mike

hi guys-
So, I'm Mike Romo, I work as the product manager for Symantec--I make Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security.

(ducks, pauses for a few seconds, emerges)

So, I think the question itself needs to change. Like, there are no REAL viruses for the Mac. We know that. I mean, there have been a few, but none have really made it into the field..viruses are just not the big problem. This is true, totally.

We *are* seeing more malware on the Mac than we have before. You may have seen press releases from other security companies telling everyone about it every time one is found (we don't do that, I liken it to Microsoft sending out a press release whenever some successfully prints a document). We have even seen cross-platform pieces of malware out there..so, most virus products also protect against malware as well.

But those are just a few vectors, just a few kinds of threats, in a whole landscape of 'em out there. Our products protect against vulnerabilities as well--you know, the kinds of vulnerabilities you might find in browser plug-ins or applications, "holes" in code that allow malicious users to inject code onto your machine without your knowledge. These don't get talked about as often, but if you look security updates that get released from Apple and other companies, they are certainly issues they take very seriously. Again, just another avenue to watch and protect.

Our biggest focus right now is making sure your identity is safe. Our whole mission is to make sure that when you surf on the Internet, when you share files, when you shop...you are safe. I think that's the most real threat out there, and, for the most part, this is a platform agnostic threat. People need to make sure they have strong passwords. They need to make sure they are skeptical when clicking links in email. They need to do some research when shopping online to make sure the vendor is legit. They need to make sure they know what they are sharing on social networking sites. These are the threats that we are concerned about, and yes, we make software that helps protect you against many of these threats. And yes, viruses and malware--we protect against them. Of course we do. But that's...it's not 1995, you know? I mean, even if we could, we wouldn't put antivirus on an iPhone. Doesn't make any sense. I would love to provide better phishing protection for it, though, that's for sure. I would love to use our technologies to let you know whether or not an online shop is safe or not. Hopefully we'll see something at WWDC that will let us do that kind of thing.

Whenever I talk to the press or to customers, I encourage them to use ClamAV, to scan their machine once in awhile. But I also encourage them to make sure they are running Software Update (and applying those updates) at least once a week. If they are interested in more features and more comprehensive protection, I point them to our products, I point them to Intego's products, I point them to Trend's products...there are a lot of great solutions out there and more are coming--Windows stalwarts BitDefender and Kaspersky are both bring Mac products to the market, which I think is pretty interesting.

(Another thing that's interesting? The first version of Norton AntiVirus was actually the Mac version...made over 20 years ago. We were here first, and we're not going anywhere.)

I have been a Mac user since 1985, so I know the healthy skepticism people have about virus and security software. I also know that as a Mac IT guy I had to run Disinfectant many, many times when the Hong Kong virus was impacting my office. I remember when Berkeley Systems accidentally propagated a virus with the After Dark screensaver installer. Of course, these were awhile ago, but when people say that the Mac never gets viruses? Well...

So that's my 2¢. Do Mac users need antivirus software? It's a great question, but it's just one question in a much longer conversation. My position is that if a Mac user wants to run a security product, I know that my team and I are going to work hard to make the best product we can.


I hope you don't mind me chiming in. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mike_romo@symantec.com. I'll also check back here, too.

thanks!
mike

I have been holding off for v2...but hey...

In 1985, I got my first Mac as a graduation present...for 8th grade. My parents were able to leverage an educational discount, I guess, to get me:

- 1 Fat Mac (512k!)
- 1 external 400k floppy drive
- Imagewriter printer
- a 1200 Baud modem
- and Microsoft Multiplan! (!?!!?!?!)

It was literally the most important gift I have ever received--I used the thing nonstop, and to this day, I have never had to use a Windows machine, and I have gotten 90% of all of my jobs because of my Mac experience. In fact, today I work as a product manager making Mac software.

So, yeah--the Mac is a pretty big deal in my life.

thanks for the chance to share my story!
-mike

Best hangovers in a movie? Go check out "Withnail and I" -- there are several great hangovers to contend with, including the line, "There must and shall be aspirin!"

I am having the same problem with calendar invites. This is ridiculous.

I thought the gauges were annoying, mostly because they burned into my Samsung plasma. so annoying...had to run the clean up pattern all night.

losers.

get a life--seriously this is nothing short of embarrassing.

and yes, I get it, but still--it's super lame.

I would say most of the time I go to an Apple Store, the people who work there are pretty arrogant and irritating. I think when the stores first opened, they actually got old school Mac people who really knew what they were talking about, but after a few years, they left for better jobs, and now all we have are smart asses who think that just because they have used a Mac for a few years (if that) and work at the Apple Store, they know everything.

Apple's hubris as a company is trickling down to the stores and they would get called on a bit more often. Sure, there are a few people at the stores who are genuinely helpful and cool, but really, most of the time they just seem to be more interested in hanging out with other employees than helping you out or are just too cool to deign to talk with you. I think Apple needs to inject some humility into their culture--it was hubris that brought them to their knees in the 90s, and the way the economy is now, with people not making as much and perhaps not able to afford to join the Apple tribe these days...well, I just think they should watch out.

If you are wondering, the store that I have encountered the most arrogance have been The Grove store in LA. Man, there are so many jerks there...

If you do want to work there, just remember that not everyone is an expert at the Mac and that just because people have questions does not mean they are idiots.

uhm...it's cold out there, regardless of where you are from...it's a WET cold in SF and I cannot BELIEVE people are camping out for the keynote. I've been to a few and, well, it's cool and all, but it's not THAT cool. Good luck guys, at least you will get a seat.

but to pay that much for keynote and get pneumonia?

sigh, maybe I am just jaded.

Michael Bay's comment on this is kinda interesting:

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?s=3a9b34a28f525373ccd69cd67c7f0945&p=5874#post5874


"What you don't understand is corporate politics. Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads. That is the dirty secret no one is talking about. That is why Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth."