TOPIC: Apple for security and networking???

Hey guys,

I have been wanting to post this for awhile now regarding Apple in the networking and security. I have recently gone over to the other side to take a peak. I guess you could say I have one foot on the PC side and another on the Apple side.
I was at DefCon last year and I noticed about 70% of the crowd involved with the hacking competition were using Macs. So I broke down one day and I bought a small iBook 12" just to mess around. I noticed that I was able to find WiFi channels extremely fast and with great results. I was just wondering what everybody thought about Apple in the networking and security field.
I was curious as to why the Macs were able to find WiFi channels so quickly. I believe the new laptops out now are able to find WiFi channels, but my laptop that I bought about 2-3 years ago I have a little trouble finding open WiFi channels. I can see why Macs are used for Wardriving.

I hope I didn't create a post that everybody is going to tear me about for stepping to the Apple side But all in all if you could, please don't post rants about how using a Mac is so bad or how they "suck". I just wanted to know what everybody's view is on Apple in the Networking and Security world. 8)


ZiPPy

I don't have any experience on Mac but from what I've read about MacOS it is great in functionality!
Sahir would know better, but from monitoring the security lists for some time my impression is that OS X, like any general-use OS, has it's fair share of security flaws too. However it's secure design (BSD heritance) renders most of them non-critical, unlike windows where the simplest vulnerability brings the absolute hell!

Appart from that it would be unfair to judge one unix-based OS as more secure than an other, because there are many factors to consider, most of which are common and unpredictable (like third party software and user configuration). It is more easy to talk about "out of the box" and "default" security levels, since only these are really measurable, but it's only a part of the picture and rarely the only reason of a security comprisement.

About the difference in the WiFi performance that you noticed, it must be related to either the equipment, the driver, or the software used. However the same equipment is available for both PC and Mac with excellent drivers and there is plenty of software that utilizes the drivers to the maximum for every platform, so most likely Apple is only to be commended for picking up and putting them together

Good points nske. I just want to add that the relatively easy Wifi setup and good performance is due to the fact that since Apple have control over the hardware, they have taken advantage of this to make sure that the drivers work properly. Of course this statement applies only to built-in Wifi adapters, but I presume they will be in the majority.

According to the linux articles, "Linux is much more difficult for hackers to break into as it has been designed from the ground up with security in mind" and "...there are almost no viruses for Linux...," I was wondering if the same is true for Apple computers.

Thanks

The same things apply to mac osx. It's a very safe operating system based on bsd! And with some extra precautions you can make your mac very secure!