01-31-2010, 06:05 PM
As I understand it:
To install a program (virus) on a Mac, or any Unix-based system, that messes with the system files, the administrator has to give his permission by entering his password. The name 'virus' was adopted for such computer programs because they can propagate without permission (at least in Windows). It's rather like, in your biological world, of having to give your permission to become infected with a cold virus. Not much chance of that happening.
When holes, one-off vulnerabilities, are found in the extremely complicated Mac OS, Apple issues a fix, a security update and the problem is gone.
With Windows the lack of a requirement for the password makes installing programs (viruses) easy and a constant threat.
To install a program (virus) on a Mac, or any Unix-based system, that messes with the system files, the administrator has to give his permission by entering his password. The name 'virus' was adopted for such computer programs because they can propagate without permission (at least in Windows). It's rather like, in your biological world, of having to give your permission to become infected with a cold virus. Not much chance of that happening.
When holes, one-off vulnerabilities, are found in the extremely complicated Mac OS, Apple issues a fix, a security update and the problem is gone.
With Windows the lack of a requirement for the password makes installing programs (viruses) easy and a constant threat.