Apple Invites Kaspersky to Improve OS X Security

[btarunr]

Weeks after security mogul Eugene Kaspersky opined that Apple is "10 years behind Microsoft on security," Kaspersky Lab revealed that it is collaborating with Apple to investigate security concerns (read: vulnerabilities) of its operating systems, and improve its security. Kaspersky Lab CTO Nikolai Grebennikov in an interview with Computing.co.uk was quoted saying "Apple recently invited us to improve its security."

Kaspersky Lab maintains that Apple's software is extremely vulnerable, going as far as to claim that Apple doesn't pay enough attention to security. "Our first investigations show Apple doesn't pay enough attention to security. For example, Oracle closed a vulnerability in Java, which was a target for a major botnet several months ago," said Grebennikov. Apple's decision to handle updates of Java runtime environment for OS X by itself, breaking away from Oracle's update cycle, particularly drew flack from Grebennikov. "Apple blocked Oracle from updating Java on Mac OS, and they perform all the udpates themselves. They only released the patch a few weeks ago – two or three months after the Oracle patch. That's far too long," he said. Kaspersky isn't too optimistic about the infinitely more popular iOS platform, either. "Our experience tells us that in the near future, perhaps in a year or so, we will see the first malware targeting iOS," it commented.

Source: Computing.co.uk

[Completely Bonkers]

Smart move by Apple. Better to put them on the payroll and help improve security, than to leave them outside knocking down the iOS door (*cough cough*)

[Beertintedgoggles]

Originally Posted by Completely Bonkers

Smart move by Apple. Better to put them on the payroll and help improve security, than to leave them outside knocking down the iOS door (*cough cough*)

Agreed, this is actually a smart PR move on Apple's part.

[FordGT90Concept]

It's not like Apple doesn't have money to burn. Why not burn it on a legitmate concern for a change? XD

[tacosRcool]

At least they admit it, sorta

[morphy]

In other words, we'll pay you a boatload of money and next time you'll write warm fuzzy things about Apple's security.

[v12dock]

Contracting Kaspersky to fix there security... Smart move apple

[1Kurgan1]

Wait I don't understand, when I bought my Apple computer the salesman told me it's better because it doesn't get viruses...

[Shihabyooo]

Originally Posted by 1Kurgan1

Wait I don't understand, when I bought my Apple computer the salesman told me it's better because it doesn't get viruses...

False Advertisement. Get yo lawyers ready!

[D007]

Lol, it's about time.. I mean it only took them getting affected by a 20 year old virus, wide spread throughout their systems, to realize their security sucks.. But better late than never I guess..

[NC37]

I hope this is a sign of Apple getting smart with OSX. For years they have kept the OS behind because they demanded to be in control of every little update. Every aspect of the system was built for perfect compatibility with Apple overseeing every step. What did that get them...a corvette body with a geo metro engine. OpenGL on OSX is a laughing stock. Performance is crap compared to PCs. Security was too but now they are bringing in outside help.

It is about time the iron OSX curtain comes down. Maybe in another decade we'll finally have open OSX which doesn't require Apple hardware/hackintosh to run on. Then Apple can focus on OSX and becoming more monopolistic, rather than giving us dated hardware and weak specs.

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by D007

Lol, it's about time.. I mean it only took them getting affected by a 20 year old virus, wide spread throughout their systems, to realize their security sucks.. But better late than never I guess..

The best security you can design is a low selling product that no one even cares to attack. But when you PR it enough and enough morons buy it based on the fact that it can't be attacked (simply because no one wanted to before), and it becomes popular and gets attacked, then it becomes pretty funny.

[ensabrenoir]

Hhhhhmmmmmm........ Maybe hope for them yet.....baby step....yet a step nonetheless

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by ensabrenoir

Hhhhhmmmmmm........ Maybe hope for them yet.....baby step....yet a step nonetheless

[Steevo]

You all do know that if a new virus infects an apple with system level access it can disable the anti-virus and take over the system the same as on a PC, and thus the reason Microsoft still releases parches for XP, and has the need to release patches even for machines that have anti-virus. the same access anti-virus has to any machine is the same hole that could be exploited to disable and infect the machine.



Only rootkit type anti-virus that slows a whole machine horrible would make it semi-immune to infection.

So no matter what Apple, Microsoft or anyone else does there will still be ways to infect machines and disable them, or infect and use them.


But, at least apple is open to the idea their super secure system is as full of holes as my strainer.

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by Steevo

You all do know that if a new virus infects an apple with system level access it can disable the anti-virus and take over the system the same as on a PC, and thus the reason Microsoft still releases parches for XP, and has the need to release patches even for machines that have anti-virus. the same access anti-virus has to any machine is the same hole that could be exploited to disable and infect the machine.

Only rootkit type anti-virus that slows a whole machine horrible would make it semi-immune to infection.

So no matter what Apple, Microsoft or anyone else does there will still be ways to infect machines and disable them, or infect and use them.

But, at least apple is open to the idea their super secure system is as full of holes as my strainer.

But I swore that making an unpopular OS would mean it was immune to infection

[Mussels]

perform all the udpates themselves

whats an ud-pate?

[Solaris17]

Originally Posted by Mussels

whats an ud-pate?

apples form of updates. its currently a disputed copyright.

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by Solaris17

apples form of updates. its currently a disputed copyright.

^ It's the exact samething as an update, just they renamed it, re-boxed it (made it white), put a bunch of PR on it, and now everyone thinks they invented it.

[Moose]

The real key to not getting a virus is to have intelligent users something apple lacks, bigtime.

[Wile E]

Not long before the Mac virus apocalypse hits us.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Not long before the Mac virus apocalypse hits us.

you think that last massive botnet didnt count?

[Steevo]

What botnet, all apple users assumes it was a feature designed for them.

My MAC is running slowly, telling me to take time for myself........

[1Kurgan1]

Originally Posted by Steevo

What botnet, all apple users assumes it was a feature designed for them.

My MAC is running slowly, telling me to take time for myself........

Sadly it's true, using Mac's at school and listening to my Graphic Design Teacher who couldn't tell a CPU from an Apple (no pun intended), I found it very enjoyable to act completely clueless and ask her what happened when OS just locked up. Her advice, "restart the computer", she did hate to say that though and tried everything else first.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by Mussels

you think that last massive botnet didnt count?

No, because it was only one botnet so far. That's far from an apocalypse. Apocalypse is when it reaches XP virus absurdity.