I want to make sure I'm absolutely safe. Long, and lots of questions!

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What do these console messages mean?

4/23/10 4:06:32 PM com.apple.WindowServer[205] Fri Apr 23 16:06:32 Freds-MacBook.local WindowServer[205] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
4/23/10 4:16:14 PM [0x0-0x1b01b].com.apple.SoftwareUpdate[214] / locked; waiting for lock.
4/23/10 4:16:24 PM [0x0-0x1b01b].com.apple.SoftwareUpdate[214] Lock acquired; proceeding.
4/23/10 4:16:24 PM [0x0-0x1b01b].com.apple.SoftwareUpdate[214] /: no supported helper partitions to update.
4/23/10 4:32:39 PM com.apple.launchd[1] *** launchd[1] has started up. ***
4/23/10 4:32:53 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.smb.sharepoints[24]) Exited with exit code: 71
4/23/10 4:33:22 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[81] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
4/23/10 4:33:25 PM fontd[99] Database content version mismatch (stored(10) != expected(13))
4/23/10 4:33:26 PM [0x0-0x6006].SoftwareUpdateCheck[96] SoftwareUpdateCheck: network unreachable
4/23/10 4:33:26 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[81] ([0x0-0x6006].SoftwareUpdateCheck[96]) Exited with exit code: 3
4/23/10 4:33:26 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.suhelperd[101]) Exited with exit code: 2
4/23/10 4:33:30 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[81] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[110]) Exited with exit code: 1
4/23/10 4:33:37 PM iCal Helper[116] In-place migration failed. Trying to restore from the truth files...
4/23/10 4:33:46 PM com.apple.coreservicesd[48] ThrottleProcessIO: throttling disk i/o
4/23/10 4:33:46 PM com.apple.coreservicesd[48] ThrottleProcessIO: throttling disk i/o
4/23/10 5:43:29 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.suhelperd[147]) Exited with exit code: 2
4/23/10 5:43:29 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[81] ([0x0-0x15015].com.apple.SoftwareUpdate[145]) Exited: Killed
4/23/10 5:43:30 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[81] (com.apple.AirPortBaseStationAgent[112]) Exited: Killed
4/23/10 5:43:31 PM com.apple.WindowServer[156] Fri Apr 23 17:43:31 Freds-MacBook.local WindowServer[156] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
4/23/10 5:44:16 PM [0x0-0x1a01a].com.apple.SoftwareUpdate[162] /: no supported helper partitions to update.
4/23/10 5:44:44 PM com.apple.launchd[1] *** launchd[1] has started up. ***
4/23/10 5:45:05 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.smb.sharepoints[23]) Exited with exit code: 71
4/23/10 5:45:09 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
4/23/10 5:45:13 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[100]) Exited with exit code: 1
4/23/10 5:46:41 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.suhelperd[114]) Exited with exit code: 2
4/23/10 5:51:45 PM Safari[122] -[NSProcessInfo enableSuddenTermination] has been invoked more times than necessary to balance invocations of -[NSProcessInfo disableSuddenTermination]. Ignoring.
4/23/10 5:51:51 PM com.apple.WindowServer[55] Fri Apr 23 17:51:51 Freds-MacBook.local WindowServer[55] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
4/23/10 5:54:39 PM Safari[136] -[NSProcessInfo enableSuddenTermination] has been invoked more times than necessary to balance invocations of -[NSProcessInfo disableSuddenTermination]. Ignoring.
4/23/10 5:58:46 PM Safari[147] -[NSProcessInfo enableSuddenTermination] has been invoked more times than necessary to balance invocations of -[NSProcessInfo disableSuddenTermination]. Ignoring.

