool? ENGAGED
    • isunktheship, on 03/04/2008, -7/+43Your Mac no have grammar check?
      • danomagnum, on 03/05/2008, -3/+10I'm all about macs sucking, but how many browsers have grammar checks?
        • ruddy, on 03/05/2008, -3/+5mine...
        • avihappy, on 03/05/2008, -5/+3Real Mac browsers do.
        • AROZ, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4It must be coming in the next Firefox...
        • MadOtaku, on 03/05/2008, -0/+7Actually, with the leopard update, macs have systemwide grammar and spelling check (including in the browser). Why you'd want to use a grammar checker is beyond me though; I've never met one that works worth a *****.
    • se1zure, on 03/04/2008, -10/+6Lest I check you say "we" when you talk about your local sports team. Saying "we are going to the playoffs" doesn't mean that I, including them, are going to the playoffs, unless you interpret it literally.

      • Jeffler, on 03/05/2008, -4/+8Thats your local team and they represent your city, big difference between that and a ***** technology company. You don't work for apple, STFU.
        • drakenlot, on 03/05/2008, -1/+3Neither do I play for Colorado Avalanche, but that's OK? moron.
    • RiverBelow, on 03/04/2008, -17/+5Windowsfags prefer Macfags type "Even Mac OS X or prior based viruses look prettier than Windows!!" Saying our offends Windowsfags greatly.
      coldfusion made the point already, he says 'we' when referring to Manchester United. I say 'we' when referring to Toronto Maple Leafs. No need to get all worked up and start throwing around personal insults like a retard whose had a bad day. He used a different noun, get the ***** over yourselves.
      • HoratioHellpop, on 03/04/2008, -1/+3Nice move, not retorting to personal insults in your reply.
      • bbardlbradd, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1windowsfags and macfags... someone here reeks of 4chan.

        Fag is not a suffix. Fag fails at being an insult past the age of 7.
    • burnin8r28, on 03/04/2008, -5/+10douche
    • Lambretta, on 03/05/2008, -6/+13Our viruses, Our viruses?! - what a tool
    • Eira, on 03/05/2008, -9/+16Too bad there isn't a virus that makes Apples useful. You might actually be able to make a point if it ever happens.
      • georgetds, on 03/05/2008, -2/+2I guess you think most people buy Apple computers for paperweights or doorstops? Or are you just saying that *you* don't find a computer useful? Is it the computer in general or the OS that you contend?
    • directive0, on 03/05/2008, -3/+11successful troll is successful.
    • kastlip88, on 03/05/2008, -13/+28At least windows is more functional. Digg me down Mac fanbois!
      • georgetds, on 03/05/2008, -5/+7By more functional do you mean more games?
        • jeremyjudkins, on 03/05/2008, -3/+11And programs, and hardware support. And being able to install it on anything you want.
          • majglow, on 03/05/2008, -6/+5Can you install it on a PowerPC based computer?

            What about a Sparc based computer?
    • Hawkeye05, on 03/05/2008, -6/+5The Funny Thing is that a Thinkpad could do the same thing with the Active Protection System, except we cant get viruses, unless you run as root and type chmod +x virus, Thats right I USE LINUX it can be just as prettyful as MacOS.
      • Xiata, on 03/05/2008, -0/+8Uh huh. No, linux can get viruses as well as any other operating system. To think otherwise is absolute nonsense. Just like OS X they can trash your user profile unless of course if you are running root, then good luck fixing that mess.

        A smug linux user in an apple thread? Very amusing.
        • Hawkeye05, on 03/05/2008, -1/+3Really... A Virus, not tracking cookies or anything, a full blown virus, i understand sometimes repos have been hacked but seriously what are these so called "Viruses" please i want to know so i can secure my server better.
      • stupidStan, on 03/05/2008, -3/+2not sure who is more full of themselves, iDiots or Linux fanboys?
        • bbardlbradd, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4Your informative statement, is a question?
    • hassanchop13, on 03/05/2008, -5/+20pretty games>pretty viruses.
    • BlueStreak69, on 03/05/2008, -4/+8Since when is it your virus?
    • Magnus150, on 03/05/2008, -3/+7iBorg, you will be iSsimilated
    • kcap122, on 03/05/2008, -6/+1All right first of all, I thought one of the top 10 selling points of Macs is that "they don't get viruses."

      Second of all...just had to let this out... Plug-n-Pwned.
      • mrBitch, on 03/05/2008, -0/+5this was an art project, not a real virus.
    • ZachSka87, on 03/12/2008, -0/+1I use Vista. I forget what a virus even looks/feels/smells/tastes like.
  • P5ycHo, on 03/04/2008, -8/+355So, how do I get it?
    • xsquirrel378x, on 03/04/2008, -55/+13i dont get USB viruses. i use windows :)

      actually i use linux. vroom vroom errrrrrrrrrrr
      • BlueStarr, on 03/04/2008, -7/+2geek! ;)
      • ataylor32, on 03/04/2008, -1/+24For those who don't get it, I believe he's referring to this:

