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Computer viruses hit one million

news.bbc.co.uk — The number of viruses, worms and trojans in circulation has topped the one million mark.

Who dugg this? Made popular Apr 11, 2008

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  • inactive, on 04/11/2008, -8/+34Isn't that also the ratio of video games?
  • inactive, on 04/11/2008, -1/+16*Mac and Linux users need not apply.
  • RoboDonut, on 04/11/2008, -2/+16Did anyone else laugh when they saw that the image that went with this article was a ton of Windows logos?
  • HotGore, on 04/11/2008, -2/+13Seems kinda low.
  • sergiodlopes, on 04/11/2008, -2/+11From FTA:
    "...security firm Symantec".
    This says it all! This numbers are Bull!
  • Ksg89, on 04/11/2008, -2/+10Some of you who are posting comments about moving to another operating system are ***** stupid. You don't select which operating system you use based on how many viruses there are. Firstly you select one based on your needs, sure if you wanted to just surf and email then you COULD use ubuntu but not everyone, infact a small percentage of people will know what to do with ubuntu. My mum couldn't even open firefox in ubuntu yet she has little problem using windows for tasks like surfing, emailing (with attachments), ebay, spreadsheets, banking, digital camera. The list goes on. I seriously doubt that saving a few hundred pounds is going to be worth it when you have a new steep learning curve, completely new environment, stupid non friendly directory structures, the list goes on.

    Next time you try and push ubuntu or whatever else on anyone think realistically. Granted that some people will find it easier to move and have less problems. But if they find it hard enough to do windows tasks then they are going to have a hard time with Ubuntu.. and thats alot of people.
  • Khast, on 04/11/2008, -1/+8Problem is, most viruses attack Microsoft products. I had a book in the 90s which was produced by Norton. It had over 2000 viruses...can anyone guess how many attacked DOS, Windows 3.1, UNIX, Warp/2, AppleDOS, Mac, or Amiga Workbench?

    99% of the viruses in the book attacked DOS or Windows 3.1.
  • SQLserver, on 04/11/2008, -2/+9Macs are PCs with OS X on them.
    Lets end this charade people. ALL bloody computers are PCs nowadays. It's a generic term. Use the name of the freaking Operating System.
    It is ok to call a Mac a Mac, but make the distinction between PCs.
  • MacParrot, on 04/11/2008, -1/+7...and what virus is that? Good God you're an idiot
  • s0nniez, on 04/11/2008, -3/+7A million out but not one on mines. EAT THAT!
  • racco, on 04/11/2008, -1/+5sneeky push!? they asked if you wanted it. you could have just left the box un-ticked if you didn't want it
  • inactive, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3thanks for your links

    oh wait, i mean BURIED!
  • mossblaser, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3Urm... I think you went a little over the top there...
  • tao52nyc, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3Here we go again with the "security by obscurity" argument. That has never held water. The fundamental architectures of Windows and 'nix-based systems are profoundly different. 'nix systems had security built in, not bolted on, from the get-go. Windows architecture is fundamentally more vulnerable - it was thoughtlessly written to be that way. Hackers write Windows viruses and trojans because they CAN - no other reason. If Mac market share went to 30% next week, you would not see 30,000 new mac viruses in the wild. It just wouldn't happen.
  • luchid, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3You mean Apple checking a checkbox by default? How about we talk about Microsoft shoving that POS Silverlight down everyone's throat. It's included in a friggin Office 2008 Security Update for the Mac. If you want that update then you have to agree to install Silverlight. It doesn't give you a choice.
  • danjal, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3I always get this feeling they are making them to keep themselves in business...
  • mohamedmansour, on 04/11/2008, -5/+8There is no such thing as a Perfect product. Any OS is not "virus free" or even "unhackable", a software with tremendous code base and too many developers developing it since a long time can never be bug free. I don't care if it is Windows, Apple, Linux, or Unix, they can all be buggy. It all depends on the hackers userspace to decide where they place their time and effort on, and obviously it is on Windows since it consumes most of the home based users.
  • darkism, on 04/11/2008, -0/+3Instead of playing games, Mac users spend their time running businesses. We tend to prefer real money to WoW gold.
  • tao52nyc, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Well now we know this guy is a porn fiend. The only Mac "exploit" in the wild to date was a quickly-squashed one. It was not a spambot that took over your system without your knowledge. The trojan was attached to a piece of spam-mail promising all sorts of free access to hot porn. But you had to physically click "OK" and consciously type in an administrator's password to load it. ***** retard indeed!
  • tao52nyc, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2I suppose in principle you have a point. However, people who have invested a lot of brain chemistry mastering Windows in particular would not want to anticipate going through all that hell again unless they absolutely had to. Never mind the arguments that alternative systems might have lower learning curves, ultimately (well, Macs, at least - I think a lot of casual-user switchers would have more issues with linux, but it's not relevant to the point), people have a huge investment in their systems (emotional and fiscal) over many years, and don't appreciate being told they made the wrong one. Most will defend their choices to the end. And ironically, most made that choice by following the herd. Frankly, I like Mac being the minority platform because it makes Apple more innovative and creative - I think if Macs took over the world, Apple would develop the same imperious, lazy sense of entitlement that Microsoft has evolved. I don't want that.
  • brianara3, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Get off the interweb you n00b
  • srg13, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2"Windows architecture is fundamentally more vulnerable - it was thoughtlessly written to be that way."

