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Installing software

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Jeff, I promise this one will be short! And any MacOS fans reading, I am not dissing your OS! I am simply pointing out that this problem has no easy solution :-)

A couple of days ago I wrote about the problems we face with usability versus security when installing software. Lucky for me, the experts over at Slashdot have come up with the answer -- just do what MacOS X does!

I will preface what I am about to say with the following: I do not own a Macintosh and I have never installed nor used iTunes. I would be very happy to hear from people who have installed and used iTunes on the Macintosh, because maybe they can explain what the experience is like.

Anyway, from what I can tell:

· iTunes connects to the internet

· iTunes reads and writes files to your disk

· iTunes can be installed by typical end-users

· iTunes is very popular (and therefore likely to be executed by eager users)

How then is the design of MacOS any more secure than Windows XP?

· NakedCelebrity.exe connects to the internet

· NakedCelebrity.exe reads and writes files to your disk

· NakedCelebrity.exe can be installed by typical end-users

· NakedCelebrity.exe is very popular (and therefore likely to be executed by eager users)

Now MacOS X may be a great operating system, but I don't see how they magically solve this problem. They still have to deal with the same two problems:

· End users want to install software

· You don't need to run as root / Administrator to do massive amounts of damage

Whatever steps OS X makes you go through to install iTunes (type in your password, reboot in single-user mode, stand on your head and spin three times, etc.) the user would just as happily go through to install NakedCelebrity.exe (or a Trojan pretending to be iTunes).

Oh, and in order to download iTunes from Apple, you have to have script enabled in your browser... which means I won't be downloading it any time soon.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    April 12, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    April 12, 2004
    Did you just say that you run with Active Scripting disabled?

    ie the product you help developed, you keep disabled?
  • Anonymous
    April 12, 2004
    "Oh, and in order to download iTunes from Apple, you have to have script enabled in your browser... which means I won't be downloading it any time soon."

    ...or taking off your tin-foil hat.
  • Anonymous
    April 12, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    April 13, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    April 13, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    April 14, 2004
    The comment has been removed