        http://xkcd.com/272/
        • ligyron, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3Now I'm more confused
        • Cerebral, on 03/04/2008, -6/+1@ligyron
          I think it's supposed to be like a hip cool matrix type of thing where dude is saying he doesn't need any anti-virus software because he runs Linux. He does a backflip (matrix reference here) onto the motorcycle and then speeds away making sure to kick up dust in dude's face.
    • ligyron, on 03/04/2008, -9/+0I'm guessing Newton is the carrier
    • peterkay, on 03/04/2008, -0/+19Did you not see the subliminal advertising 14 seconds from the end? I think that brainwashed us.
      • Neoanarchist, on 03/05/2008, -0/+5I didn't until I saw your post and went back and watched it again! :D Good catch!
    • osbjmg, on 03/05/2008, -1/+5... just checked, I still have a dirty dirty mind.
    • Shaem1, on 03/05/2008, -1/+6Don't use a condom?
    • bbardlbradd, on 03/05/2008, -3/+1dugg for use of cheesy onomatopoeia.
    • Yaricks, on 03/05/2008, -1/+0Agreed, first time ever i WANT a virus! :)
    • diggimator, on 03/05/2008, -0/+7It's a hoax. The video just says "do not replicate," but doesn't specify what exploit was used, which OS is affected by the vulnerability, or even a Secunia link. Not even legitimate technologies like U3 can get itself to auto-execute, since Macs have never supported the autorun "feature" like in Windows. You know, the stuff that installed DRM without your permission a few years ago.
  • happyseamonster, on 03/04/2008, -82/+13Cool.
    • happyseamonster, on 03/04/2008, -65/+8Who dugg me down?????? DIE!!!!!! DIE!!!!!!! DIE!!!!!!!!! : )
    • willynilly, on 03/05/2008, -1/+1Maybe you should have used the space to ask why in hell they named it after the Newton, which has nothing to do with this.
      • kieranmaine, on 03/05/2008, -1/+3I'm guessing it's got something to do with Issac newton
  • zeitgueist, on 03/04/2008, -6/+252Yeah that title was totally not meant to alarm people and get viewed.
    • bbardlbradd, on 03/04/2008, -5/+32I have to admit, when I read the title I thought "*****, the day has finally come". I was a little worried. Then I watched the video and now I just want to have it. Is it odd to mac users to /want/ a virus?
  • shadokast, on 03/04/2008, -15/+100Wouldn't that be a worm? (cue rimshot)
    • bbardlbradd, on 03/04/2008, -16/+21pls don't inform digg of your sexual fantasies.
      • bryceman111, on 03/04/2008, -0/+27Dude, not cue "rimJOB", cue "rimSHOT, haha.
        • bbardlbradd, on 03/05/2008, -2/+1Oh no my friend, there is a rimshot. Think... RIMjob... and then think moneySHOT...

          Maybe, spare yourself.
  • colincornaby, on 03/04/2008, -28/+16Pretty obviously not a real virus. Macs haven't had autostart since the Classic days.
    • Raptor007, on 03/04/2008, -4/+4True. Neat application though! I want to download it and play. I wonder if you can still use the displaced menus and icons?
    • Yodacola, on 03/05/2008, -1/+3Actually, it is a USB-related flaw. This can happen on any system without the appropriate countermeasures. Doesn't matter what OS you have.

      http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/USB-Devices-Can- ...

      "However, the flaw is with USB, not Windows, said David Dewey, a research engineer at SPI. Standards developed by the USB Implementers Forum Inc., the nonprofit corporation that governs USB, dont consider security, he said."

      I guess that Mac guy in the commercial didn't tell you his Japanese camera could do this.
  • chingy1788, on 03/04/2008, -62/+4Moving the laptop around isn't exactly good for that spinning platter (most user manuals say avoid moving the laptop while turned on)
    We've seen those consoles turned on their sides while running, scratched discs, cept on the hard drive can lead to the disc crashing
    though not as likely as the consoles as HDDs are more solid
    so yes this is a fully fledged virus that can not only take your data, but can take your Hard drive along with it
    • enclaved, on 03/04/2008, -1/+47looks like someone is forgetting WHY they started putting motion sensors in laptops
      • TeraRealm256, on 03/04/2008, -3/+10chingy....what did you just *****' say? *****....english! consoles? it's a *****' laptop! not an xbox 360!

        as long as you don't put any strong vibrations on the hard drive..doing that above doesn't hurt it...it's a smooth rotation..no abrupt stops or starts.
    • mythicflux, on 03/04/2008, -3/+13MacBook Pros use a sensor to shutdown the hard drive in case of a sudden jolt or movement like what the presenter was doing. Assuming the features works as designed the HDD should have parked the read/write head and stopped spinning.
      • norman619, on 03/04/2008, -0/+7Most latops I've looked at do that.
      • ophello, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1more specifically, it parks the heads (the discs still spin)
    • Avor, on 03/04/2008, -0/+7The reason it can detect which direction you are pointing your computer is due to a sensor in the hard disk that relays information regarding its position. It is a safety device that locks the write arm when it detects a fall or unstable position (preventing it from "scratching" the hard disk and destroy information). This is still working when the program is running; the hard disk is not in too much danger.
      • ophello, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1im pretty sure its an accelerometer, and not the disc itself.
    • se1zure, on 03/04/2008, -0/+10by your logic, me coming up and smashing your laptop with an axe would be a virus.... sigh.
    • PathDaemon, on 03/05/2008, -2/+2All very logical arguments, but I move my MacBook Pro around a lot, and while its Sudden Motion sensor has been working perfectly, the hard drive just totally failed on Friday while I was carrying it from one room to another. Yay AppleCare.

