Is spyware an issue in OS X?

[Chazam]

Hi all.
I was wondering if spyware is or ever will be a problem on the mac? I have just cleaned my brother's PC, AGAIN.
I hope not.........

 

[adambyte]

No.


We Mac Addicts generally get only the software we wanted in the first place.

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

I download stuff constantly and there isn't one bit of spyware for Mac OS X (yet).

 

[btoth]

I think that spyware would be more difficult to install and hide from the users in Mac OS X. Most software installs are drag & drop and it's usually very easy to monitor what processes are running in the background. I suppose it could be possible to install something into one of the hidden unix folders and setup a startup item or shell script... I would still think they'd be easier to track down and remove than on Windows. Plus, unlike in Windows, malware would need Admin privileges to alter any system-level files.

 

[Ricky]

This gives me a question to ask you all...

Is spyware legal?

 

[fryke]

If you want to make sure that such applications don't hose your system, try Little Snitch (google it). But: I have yet to find such a problem on a Mac...

 

[Cheryl]

This gives me a question to ask you all...

Is spyware legal?

That is what is being discussed in Congress (U.S.) and elsewhere. And where do you draw the line as cookies could be classified as spyware.


The Mac does not have a problem with spyware, viruses or worms as the hackers do not want to bother with the smaller market share. So as the Mac becomes more popular, we have to be ahead of the game and be prepared.

 

[Travis86]

Dreamweaver MX 2004 is the only program for the Mac that I know of that contians spyware. Other Macromedia software may do the same thing. That's why I bought GoLive.

I hear that Little Snitch stops programs from phoning home, but it's $25.

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Dreamweaver MX 2004 doesn't contain spyware... where'd you hear that?

 

[Travis86]

According to this, it phones home to authenticate.

I really should have clarified and said that it doesn't send you spam, log keystrokes, or anything like that. It's very minimal spyware.

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Macromedia makes it no secret that you're going to need to activate the software over the internet -- in fact, it's part of the set up process. That's not spyware. It's not tracking anything you do. It's not harvesting personal information and sending it somewhere. It's making sure the license you're using was purchased by you and that you are legally using the software. Phoning home, like Dreamweaver, is different from spyware. Spyware must be stealth and operate below your awareness, hence "spy"ware.

It's also possible to override that function by registering over the telephone.