Is a Windows 7 standard account as safe as OSX ?

[JEBB]

To expand: Is Win 7 as unlikely to get a virus as a Mac given that the administrators password must be entered to install a program?

[Rolando]

In my experience, no. My daughter's Dell is constantly getting hacked by simple links. MS Security Essentials helps, but it still sucks. She is a standard user, I am the Admin.

[cbelt3]

To simplify: No.

To scare-ify: HELL No.

The admin controls may stop you from 'installing' some programs, but lots of malware waltzes right past it or around it. For example: Hit a "Pornado", and it will load you up with toolbars and tracking cookies and remap your favorites, etc... I could go on.

The only thing more secure than OSX is a computer NOT connected to the internet. Ever. Or flash drives, floppes, CD's, etc.

[silvarios]

cbelt3 wrote:
The only thing more secure than OSX is a computer NOT connected to the internet. Ever. Or flash drives, floppes, CD's, etc.

OpenBSD? FreeBSD and NetBSD aren't bad either. There's some pretty locked down Linux distros as well. Don't hate on the *NIX cousins.

[JEBB]

That's what I thought. But can a "Pornado" install programs (viruses) without requiring that the admin password be entered?

[cbelt3]

JEBB wrote:
That's what I thought. But can a "Pornado" install programs (viruses) without requiring that the admin password be entered?

It cannot install 'programs'. But it can install things that have the same effect, due to how M$ designed the OS. Malware takes many forms. Active X ? Gotcha. Acrobat ? Zap ! Flash malware ? Ooh ! Shiny ! Click on this Toolbar ? You've been tooled up !

Even OSX can be affected by malware, as in the recent case of the Safari Hunt... a driveby malware.

Silv-

I still consider 'ux versions to be too much effort. I work with computers all day. I don't want to have to eff with one at home.