      And just yesterday, I was moving it from one room to another and ACTUALLY HEARD GRINDING NOISES. There was nothing in the optical drive. Kids, be careful.

      BTW,
  • FcukAllYall, on 03/04/2008, -7/+28Saw this earlier....great trick to play on someone
    • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -7/+10How does a computer program "know" when you're tilting the laptop?
      • roho76, on 03/04/2008, -0/+11I think it relies on the same hardware that locks HDD if it gets dropped. Just a guess though.
      • repmekevets, on 03/04/2008, -0/+59all macbooks have accelerometers built in. detects shaking/other impact to protect the hard drive.
        • kingfoot, on 03/04/2008, -12/+3most laptops do now-a-days
          • drouk1556, on 03/05/2008, -1/+4Dell doesn't. They still (as far as I know) use regular shock absorption in their notebooks.
          • bigsteve, on 03/05/2008, -1/+10Right, drouk. IBM did it first, then Apple, now Toshiba in some notebooks, and I think Sony in some too.
          • Villp, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1I like cheese.
      • MaruLono, on 03/04/2008, -0/+15so what happens afterwards? does the "virus" just go away after a certain amount of time, or do you need to restart?
        • Cerebral, on 03/04/2008, -0/+4I was wondering that also considering the video didn't say. All it DID say was that "like earlier viruses Newton doesn't hurt your files". Also I wonder how you know when it is done installing... I mean dude only had the drive in for about 3 seconds.
      • digitalpencil, on 03/05/2008, -0/+5accelerometer meet macsabre!
        • arcticblue, on 03/05/2008, -1/+1are you sure it's not "accelerometre"? Try typing "macsabre" in to Google and it'll ask if you meant "macsaber"...since you know...that is the actual spelling of the program (yeah, that right, I didn't put "me" after "program")
        • digitalpencil, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1Nope, it's accelerometer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerometer
          You're right about macsaber though as it's a brand name. I was thinking of the English spelling, we spell saber, 'sabre' as in 'sombre'.
          • arcticblue, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I was just giving you a hard time :P
    • CovardeAnonimo, on 03/04/2008, -0/+14apple's notebooks have an accelerometer. the OS uses it to protect the hard disk if you drop it. but it's possible to take readings out of it and use those for other purposes. there's a virtual desktop manager that allows you to change screens by bumping the notebook.

      this is not restricted to intel machines. my mother's ibook G4 have this feature
      • Cerebral, on 03/04/2008, -0/+4I remember a video for that a while back where they called it a "smackbook" and I believe the guy was switching from OSX to XP using Parallels.
      • Hawkeye05, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1There are quite a few people who play tux Racer on thinkpads using only the APS
  • likwidfuzion, on 03/04/2008, -19/+6iVirii
    • skeletorcares, on 03/05/2008, -2/+1the only programs that work on macs are i________ products, you fanboys should take that as a compliment. Try to install photoshop, opera, or quicksilver, or all the stuff thats supposed to work well.... CRASH.
  • IEatEmoKids, on 03/04/2008, -5/+80Wow. This is probably the first virus people actually want to get.
    I can't help but wonder how many laptops are going to be dropped due to this.
  • leerayIG88, on 03/04/2008, -2/+250Misleading, workaholics never leave their computers.
  • wwnexc, on 03/04/2008, -26/+15But macs can't get viruses!
    • timusca, on 03/04/2008, -5/+12WTFV

      It isn't a virus...
      • StoneLox, on 03/04/2008, -3/+8i dont think he was serious, r-tard
        • wwnexc, on 03/05/2008, -1/+1Sarcasm doesn't come across well on the internet. I guess in future i'll use the sarcasm tag .
    • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -3/+1That's why I want a MAC EMULATOR! :(
  • StevesJobs, on 03/04/2008, -13/+11Can you undo it?
    • skeletorcares, on 03/05/2008, -2/+6Why do the valid questions always get buried?
  • briguymaine, on 03/04/2008, -6/+34god I want that.
  • Gooie, on 03/04/2008, -7/+182Read the description, it's not real it's just an art project.
    • p0tent1al, on 03/04/2008, -4/+18yes but we wish it was real.
    • repmekevets, on 03/04/2008, -8/+3just because you can't have it doesn't mean it's not real. if you have the software and install it as in the video.. it works.
      • tocsy, on 03/04/2008, -5/+2It's possible it was a pre-made video or edited in after the tilting was filmed.
        • PathDaemon, on 03/05/2008, -2/+1How the hell do you film stuff? You take pictures of the titles, then edit in everything else??

          I mean, call me old school but I usually edit in the titles last...
        • theatreguy36, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1As a film student I will call you "old school" because you always edit the sound last the titles are a separate entity
        • mediaphile, on 03/05/2008, -2/+1As a film student I will tell you no film was used in the making of this VIDEO.
      • gfxl, on 03/04/2008, -14/+2How can you code something that detects gravity? Its UNPOSSIBLE!!!!
      • aLFaDaRK, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2If you read the credits you'll notice they credited someone for the coding. It works by using the built-in motion sensor on newer Macs.
    • callmejordy265, on 03/04/2008, -16/+4I don't think it could be real even. I may be mistaken, but I don't think Macs have gyro sensors.
      • sholt, on 03/04/2008, -0/+10PowerBooks since 2005 have accelerometers. There are a few programs out there that use them.
      • skeletorcares, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2They put them in there to know when you drop them so they won't have to honor the warranty when you try to get them to replace it. Should have bought $$$AppleCare$$$.