4/23/10 10:03:56 PM DiskImages UI Agent[350] *** -[NSMachPort handlePortMessage:]: dropping incoming DO message because the connection or ports are invalid
4/23/10 10:03:56 PM [0x0-0x32032].com.apple.DiskImageMounter[341] 2010-04-23 22:03:56.498 DiskImages UI Agent[350:903] *** -[NSMachPort handlePortMessage:]: dropping incoming DO message because the connection or ports are invalid
4/23/10 10:12:38 PM System Preferences[420] *** AGCAttach() failed
4/24/10 12:51:37 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[80] (com.apple.AirPortBaseStationAgent[102]) Exited: Killed
4/24/10 1:04:38 PM com.apple.launchd[1] *** launchd[1] has started up. ***
4/24/10 1:04:59 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.smb.sharepoints[23]) Exited with exit code: 71
4/24/10 1:05:01 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
4/24/10 1:05:03 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[97]) Exited with exit code: 1
4/24/10 1:05:10 PM com.apple.WindowServer[50] Sat Apr 24 13:05:10 Freds-MacBook.local WindowServer[50] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
4/24/10 1:05:11 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.AirPortBaseStationAgent[99]) Exited: Killed
4/24/10 1:05:19 PM com.apple.launchd[1] *** launchd[1] has started up. ***
4/24/10 1:05:37 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.smb.sharepoints[23]) Exited with exit code: 71
4/24/10 1:05:40 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
4/24/10 1:05:41 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[97]) Exited with exit code: 1
4/24/10 1:33:11 PM [0x0-0xe00e].org.mozilla.firefox[122] Debugger() was called!
4/24/10 1:46:56 PM [0x0-0xe00e].org.mozilla.firefox[122] [NoScript] document is null while processing JS redirects
4/24/10 2:45:50 PM [0x0-0x10010].org.mozilla.firefox[162] Debugger() was called!
4/24/10 2:49:01 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.suhelperd[173]) Exited with exit code: 2
4/24/10 2:52:13 PM System Preferences[201] KVO autonotifying only supports -set<Key>: methods that return void. Autonotifying will not be done for invocations of -[BroadcomHostController setPowerState:].
4/24/10 2:52:26 PM System Preferences[204] Could not connect the action resetLocationWarningsSheetOk: to target of class AppleSecurity_Pref
4/24/10 2:52:26 PM System Preferences[204] Could not connect the action resetLocationWarningsSheetCancel: to target of class AppleSecurity_Pref
4/24/10 3:14:39 PM [0x0-0x24024].org.mozilla.firefox[260] Debugger() was called!
4/24/10 3:56:54 PM com.apple.WindowServer[54] Sat Apr 24 15:56:54 Freds-MacBook.local WindowServer[54] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.
4/24/10 3:56:55 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.AirPortBaseStationAgent[99]) Exited: Killed
4/24/10 4:50:07 PM com.apple.launchd[1] *** launchd[1] has started up. ***
4/24/10 4:50:26 PM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.smb.sharepoints[23]) Exited with exit code: 71
4/24/10 4:50:29 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self
4/24/10 4:50:31 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[77] (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[98]) Exited with exit code: 1
4/24/10 4:54:02 PM [0x0-0xf00f].org.mozilla.firefox[133] Debugger() was called!
 
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Just ignore boot up procedures and Console, and Terminal, is really for advanced users and techos. Do not worry so much or go back to Windows so you do have something to worry about and it may all be justified. Macs work and if you use proper browsing, trojans will not be a worry and of courtse as you have been told there is no Mac OS X virus, not a single one.
 
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New2theMac... listen... Security updates mean the same thing as they did in Windows. They are precautions. If you download them, you'll be fine. Apple seems to find potential threats quickly and move to patch them up before you need to worry about them.

Seriously, your attempts to make your Mac more secure are probably causing more damage than any potential malware. Your router has a firewall... so does your Mac. You are fine.

Now stop worrying about that stuff and get to actually using your Mac. By worrying excessively you are missing out on the joys of exploring your new computer.
 
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Maybe we are approaching this wrong. Everyone says Mac is more secure than Windows but no one gives a reason why. So before you keep asking about random things happening on your computer please try to understand why the Mac (or Unix in general) is better than Windows.

So lets start with the bad - Windows has its roots from being a desktop operating system. So basically one person would be logging in and using the computer. A lot of the vulnerabilities came from the fact that one user had complete control over the machine. Also this registry concept - 1 registry for the whole machine, made it very difficult to protect the machine. A lot of malware puts data into the registry. The point is when you log into a windows machine you are an administrator with full rights to screw with anything. In Vista and Windows 7 they have cleaned up a lot of this but their implementation of user access control is crap. But I digress - with all the updates and latest browsers and virus protection/malware protection you are pretty safe with Windows Vista/7. It's like Ford - people still remember the bad old days even though it doesn't apply to today's cars.

Mac OSX is based on BSD Linux which is a form of Unix. Unix as an operating system was designed to be on a network with multiple users. Mac's whole architecture is designed so that only 1 login can really truly screw up the system. That login is the root login. When you create an account you can set them up to be Administrator and you can do a lot on your machine but there are still a few things that are off limits until you enable the root account. So most people just log in as administrator and use that one account. If you want to be truly safe - setup a second account as a standard user. Even if some virus or malware gets loaded onto your computer - a standard user cannot modify system files. So that limits any malware/spying/virus to that one user. If worse comes to worse you could just delete the user that is infected and start again. The only way to modify system files is to log in with an Administrator login or Root login - so you would really have to not be paying attention to get something installed that is system wide. This is especially true with a standard account - because you'd have to put in the username AND password to modify the system. So if anything tried to put itself onto the system requiring Administrator Access you'd see the login dialog pop up. If you aren't expecting to modify system files - then don't log in, nothing gets installed.

