Why are PC's so vulnerable to viruses?

2530>When Macintosh Computers (so i have heard) are almost impossible to get a virus on.
Reply:There is no computer OS that's safe. Just ones that aren't worth the bother because not enough people own them.





All computers use machine code:





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_cod...





in the end to do the actual work. So any OS can be targeted.





But why why does MS get targeted...here's an ugly analogy...





Why on 9/11 didn't the hijackers target an open field as opposed to the targets selected? Simple. The targets were selected because it offered maximum damage and maximum exposure. Sadly when people think 9/11 it's not about the people who died in PN or at the Pentagon.. it's almost always the WTC's.





So if you're writing software to take advantage of a computer exploit. Why would you waste time going after a small target?





When you go fishing do you try for the smallest fish in the lake or the largest?
Reply:I don't know.
Reply:If you are big,you are a big target.Windows is in a lot of pc.
Reply:why are some people evil? why do black widows kill their mates? why do we need XP service packs?... some things are just left up to God... and Bill Gates
Reply:It's not PCs that are vunerable to viruses. It's Microsoft Windows (in general) that is vulnerable to viruses. You can run Linux or Mac OS X on the same Intel PC and it won't be nearly as vulnerable.





Windows is a "growth medium" for viruses.
Reply:yea it must be about the money. They are making everything cheaper quality now.
Reply:allan has it right when he says that when you're big, you're a big target.





BUT, Macs, and even Linux can get viruses, too. They just don't get as many because they're not used as much. The point that allan made comes into play here.





And I think you may be on to something in your hypothesis about M$ making $$$$$$$ off of viruses/anti-virus vendors. You never know in today's marketing world what these behemoth companies are capable of!
Reply:PCs are not vulnerable to viruses - it is the careless users that catch viruses. If you have a good antivirus program and keep it on automatic update, run a scan frequently, do not open e-mail from anyone you don't know, don't frequent questionable websites -- you should be in pretty good shape.