        They say they are in there to disable hard drive heads during a drop to prevent data loss. THEY SAY.
    • logandurand, on 03/04/2008, -7/+2Seeing as the MacBook automatically ran a program that could have been anything, I would call this real. Just because the end result is pleasing to the user doesn't mean that it isn't taking advantage of a security hole. This program could just have easily been coded maliciously.
      • maskd, on 03/04/2008, -0/+7I doubt it ran automatically. The camera cuts before the guy sits down, I'd say he just started an application that waited a couple of seconds then activated.
    • Gooie, on 03/04/2008, -1/+6As a reply to every one who claims this was real. I reiterate "Read the description"
    • ThreeDee912, on 03/05/2008, -2/+2It could be real. MacBooks have motion sensors in them. Not sure if it detects left/right/up/down movements, as I don't have a Mac laptop.
  • kidjay, on 03/04/2008, -4/+12i wish i had that virus.
    • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -12/+2Yeah, man. How does it "know" when you're tilting a laptop in whatever direction?
      • elmetald00d, on 03/04/2008, -0/+17every apple laptop is equipped with accelerometers. to basically halt hard drive spin when dropped
      • Sixcolors, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3What elmetaid00d said. There's also a program that makes light saber sounds when you tilt or jostle your laptop. It works on G4 and Macbook laptops that have the sudden motion sensing technology in them.
  • honorableSimon, on 03/04/2008, -9/+133Is it just me, or are there other people out there who actually want this?
    • kimtron, on 03/04/2008, -1/+35who wouldn't want this? this is so awesome!!
    • Sixcolors, on 03/04/2008, -0/+6*Raises his hand*
    • jellygraph, on 03/04/2008, -2/+2please give my mac this std... its soooo cool
    • 2point71, on 03/05/2008, -2/+4oh what i would do for this virus..

      funny how the 'first' mac virus is someone a majority of mac users want...
    • Cloud7654, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Not just you. Look up. ;)
    • Villp, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Or maybe it is the 20 people before you that said, "I want this"
  • ToMZiLLA, on 03/04/2008, -26/+4I would just take that laptop and try to sell it cheap to some fanboi
    • grinndaddy, on 03/04/2008, -8/+1(Comment immediately buried by fanboys.)
      • Sixcolors, on 03/04/2008, -1/+2And people who object to grand theft laptop. People put their "lives" on these things, you know? Work, school, personal. I hope you were just being sarcastic.
  • feliks2, on 03/04/2008, -13/+2Oh wow, I wan't it, NOW. Not that I have a Mac. Or a laptop.
    • SHv2, on 03/04/2008, -4/+2where the ***** did that apostrophe in "wan't" come from? /grammar nazi
      • revyn, on 03/04/2008, -0/+8If you're a grammar nazi, why didn't you capitalize the "w" in "where?"
        • nigh7dagger, on 03/04/2008, -3/+1He's a grammar nazi, not capitalization nazi.
        • Gogogo111, on 03/04/2008, -1/+5Capitalization is part of grammar.
        • ligyron, on 03/04/2008, -1/+3...
        • Yodacola, on 03/05/2008, -0/+3Thank you for attending Digg University. Next class, we will be discussing conjunctions and semicolons.
      • feliks2, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2As in "I wan not it, NOW..."
  • diggB, on 03/04/2008, -21/+4Will locking your screen or switching to the login window protect you?
    • belzoradon, on 03/04/2008, -4/+2good question, does anyone know?

      dugg up for thinking
      • undersky, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2are u crazy? this is an art project! this is not real, so who the hell do u think is going to answer that kind of question? who is he asking? this is not good thinking. this is bad thinking, very very stupid thinking. a kind of thinking that shows a complete lack of reading comprehension.
  • killdashnine, on 03/04/2008, -20/+3What's better is that, like everything Mac, people will standing in for their viruses too!
  • magicaltrevor, on 03/04/2008, -10/+3Trust me to break my Macbook's screen the day before I see the coolest thing ever :(
  • cheesedog, on 03/04/2008, -4/+66i would never think to pick up a computer after all the icons fell from their spaces...
    • Sixcolors, on 03/04/2008, -0/+11But if you did... oh man! So cool!
    • Jesusridesabike, on 03/05/2008, -0/+9Well maybe it's time you did.
  • dressedindecay, on 03/04/2008, -8/+2What?
  • Awspire, on 03/04/2008, -4/+14I wish I got a virus that made me say, "damn thats cool".
    • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -5/+2Another reason why I want a Mac Emulator. Where can I get one?
      • elmetald00d, on 03/04/2008, -1/+3vmware emulates mac os x pretty well.
        • antdude, on 03/04/2008, -0/+2It does? Since when?
          • elmetald00d, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2I apologize, it doesn't emulate osx, it virtualizes os x.

