Carlo_M
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 1997
- Messages
- 13,392
Yes excellent point. You are the computer admin in Mac OS, but you do have to put in your password when you want to install/update programs or do anything that messes with sys files. Keep your password short (and if your Mac is secure, i.e. you live alone and no one just powers it up and uses it, leave it blank--not recommended but you be the judge), and it's not a problem.
At first I was like "WTF, password again?!?!" but now that I understand that is a key gateway to preventing spyware, malware, viruses, etc. from unintentionally grabbing hold of your Mac, I'm very content to punch it in. If that's the price I pay not to have to run spyware and virus software (which drains your system performance and potentially creates conflicts), then so be it.
By the way, viruses are written for Mac. Those nasties can get into any OS. The point is that Mac is so low on market share it's not worth it for the virus writers to target Macs. But they do exist and you shouldn't go around willy nilly executing any program or dmg that you come across on the web or in an email. Stick to that, and you'll pretty much be golden
At first I was like "WTF, password again?!?!" but now that I understand that is a key gateway to preventing spyware, malware, viruses, etc. from unintentionally grabbing hold of your Mac, I'm very content to punch it in. If that's the price I pay not to have to run spyware and virus software (which drains your system performance and potentially creates conflicts), then so be it.
By the way, viruses are written for Mac. Those nasties can get into any OS. The point is that Mac is so low on market share it's not worth it for the virus writers to target Macs. But they do exist and you shouldn't go around willy nilly executing any program or dmg that you come across on the web or in an email. Stick to that, and you'll pretty much be golden