If you listen to all the FUD (Fear Uncertanty and Doubt) spread in the last two weeks about all the new Mac OS X viruses and security flaws, you would think the headline Viruses take over Apple Macintosh PC’s around the world was true. I even heard on the C|Net Buzz Out Loud podcast someone saying “Take that Leo Laporte!” (in reference to him often recommending Macintosh computers instead of Windows PC’s to new users. A recommendation that I also make)
It’s as if all the Microsoft Windows users of the world want more Macintosh viruses and security flaws – almost as if more OS X flaws makes the Windows users feel more secure about themselves.

My website and my b-l*g are for beginners and non-experts, so I want to keep this simple, but lets check the score, shall we?

Apple viruses and security flaws discovered in the last 10 days: 3
Windows security flaws (not viruses, just flaws) discovered in the same timeframe: 10

Total Apple or OS X viruses currently in the wild: 3
Total Windows viruses currently in the wild: 5,000? 10,000? 20,000? Can anyone really even keep track?

Total Apple or OS X spyware apps in the wild: 0 ? (if you know of one, email me!)
Total Windows spyware apps in the wild: 1,000? 5,000? Lets just say a lot

Total Apple or OS X trojan horse apps in the wild: 1 ? (also counted in my virus total)
Total Windows trojan horse apps in the wild: 500? 1,000? 5,000? (we’ll just say a lot again)

Average time to fix a new security flaw:
I recall reading recently that the average time for Microsoft to fix a security flaw in Windows was 120 days (someone correct me if I’m wrong and email me the source of the information)
I recall reading recently that Apple fixes it’s flaws (security or just ‘bugs’) in 14 days (again, someone correct me if I’m wrong)

Now, lets pretend that I’m way off on all my numbers – Lets say that all my Microsoft Windows numbers are too high by 50%, then lets say that all my Apple numbers are too low by 50% – Where does that leave us?

Operating systems are big, complex piles of bits and bytes – and no OS is perfect. But if you had to decide today which was “safe” or safer to use, which one would you choose? You do the math and let me know.

PS: I am a bi-computational person – I go both ways – Mac and Windows. I’m just presenting the facts as I see them.