            Ive been doing it since 2006 so probably sometime then.
        • transform100, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2Well not really emulate, but it can run it Google OSX86
  • fiskintl, on 03/04/2008, -33/+150"vista is still the best plug and play virus" - odnet
    classic...
    • naterpoke, on 03/04/2008, -23/+6thats ***** retarded
    • heydroid, on 03/04/2008, -5/+60that is a lie, have you tried to install vista, its anything but "plug and play"
    • tcpip4lyfe, on 03/04/2008, -13/+15I have no problems with vista. I like it.
      • fiskintl, on 03/04/2008, -4/+6PLANTTTTTT!!!!!!
      • CatalystGhost, on 03/04/2008, -2/+5It's ok, we've always been at war with Eastasia. And I hear the chocolate rations are being reduced, but it's going to the soldiers so it's all ok!
      • Villp, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2Can you help me get to "My Computer", I can't seem to find it.
    • Archer007, on 03/04/2008, -6/+7More like "plug and bash your head repeatedly against a wall for hours, then play."
    • bxblox, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4Inaccurate, software has no plugs.
  • timusca, on 03/04/2008, -10/+51What a sensationalist headline!

    This is not a virus... this is software that you load on someone's computer, and it does not spread by itself. Its more of a software prank than anything else.
    • naterpoke, on 03/04/2008, -27/+1IT REFERS TO ITSELF AS A VIRUS IN THE ***** VIDEO

      SHUT P
    • skidooer, on 03/04/2008, -2/+7It appears to install itself if you insert the USB key. Not unlike viruses that spread via floppy disk back in the day.

      But, you're right, it would have to copy itself to other USB keys to truly be a virus.
      • aussieNickuss, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2Software can't install itself just by plugging in a USB stick. The closest thing Mac OS X has to an "autorun" feature is opening a new finder window when you insert a CD or DVD.
        • skidooer, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1Why not?

          iTunes automatically launches when I plug in my iPod. iPhoto automatically launches when I plug in my digital camera.

          If there is a security hole in either of those applications, all the USB key would have to do is pretend to be an iPod or digital camera and then exploit the vulnerability.

          Not nearly as easy as it would be with an autorun feature, but not completely impossible either.
    • Anfidurl, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4Of course, "pranksterware" wouldn't have gotten nearly as many Diggs...
  • RSS14, on 03/04/2008, -15/+3Mac's can get viruses‽
    There is no God . . .
    • darny, on 03/04/2008, -2/+5interro-buried.
    • demodawid, on 03/04/2008, -1/+5Sad excuse to use the interrobang.
    • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -2/+3"God has not been proven not to exist. Therefore, he must exist."
      -Prokhor Zakharov
  • pixelperfect, on 03/04/2008, -11/+3It's could be a screensaver - however there'd need to be a step 2.5, to install it... simply plugging in a USB drive won't do jack.
    • ExSlashdotter, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1not true. you could script it to copy to their apps folder when it mounts, but it would still ask for an admin password...
    • Tiemmothi, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2It would make a cool screen saver, imo. Add in a wind tunnel or a gravity well that rotates around the screens edge randomly, but also holds the motion sensor bit fi you rotate the screen.
  • SirBrittanicus, on 03/04/2008, -7/+1Had me a good laugh.
  • TeraRealm256, on 03/04/2008, -33/+8This is why I hate the majority of mac users, they do EVERYTHING for how it'll look or make them feel. *****...I do stuff for functionality! "Oh I want a virus that actually looks cool!"...you apple idiot!
    • clak, on 03/04/2008, -3/+19Please, take that money you saved on your $3.00 PC and buy yourself a sense of humor.
    • MrDo, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4which must be why you are so angry. :)

    • ophello, on 03/05/2008, -0/+3sadly for your deluded fantasy, most mac users go for utility, the kind that cant be found in the cluttered, cold windows environment.
  • nullr3, on 03/04/2008, -19/+1British art collective, macs dont even have motion sensors in them?
    • anadar, on 03/04/2008, -0/+12The mac laptops do have accelerometers in them. Their intended use is to park the hard drive if the laptop moves around too much, but it can also be accessed by software. Do a google search for mac saber
    • sjmulder, on 03/04/2008, -0/+9They have. For a long time.
  • holyreality, on 03/04/2008, -1/+21great video, makes great use of the motion sensors.
    • Cndor, on 03/04/2008, -12/+4You mean accelerometer, right?
      • jhuebel, on 03/05/2008, -0/+16An accelerometer is a type of motion sensor.
      • StolenLamp, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1Too much Rainbow Six Vegas for you..
  • shunpike, on 03/04/2008, -6/+2where? how much?
  • naterpoke, on 03/04/2008, -55/+3BUT THEY TOLD US MACS DONT GET VIRUSES.
    ***** OWNED FAN BOIZ
    linux4lyfe
    • dasunst3r, on 03/04/2008, -0/+30Tux called. He wants you to get a sense of humor.
      • dustPuppy, on 03/04/2008, -0/+10No, Tux just said to put the keyboard down and step away from the computer...
    • markthegoth, on 03/04/2008, -1/+11art project dingus
    • matyrice, on 03/04/2008, -6/+14did u watch the video or read that it's just an art project? No? Ok, go back to your mom's basement now sir and rub one out to 2girls1cup you douche.
      • belzoradon, on 03/04/2008, -8/+2dugg down for being an inflammatory jerk
        • Orb9, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4dugg down for being an inflammatory jerk
    • callmejordy265, on 03/04/2008, -1/+4RTFA
    • jellygraph, on 03/04/2008, -1/+8mate, linux can get viruses just the same as macs can... they are just not very practical viruses, as the damage they can cause is limited and they don't spread disease like windows machines do
    • jamezracer, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2please don't have that attitude, you are just reducing yourself to another pathetic fan boy and hurting the image of the linux community while you are at it. comments are a place to comment on the article, not for you to go crazy with the caps lock key.
    • Raptor007, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Hey, how about I go play Call of Duty 4? My Windows PC can do it, my Mac will be able to soon.

