For a long time now, people have asked me: "PC or Mac?" This question is usually raised while I am there fixing a problem. The next question that is asked is "I heard that Mac's don't get viruses, is that true?"
Well, here is an excerpt from Macworld Magazine:
Macworld - When it comes to security, using Windows can feel like living in the heart of a big city--the kind of place where you can install all the locks and alarms you want, but you still worry. The vast number of computer users who run Microsoft operating systems form the biggest, juiciest target cybercriminals could dream of. Which is why there are more than twenty-two million unique examples of Windows malware out there.
Using the Mac, by contrast, is like living in the country. Even if you don't arm your home like a fortress, chances are vastly lower that anyone will break in, simply because the Mac is a much less attractive target to bad guys. Documented examples of OS X viruses and spyware doing damage to real Mac users remain astoundingly rare. So while OS X security software such as Norton Anti-Virus certainly exists, a high percentage of Mac users do without it.
Which is not to say switching to the Mac means you should stop worrying about Internet risks entirely. Like any operating system, OS X isn't hacker-proof: Apple regularly releases fixes for newly-discovered vulnerabilities, and is sometimes criticized for moving too slowly to do so. And some threats and annoyances, such as phishing and spam, aren't platform-specific.
For more Macintosh news, visit Macworld.com.
Story copyright 2009 Mac Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
So, the long of the short is, both computers are vulernerable to attacks. For the time being, most hackers/ programmers attack the biggest pockets, the most users and at this time it is PC users. HOWEVER Macs can and do get infected as well. SO BE PREPARED with either machine that you decide to go with.
So please, don't make a purchase over this single issue. If you have questions, please ask.