If you look around most trojans/viruses/worms/attacks for a Unix based system revolve around getting the root login because a standard user has very little power to do anything useful unless they are logged in.

So if you are ultra ultra paranoid you could make another login purely for "safe browsing" and Safe programs (Quicken for example). Use that login to go to known sites, like your bank, 401k, credit card, etc - and those sites only. That way even if you had some kind of keylogger/malware etc it wouldn't get anything useful because your other login is the one you use for your financial information. Note this is Uber paranoid to the point of crazy but some people are like that.

Anyway the point of this long post is you are allowed to be paranoid - but there are reasons why Unix style operating systems don't have many viruses. And don't let the windows hype fool you - yes the majority of desktops are windows - but most of the Web runs Linux. If it were easy to attack Unix machines with Malware people would have done it to attack web servers too. That is not to say you should be lax in updating and watching what you do - be ever vigilant, but understand what it takes to actually affect a Mac system, take a breath, and be glad you switched.

If you want a personal story - my father in law was a windows user until I bought him a mac mini G4 in 2002. I would spend hours cleaning his windows machine every time I visited. Finally I got fed up and bought him a Mac. He hasn't looked back and he hasn't got infected with anything since. Now he does get a lot of spam but that is a different story for a different time...
 
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Why did you reformat just because you didn't like the software?? Who EVER looks at the file size of a browser, unless you really just don't have any space? Unless you are visiting some really questionable sites and downloading all kinds of things you shouldn't be, then what's the worry? I dodn't even have antivirus software on my PC, and it runs all day, every day. I have not had av on it for about the last 3 yrs. and even I am not paranoid about it! Relax, or give up the computer - you're apt to ruin it just by tinkering with it so much.
 
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Hate to say it Mr. Drums, but your PC, if connected to the internet, is likely infected. AV for a Windows PC is a must and if I remember correctly there was an experiment that showed a PC getting infected within 15 seconds of being attached to an open network. I'd never recommend running one without AV. Mac and UNIX are totally different beasts.
 
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New2theMac... listen... Security updates mean the same thing as they did in Windows. They are precautions. If you download them, you'll be fine. Apple seems to find potential threats quickly and move to patch them up before you need to worry about them.

Seriously, your attempts to make your Mac more secure are probably causing more damage than any potential malware. Your router has a firewall... so does your Mac. You are fine.

Now stop worrying about that stuff and get to actually using your Mac. By worrying excessively you are missing out on the joys of exploring your new computer.

second.
also second chsag's earlier post.
 
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Hate to say it Mr. Drums, but your PC, if connected to the internet, is likely infected. AV for a Windows PC is a must and if I remember correctly there was an experiment that showed a PC getting infected within 15 seconds of being attached to an open network. I'd never recommend running one without AV. Mac and UNIX are totally different beasts.

HOld on a sec there - the whole reason i switched is because I love 'nix. Having the power, stability and security of unix with a decent GUI is what its all about.
OSX is indeed unix-like.
 
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I think he meant "different than Windows."
 
C

chas_m

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Now I'm not as scared as I was. And honestly the questions that I have now are just me wanting to learn about things. The more I know about these issues the less I may fear them because then I would hopefully know I wouldn't have them.

It's really infuriating to me that this is what Windows does to people -- it makes them so scared and intimidated by their own computers and the internet.

Getting back to the Apple security updates for example. I'm told there is no threat at all even if I didn't have them installed.

You have never been told there is no threat.

What you HAVE been told is that there are no viruses or ways for people to remotely "hack" your machine, and that continues to be true.

There are still things that can happen to your computer that are out of your control, ranging from simple Denial of Service attacks to physical theft to certain kinds of (light by Windows standards) malware. Every computer that is out of its box is prone to these sorts of attacks, but on the Mac it is very rare for users to be affected by any of them, and with a modicum of common sense you'll be like most of us and have no issues with security.

And by "common sense" I mean simple things like installing security updates from Software Update, not pirating software, not falling for phishing scams or identity theft scams. The Mac can protect you from viruses but it can't protect you from stupidity. :)

So my question is if there was no threat at all then what was the purpose of the release? What exactly do they protect people from?

Have you ever owned a car?

What is the purpose of an oil change or a tuneup when the car is still running perfectly satisfactorily?

Answer: to prevent future problems.

I'm also curious about going to "bad" websites. By bad I mean stuff with spyware/adware/malware/bad internet stuff. Let me absolutely assure you I won't be going to one on purpose and I do my best to avoid them. I understand there are no viruses for the Mac, but if you go to a bad website while on a Mac there's nothing bad that could happen at all?

See above. "Bad" websites mean something different to Mac users than to Windows users. Our idea of "bad" websites refer to sites that try to trick you into giving out passwords (by masquerading as legitimate sites), bank info, identify info as so forth.