      Have fun running a server for Windows/Mac users to play on.
  • TnTBass, on 03/04/2008, -6/+14I hate to be a stickler, but if it doesn't self replicate, it's not a virus. It's just a silent self installing program that strikes at random.
    • malechite, on 03/05/2008, -2/+7Actually Worms replicate, and spread themselves. Viruses don't necessarily have to.
      • undersky, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2u sure? i thought definition of computer virus is self-replicating code.
        • TnTBass, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1I looked it up on wikipedia, which made it clear as mud. Malware is non self replicating, whereas Viruses are. Worms also replicate. That's the best I can come up with.

          "A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. However, the term "virus" is commonly used, albeit erroneously, to refer to many different types of malware programs. The original virus may modify the copies, or the copies may modify themselves, as occurs in a metamorphic virus. A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or the Internet, or by carrying it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, or USB drive. Meanwhile viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer. Viruses are sometimes confused with computer worms and Trojan horses. A worm can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host, and a Trojan horse is a file that appears harmless until executed."
    • Phatt138, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2Yeah, but 'silent self-installing program that strikes at random' doesn't really roll off the tongue the same way...
  • user7, on 03/04/2008, -3/+20Plus it's from 2005, probably not leopard compatible ;>)
    • IareKEVLAR, on 03/05/2008, -2/+5It is also not real.
    • supermanred, on 03/05/2008, -0/+3Probably patched in February of 2005... Apple defends their UNIX based OS against viruses and does not make it's users do so such as Windows (try using Windows XP for 1 and a half years without antivirus...lol....not happening!
      • TRENT310, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2I have never used antivirus in my life. The best Antivirus is still the end user.
        • supermanred, on 03/09/2008, -0/+1No. The OS is the best antivirus. Why should my grandma have to learn how to run antivirus software and such? She just wants to surf her mature porn and play Orange Box like everyone else!
  • williebee, on 03/04/2008, -8/+1This is sorta fun-> http://tinyurl.com/28ddro
    • ThorsSon, on 03/04/2008, -0/+2the video even included a tribute to that. The image flashed on screen very briefly toward the end.
  • over900000, on 03/04/2008, -14/+1In before mac apologists.
  • smashingmonkey, on 03/04/2008, -13/+8Only mac users get viruses which make you say - I gotta have that!!

    BTW, Mac haters... that's not a real virus in the strictest sense.
    • naterpoke, on 03/04/2008, -8/+4BTW, hyphens aren't used in the context that you introduced them to, l2hyphen
      • smashingmonkey, on 03/05/2008, -1/+9Yes, you are correct. In my haste I punctuated my comment incorrectly. By pointing this out you have proven that you are superior when it comes to punctuating comments. However you should have used "which" instead of "that". Now we're both pricks for pointlessly pointing out each other's grammatical shortcomings, a habit which is as useless as it is obnoxious.
    • logandurand, on 03/04/2008, -3/+3This program is not itself a virus, but could easily have been coded as such. It clearly proves a security vulnerability with the automatically loading software.
      • smashingmonkey, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4Could be? Maybe. Maybe not. But it's not a virus until it IS a virus.
      • Kanidia, on 03/05/2008, -0/+5The software doesn't automatically load...
  • NonLeftistDiggr, on 03/04/2008, -18/+7
    What would a workaholic be doing on a Mac?
    • naterpoke, on 03/04/2008, -14/+3CMON YOU KNOW YOU LOVe THE ARCHAIC INSANELY SLOW AND DEBILITATING UI
      • MrMacMan, on 03/04/2008, -1/+15CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL
        • jbklego, on 03/04/2008, -4/+2EVEN WITH CURISE CONTROL YOU STILL NEED TO STEER
    • zeeky, on 03/04/2008, -2/+10probably working
    • jhuebel, on 03/05/2008, -0/+3Actually being productive in whatever task they're doing? Just a thought. ;-)
  • ciram, on 03/04/2008, -3/+15Where's my download link fellow diggers?
    I've come to sort-of expect those in stories like this...
  • Raptor007, on 03/04/2008, -3/+15Not a virus, should be buried as inaccurate. But it's a pretty cool program, so I'll digg it.
    • NullPolarity, on 03/04/2008, -2/+3I, however, won't share that sentiment.
    • ajmontag, on 03/05/2008, -2/+5look up the history of viruses. the early ones were funny like this, not damaging
      • Raptor007, on 03/05/2008, -0/+4I understand that, but the fact that this is funny doesn't make it a virus.

        A computer virus is code that, when executed, replicates itself. It can have other effects as well, but the difference between virus and not-virus is self-replication. Implied in this definition, it should be self-replicating towards to goal of further spreading itself.