    True - I remember back in the day when you had full access to a Windows 98 computer by clicking the 'Cancel' button in the log in box.
  • WayOfTheIronPaw, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2Now, now... don't talk like that.

    On the internet we say: "YOUR SUTPID!"
  • cheungroys, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2wait... if there are that many viruses.... why is my computer still running without pop-ups or any symptom of being infected with a virus?
  • mossblaser, on 04/11/2008, -0/+2I have a PC. I don't use windows. Your argument fails.
  • oobuntu, on 04/12/2008, -0/+1because you are not running Microsoft windows?
  • junglejay, on 04/12/2008, -0/+1"post obligatory ubuntu comment here"
  • saikyan, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1I wish more people would adopt your logical (and completely accurate) point of view. It would prevent so many pointless flame-wars. I salute you.
  • kineticarl, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Lamest comment thread ever, this one.
  • Ksg89, on 04/12/2008, -0/+1"Your mum's problems with using ubuntu are not because ubuntu is harder to use, those "problems" are because she knows how to use Windows."

    People like her are used to one way or working and will find it hard to change. Sure change is good and i wish everyone had a wider knowledge of using computers. But throwing them in the deep end because of a few potential viruses isnt going to help them learn, if anything they will hate computers more.

    "Ubuntu can and will do everything on your list, whats more, when you install it all that software you mentioned is already there - named in plain english - I mean really what the hell does the name excel have to do with spreadsheets?"

    "With regards to the directory structure, believe it or not, it does actually have a lot of sense to it, more relevently still, to the end user it is simpler - If you've not used a computer before which makes more sense: /media/Memory Stick or E: ? Admittedly it does take a while to get round the idea that drives are addressed in the same tree as your mouse or printer but realistically only developers ever need know that."

    The "My Computer" and "My Documents" of ubuntu are fairly easy to understand it when you get into an actual drive with folders such as var bin etc, just don't and wont make any sense to a new user
  • Kwipper, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1It's because you are an intelligent person who knows how to run a windows based PC properly.
  • antdude, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Viruses word seems inaccurate. It should say "malwares".
  • Khast, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Though I must add, it isn't because Microsoft products have poor security vulnerabilities. Viruses are made to suit. They don't write viruses to attack 3% of the computer users, they write viruses to attack the 51%+.

    All reality, if Mac or Linux were to be the mainstream OS of choice, more viruses would appear on those as well.
  • HotGore, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Wow then that number seems really high :P
  • spacebuddy, on 04/11/2008, -1/+2Good reason to stay away from Windows and go Mac or Linux.


  • MacParrot, on 04/11/2008, -1/+2Good, so it's all even then
  • Baryn, on 04/22/2008, -0/+1That isn't why I stay with Windows. It's because J hjave a mack and it came presloaded martha focker.
  • mossblaser, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Your mum's problems with using ubuntu are not because ubuntu is harder to use, those "problems" are because she knows how to use Windows. Ubuntu can and will do everything on your list, whats more, when you install it all that software you mentioned is already there - named in plain english - I mean really what the hell does the name excel have to do with spreadsheets? With regards to the directory structure, believe it or not, it does actually have a lot of sense to it, more relevently still, to the end user it is simpler - If you've not used a computer before which makes more sense: /media/Memory Stick or E: ? Admittedly it does take a while to get round the idea that drives are addressed in the same tree as your mouse or printer but realistically only developers ever need know that.

    The problems that most people have with ubuntu are 1) The fact that there is a learning curve at all (it's not as big as it's made out to be) 2) Hardware and software (i.e. if they buy a program that claims to teach them french while out shopping they probably cant use it, though most hardware works fine, its those little bits that don't that make ordinary people become very vocal about it, fair enough i suppose) and 3) Misconceptions about the terminal - the only time I would encourage the use of a terminal is when I am giving instructions (any normal user would never need know it existed) - why? because the same command always does the same thing, a complex set of instructions involving menus and icons is much harder to follow. Really the terminal is not archaic and it is not the only, or for most people, the best way of doing anything (on the other hand it is exceedingly powerful to those who can use it - you could consider it some sort of art or tallent...)
  • SteeleJK, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Hmm, I think PCs are used more in businesses. Every Federal and State institution uses PCs as well as the entire U.S. military. Your statement also seems to suggest that if there were games on Mac's that users would not play them because they run businesses all the time. People I see around with Macs aren't running businesses; they're looking around most of the time to see if other people are checking out their Mac.
  • jemka, on 04/11/2008, -2/+3EPIC BURN
  • mossblaser, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Slow and heavy on resources, but effective for the novice user, not to say its anywhere near the best.
  • expert01, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1The way I read it, this isn't all the viruses ever made, it's the number of new viruses detected by Symantec in 2007.
  • Kwipper, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1It's over one mill.... wait.. no. That joke has been done to death.
  • rajivan, on 04/11/2008, -2/+3That million is only the ones that are known to exist. How many are on your PC that you know nothing about?
  • karlaredor, on 04/14/2008, -0/+1this makes sense to me
    that's why it's good to be deviant at times..
  • inactive, on 04/11/2008, -1/+2You mean for cretins who can't untick a ***** check box? Screw you.
  • mossblaser, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1Bye bye spam!
  • inactive, on 04/11/2008, -2/+3You managed to a virus that doesn't exist? ***** retard.
  • brianara3, on 04/11/2008, -0/+1... haha, cancel security. Those were the days.
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