terratogen wrote:
Then should we not be making fun of Boston?

I don't know if you are being serious. Through a series of different advertisements Apple has created the impression that their computers are not vulnerable to attack. This is both incorrect and irresponsible.

The dialog boxes that this ad pokes fun at are designed to provide the user with knowledge of and control over which applications are issuing network transactions. There are probably better ways to design that control from a UI standpoint, but they are not a totally silly idea. In OSX not only do you not have such control, but the user interface actually lies to you and tells you that you have control that you do not have.

Ultimately, I'd agree that if you were the operator of a fake bomb squad with a bunch of card board cutouts that were supposed to look like vehicles and police officers, and you were operating this fake bomb squad in a small town in Kansas, and you went on television and said "Look at how stupid Boston's bomb squad is! Here in Bumfuck, Kansas we don't have a problem with bombs. Our bomb squad is totally awesome!" you'd be an obnoxious jerk. Thats not the same thing as saying Boston's bomb squad is beyond criticism. Its just that you'd have no right to be the person doing that criticism.

RE: Mac Ads: Vista Security