        This video shows a program that must be run from a USB flash drive. (Macs do not automatically run code when a drive is plugged in -- the video maker omitted this step for dramatic effect.) Whether it copies itself once to the hard drive or simply remains in memory isn't particularly important; if THAT were the definition of a virus, everything we install would be considered an infection! More importantly, they make no mention of this "virus" spreading itself to new USB drives or infecting applications.

        It's a neat prank, but it's not a virus.
    • rspeed, on 03/05/2008, -0/+2Agreed. I wish I could digg this AND bury it, but in the end digging won out.
  • dasunst3r, on 03/04/2008, -1/+9Wow... that is the sweetest prank program I have seen in a long, long time. Very good use of built-in hardware and planting methods! Unfortunately, I don't have $2,000+ to shell out on a MacBook Pro.
  • CaviMike, on 03/04/2008, -8/+35Macbooks know they're upside down?
    • CCB0x45, on 03/04/2008, -0/+47Yea they have accelerometers.
    • k1down, on 03/04/2008, -16/+2Possibly. I had an IBM for a minute that would know if you dropped it with some gyroscopic thing. It would shut down before it hit the ground. I assume mac books would have such technology since they are so ludicrously overpriced. But then again, I'd assume they'd have built in mics and cameras too.
      • amadeusdemarzi, on 03/04/2008, -1/+21They do have build in mics and cameras too...
        • k1down, on 03/04/2008, -13/+2Am really?
        • jellygraph, on 03/04/2008, -0/+4yes... they do. im starting at mine on my macbook right now
        • carbonbasedunit, on 03/05/2008, -0/+3Grizzly Adams did have a beard.
      • Archer007, on 03/04/2008, -0/+12They threw in a screen, too.
        • Jeffler, on 03/05/2008, -1/+7I hear they're gonna have motherboards in Q3
    • Larz0rz, on 03/04/2008, -1/+12And there are some apps that use the built in accelerometers.
      Look up:
      Tunnel, LiquidMac and MacSaber...I can't think of any more.
    • mrBitch, on 03/05/2008, -2/+2@CaviMike re : "Macbooks know they're upside down?"
      This question raises another very interesting question. How many diggers (who don't already own a MacBook / MB Pro / MB Air) really know anything about the hardware that comes standard on a MacBook?
      • 883XL, on 03/06/2008, -1/+1well, they'd better come standard on a laptop that costs over 2 grand.

        lenovos have em too.
        • mrBitch, on 03/08/2008, -1/+1MacBooks are over 2 grand? What are you smoking?
          " APPLE MacBook 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - $1,379.00 (Australian dollars - even cheaper in US dollars)"
          http://www.shopbot.com.au/p-22061.html
          • 883XL, on 03/11/2008, -0/+1HA, $1,379.00 to $2,184.90 . For hardware you could get a lot cheaper on a lemovo.

