More on the security front

Yes, I
am going to post a response to the response of the response to my item on Mac OS X security. It'll be quick and to the point, but I need to write it. Because, frankly, I think it deserves more discussion.

There's a certain line one needs to be wary of when putting OS X security into perspective. Right now, there seems to be two camps: The "Meh, It's OS X; We're Safe" platoon, leisurely dressed in sweat pants and a Margaritaville t-shirt; and then there's the "OMG We're All Gonna Die And All You Idiots Who Think You're Safe Are The First To Go!" bloc, clad in camouflage overalls carrying an emergency survival kit and ducked under the bushes. And,
unfortunately, both sides are totally off-base.

When I originally wrote that I believe OS X is safe, I
meant that I believe OS X is safe. You wanna know why? Because right now, it is. Naysayers and doomsday enthusiasts would have you believe that if a hacker sneezes in the wrong direction, all of our files will be instantly deleted, our children kidnapped, and the rest of our lives destined to eternal damnation in hell. And people have been predicting The Coming Apocalypse for years — and yet we are still safe.

Yes, OS X is at risk. Yes, eventually we'll be hit by a nasty virus that may or may not wreak havoc on the community at large. Yes,
being naive about security is a sure-fire method of landing yourself a one-way ticket to loony land. But preaching these notions like they're the Divine Word and endorsing a life of constant vigilance and behind-the-shoulder glancing does nothing more than promote a needless Culture of Fear and unnecessary worry.

Everyone knows OS X is safe. And many know that OS X can't be safe forever. The constant bombardment of "You could die at any freakin' moment!" is not only absurd, it's downright pointless. So be wary — but don't be paranoid.
That was my point.