PC users would see this as "bad" too, but they also include sites with malicious pop-ups, virus-spreading, zombie-infecting, fake anti-virus "checks" and a million other problems. Macs aren't affected by those, but again -- Macs can't protect you from stupidity.

I was also curious as to what everyone's security practices here are. Obviously don't download and install just anything. Be very frugal with what you give your administrator password out for. But is there anything else anyone does to stay safe while on the internet.

Actually, I do none of those things. I download unstable betas and programs I know nothing about all day long (it's part of my job). No problems. Why?

BECAUSE I'M ON A MAC.

You really SERIOUSLY need to let go of this fear. Common sense (if you have any) will provide you with all the protection you need. Let me repeat this AGAIN:

*YOU ARE SAFE ON THE INTERNET USING A MAC.*

Not being paranoid, just wanting to learn :)

With respect, you're being awfully slow on the uptake. To wit:

Sorry for the double post, but I have another question. I decided I wanted to try out Little Snitch.

THIS is why you're coming across as a paranoid nut. Talk about asking for a wheelbarrow full of new fevered fantasies and imaginary issues!!

You've just downloaded a program you WILL NOT understand. You just don't have the background. It will give you all kinds of messages you won't understand and will assume the worst about.

Please take my advice and uninstall it IMMEDIATELY and forget you ever heard of it. You're actively seeking to create more problems for yourself instead of doing what you should be doing: learning the Mac.
 
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Hate to say it Mr. Drums, but your PC, if connected to the internet, is likely infected. AV for a Windows PC is a must and if I remember correctly there was an experiment that showed a PC getting infected within 15 seconds of being attached to an open network. I'd never recommend running one without AV. Mac and UNIX are totally different beasts.

You're kidding right? I've been running Windows XP and Windows 7 on multiple different computers without AV for years. No problems whatsoever.

It's called common sense. Learn it and love it.
 
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You're kidding right? I've been running Windows XP and Windows 7 on multiple different computers without AV for years. No problems whatsoever.

It's called common sense. Learn it and love it.

No, I am not kidding and common sense has nothing to do with it. There are viruses that will simply scan IPs looking for a system to infect (blaster comes to mind looking for open RPC ports). Your box is likely infected...

For Windows AV is not an option. Malware is what you are thinking of which can be avoided if you are careful about what you click on.

I'd say your common sense needs a little adjusting. ;)
 
C

chas_m

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DaFlake:

I have, for years now, won a sizable sums of money (usually in the form of free drinks) from Windows users who thought like jnev.

They claim they don't have any viruses/malware. They are careful but they don't use any anti-virus.

I then run a few such detection programs (you need more than one, like you need more than one AV solution for PCs). Lo and behold, they are in fact teeming with spyware, suspect cookies, and often at least a few "zombie" processes. Maybe not a destructive "VIRUS!!" per se, but something harmful to their security nonetheless.

"Huh, so THAT'S why my computer's been running more sluggishly lately," they'll say.

"Where's my free drinks?" say I.

Of course, I'm **sure** that jnev is the exception that proves this rule -- O:) -- but I'm just relating my experience. Perfect record so far, 25 years in ...
 

Slydude

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I used to watch a couple of the computer shows on TechTV when it was still worth watching.As I demo I seem to remember them putting a PC on the net without AV software. Don't remember if they were behind a router/ hardware firewall as these were still over $100 and not exactly "common" at the time.

In short order their test system had massive problems due to a variety of spyware, trojans and, other garbage. As I recall it took several programs (four I think) to detect and remove all the unwanted stuff.
 

dtravis7


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Chas, I see what you are talking about weekly. Only issue is most of my clients are close friends of late so I can't ask for much as most have done so much for me in the past. It's amazing what running those virus and malware apps will find.
 
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DaFlake and Chas...

No AV and no probs, no malware......Sorry, but true, you'll have to take my word for it. They are very easy to stay away from. No hangs, no "sluggish" behavior, etc. A perfectly clean system......(I have run some malware software from time to time, and just did to prove my point, and....sorry, no problems).

I did have a what I thought was a virus about a yr. ago. BSOD, random shutdowns - thought it had caught up to me. But it turned out to be a fried processor....once replaced, I was up and running again, with no AV and no problems.

It can be done, at least for the home user.
 
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How do you know you don't have a virus? Some lay dormant until activated and others simply use your machine to attack other networks and computers. Just because you don't have a machine that is acting sluggish does not mean that you are not infected. Your machine could be being used to attack other computers and you wouldn't even know it.

Most ISP companies offer free AV or you can download it for free from some companies so there really is no excuse not to run it. As an IT professional I would never recommend a Windows computer without AV.
 

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