        • supermanred, on 03/09/2008, -0/+1Yeah dude, I bought mine for 1300.00 in Canada. And yes, it has an accelerometer and I'm glad it does. Dropped it once and no damage to the hard drive. It locks the harddrive head (parks it) in milliseconds if it thinks it is falling.
  • offcenter, on 03/04/2008, -2/+13I'm thinking you can't execute code from a simple device mount in OSX -- seems a little screwy. Cool effect though.
    • ExSlashdotter, on 03/04/2008, -1/+5No, you can. It would ask to authenticate with an admin password though.
    • jellygraph, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3this is an artistic video... i think they took artistic license to omit certain details
    • kindwarrior, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1You're right a device mount will not trigger any auto-run on the device but it might launch a helper application that could (theoretically, if not practically)be fooled into executing code -- I'm dubious that this works as advertised. It's clever use of the Mac's built in motion sensor though (far cooler than liquid Mac).
  • darco, on 03/04/2008, -15/+9Macs don't autoplay. You can't spread malicious code in this way on macs. That's a Windows "feature".
    • Tiemmothi, on 03/04/2008, -0/+8macs do too auto play.... its just not the same as windows.
      • colincornaby, on 03/04/2008, -4/+3No, they don't. Apple stopped using Autoplay ever since there was an Classic virus that spread this way.
        • Tiemmothi, on 03/04/2008, -1/+8I will refer you to the cd/dvd control panel in OS X.. its set up for auto play/open on many device inserts, including camera/USB devices (even tho it says CD/DVD). Its there its just not the same or near as annoying as windows, and its a hell of a lot simpler to turn off.
          • heli0x45, on 03/05/2008, -0/+3Autoplay is when some media is inserted and something *on that media* is automatically executed. The OS recognizing that a DVD has been inserted and automatically running its own DVD player is not autoplay.
        • justintsmith, on 03/05/2008, -1/+5Ohhhhh it's on now!!! Internet nerd fight y'all
  • bthug7, on 03/04/2008, -2/+27Quick question, why don't macs get "real" viruses?
    • CCB0x45, on 03/04/2008, -2/+53Some would say obscurity, others would say because they are based on BSD and have real user level protections built into the OS, so running on a user account would require an admin password to actually install a virus, and applications are able to run on a user environment, so even if there is a hole in something like Safari, it can't get any farther than the user level, where as that line is much blurrier in windows, so if an exploit is found in IE it could gain admin access much easier.
      • RobotChicken1, on 03/07/2008, -0/+6I think it's a little bit of both, though it's probably a little more the latter than the former (PS: I don't own a Mac.)
      • bigsteve, on 03/05/2008, -3/+3It's not really obscurity that much at all. Code can only touch system internals if you hand it over your password. Obscurity might protect OS X from lots and lots of hackers trying to find remote holes in any little system service, but that's really what the firewall is for. Mac pretty well pro-actively finds these holes and patches them. It's as safe as Linux or safer.
      • ophello, on 03/05/2008, -1/+10sadly, most mac haters dont understand enough about the very os they despise, like this part.
      • SpeedSteamBoat, on 03/05/2008, -1/+4haha, awesome and accurate. Dugg.
    • k1down, on 03/04/2008, -2/+15That is not a quick question. But here's a quick half answer. The same reason Linux doesn't get virus'. Do you want to use a lifeline?
      • ThreeDee912, on 03/05/2008, -0/+7There's multiple possible reasons for this.
        1. Based on UNIX and inherently more secure.
        2. Smaller user base creates smaller target.
        3. Generally smarter users don't install unknown/obvious bad software.
        • garfonzo, on 03/05/2008, -2/+5#3 -> Come on, what a brutal stereotype!
    • CATSCEO, on 03/04/2008, -12/+4They aren't Windows.
      • supermanred, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1UNIX based, that is correct. Windows = swiss cheese.
    • cheesejaguar, on 03/04/2008, -3/+13Because they use the FreeBSD kernel which is more secure than the Windows kernel, and because most applications are sandboxed.
      • linuxinsidev2, on 03/05/2008, -0/+13The Darwin Kernel is a Mach Microkernel, not FreeBSD...
        Apps are not jailed or sandboxed, they run under a normal user acount
    • logandurand, on 03/04/2008, -2/+13User level separation prevents access to admin-level abilities, unlike Windows in which everything is sort of jumbled together.
    • Tape99, on 03/04/2008, -5/+4they do.
      http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/20 ...
      • bigsteve, on 03/05/2008, -1/+8God, seriously? That's from a year and a half ago. If someone writes a script that clears your home folder after asking you for your password, THAT'S NOT A VIRUS. That's a TROJAN HORSE. That's all this LeapA is. It's a script with a "highly deceptive" JPEG icon on it. Every OS ever is susceptible to it. The OS is only as secure as the user is intelligent. If you're a chimp who double-clicks everything he sees (or believes the FUD spread by the makers of an anti-malware product trying to scare you into buying their worthless wares) then yea, OSXLeapA is a threat to you.
      • Mycael, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1One to how many viruses were there for PCs last year 1 2 3 4 5 6 .... 100,000 etc
    • alexonix, on 03/05/2008, -14/+3too few users = too few targets = unprofitable
      • digitalpencil, on 03/05/2008, -3/+2Yeah.. cause viruses are generally written with the intention of generating profit
        • bigsteve, on 03/05/2008, -1/+1Adware is. Can't profit much from a dead machine can you? Keep it alive and string it's user through ad-laden hell before said user gets it cleaned up and you got yourself some impressions and clicks.

          But with a better security model, code can only run with the rights of the user executing it, and so adware on *nix / OS X doesn't get very far.
      • ophello, on 03/05/2008, -4/+4whos making money off viruses?

        wheres the profit?
    • eyefork, on 03/05/2008, -21/+12No one wants to use a Mac long enough to create a virus for it.
      • thewafflehouse, on 03/05/2008, -4/+6easily the stupidest thing i've read today.
      • SpeedSteamBoat, on 03/05/2008, -2/+4easily the funniest things I've read all day.

        Also, wafflehouse needs less fanboy defense mechanism and more sense of humor.
    • krustytroll, on 03/05/2008, -2/+3probably because most virus-makers prefer or only know how to make windows viruses?
      • supermanred, on 03/05/2008, -2/+3Because Unix > Windows. Its like comparing a steel box to a slice of swiss cheese.
        • VegaObscura3, on 03/05/2008, -2/+5Yep, a steel box will last you a lifetime but a slice of swiss cheese is much more enjoyable to have.
        • BenKenobi88, on 03/05/2008, -2/+2Yes, you've made that comment already, we get it, you want to have sex with the Windows swiss cheese machine.
    • discodeathopera, on 03/05/2008, -11/+10because no one wants to make mac users suffer more than they already have to.
      • supermanred, on 03/05/2008, -0/+8Mac users suffer? 20 years using windows suffering....trust me the last 1.5 years I learned that Macs are awesome. Runs windows as best as can be, and OS X is > Windows.
      • pyrophire, on 03/05/2008, -1/+4lol. dick.
    • wesball, on 03/05/2008, -0/+6Because virus programmers use macs?
    • Villp, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1I think it's because they have accelerometers.
  • stix213, on 03/04/2008, -17/+12Buried for misleading title. This has nothing to do with a virus. It is not a virus.
    • dontaskagain, on 03/05/2008, -4/+7Quick its not to late, look behind you an you might catch the point fly past you
    • harveywalbanger, on 03/05/2008, -2/+3and you are not an idiot. LOL
  • EgaoNoGenki, on 03/04/2008, -7/+3Where's the embedding code for that video?
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