Explore the world of Mac. Check out MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and more. Visit the Apple site to learn, buy, and get support. The Mac OS X (Operating System Ten) Mac OS X is the newest in a long line of Graphical User Interface (GUI) operating systems, first started in 1984 (when the Apple Macintosh was introduced). The Macintosh and its operating system were based on the work done at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Complex), but not commercialized by Xerox.
The battle between the Operating Systems is very common these days. Why? because there are different operating systems that offer a different set of advantages and disadvantages.
But the worst part is choosing between them is becoming harder now. macOS, Windows or Linux?
So to make it easy for you, in this article, we are providing you with everything you need to know which one is better for you. So stay tuned for that.
But before moving further we must be familiar with the very basic question and that is,
What is Operating System?
The operating system acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware.
In simple words, a user with the help of operating system manipulates the C.P.U (Central Processing Unit) to get the desired task done.
For example – You want to browse the internet while listening to songs. How will you do it? and What you will need for that?.
First of all, you need a Web browser and a media player installed on your computer and by this, we mean a platform where both of the software applications are installed, so to make them work simultaneously.
Here the word platform refers to Operating System.
Types of Operating System
Though there are many operating systems. But here we will only be talking about the most popular ones.
Mac Os
Windows
Linux
These are the top 3 most popular Operating Systems in the world.
Mac Os – Mac Os is the operating system by Apple for their exclusive iMac and MacBook lineup. It’s a very sophisticated operating system with superior performance and stability.
Windows – Windows is the most popular and widely used operating system on the planet. It was introduced by Microsoft with the purpose of dominating personal computing at that time.
Linux – Linux is the free and open-source operating system built across the Linux kernel. It’s a very powerful OS which offers great control and command over the device (CPU).
Their Pros (Advantages) and Cons (Disadvantages)
1. Mac OS
Pros
Simple and Powerful user interface – Mac OS has the simplest and most powerful user interface among all. No, we are not being biased here, it’s true. If you compare both of them side by side you will notice that the icons on a mac are much more organized. In fact, installing and launching apps on Mac OS is as similar as iOS. So if you already own an iPhone then it will be easier for you to learn and operate Mac OS.
Fewer Virus attacks – One of the biggest advantages of Mac OS over windows is that it suffers from very fewer virus attacks. Now, it doesn’t mean that Mac OS is more secure than windows. But the reality is due to the widely used banner of windows, hackers target it more frequently. This somehow benefits the Mac user as nobody is making virus prone software for Mac.
World class Integration between hardware and software – This might be the biggest reason why people prefer Macbook or iMac than any other computing device. Apple is known for its full control over the devices, as the design of the hardware is prepared by Apple itself. So, this allows them to create fully optimized apps as the developers have the access to the hardware of the device. Thus, as a result, the software performs smoother and Apple keeps it working smoothly for a long time.
Integration of Apple Products – Have you ever heard about “Ecosystem”?. Many people believe that Apple has one of the most beautiful ecosystems when it comes to the integration of devices. Yes, we are talking about the integration of Apple watch with iPhone and MacBook. Apple really worked hard in making things work like new for quite a couple of years.
Cons
Expensive – When it comes to breaking the bank then Apple has a very major role in it. It’s on record that Apple sells one of the most expensive gadgets in the world. This is more noticeable when comparing the price point of Mac computers with their Windows counterpart. So keep this in mind.
Harder to upgrade – Macbooks and iMac’s are very hard to upgrade. Now, some of you must be thinking how?. Well, most of its hardware components are integrated both at a design and engineering levels. So, this makes it even harder to upgrade.
No Games – Yes, this might make you sad but it’s a reality. Macbook’s and iMac’s are not meant for gaming. So if you want to buy a laptop or pc just to play games then we recommend you to go for windows.
2. Windows
Pros
Cheap – Yes, the biggest advantage of Windows is that it’s pretty cheap. You need not to break the bank for Windows PC or Laptop. This is because Microsoft sells the Windows copyright license to every PC or laptop manufacturer in the world. For example HP, Dell, and Asus etc.
Variety Options – By the above-mentioned point, you can very much figure out now that the options for windows laptop and PC are very huge as compared with Mac OS. One more thing to keep in mind is that you have a variety of options depending on your budget also.
Softwareavailability – Since there are more windows users across the globe, there are more software programs, games, and utilities for windows operating system.
Customizable – You can customize your Windows operating system to another level. This is something which is missing in Mac OS.
Games – Many people who can even afford to buy iMac or MacBook refuses it because they prefer playing games on PC and laptop. This is probably the biggest advantage of Windows OS and a disadvantage for Mac OS.
Upgradable – Unlike Mac operating System windows allow you to upgrade the hardware with an ease. For instance, if you want to upgrade your Processor, ram or SSD then you can do it. This is because Windows is not limited to Microsoft’s Laptops or Pcs.
Cons
Malware and Virus Attacks – In this case, the biggest strength of Windows become the biggest weakness also. The popularity of windows allows hackers to create virus and malware powered software which damage the operating system to great extent. Every year more than millions of Windows devices get affected.
Less Reliable – Similar like the above-mentioned point this makes windows operating system less reliable.
Becomes Laggy overtime – Yes, it’s true. It has been observed that with every Microsoft update windows tend to become laggier. People on Social Media also makes jokes on it. So this is something where Microsoft needs to work soon.
3. Linux
Pros
Low cost – You need not to spend any money to obtain its license, because its software comes from GNU General Public License. You can also download the high-quality software for Linux and that too from wherever you want from, free of cost and you need not to worry that your program may stop due to the trial version. You can also install it on many computers without even paying.
Stability: Linux is stable enough to get your daily tasks done. You don’t have to reboot it periodically. It can also handle a large number of users and does not hang up or slow down due to memory issues.
Flexibility: It is used for high-performance applications, desktop applications, and also embedded applications. You can even save disk space by installing components required for a particular use.
Performance: Linux provides high performance on workstations and on networks. It also helps in making old computers sufficient and usable again and also can handle many users at a time.
Choice: Choice is one of the greatest advantages of Linux. It gives the power to control every aspect of the operating system. Main features that you can control look and feel of the desktop by Windows Manager and kernel.
Cons
Understanding: To become familiar with Linux you need to have a lot of patience and desire to read and explore about it. So keep this in mind.
Software: Linux has a limited selection of available software.
Ease: Even though Linux has improved a lot in ease of use but windows are much easier.
Hardware: Linux doesn’t support many hardware devices.
Conclusion
So this was all regarding the comparison of Mac OS, Windows, and Linux. In our conclusion, we found that every operating system has its own advantages which in some cases might be a disadvantage for another one.
Stay tuned for more.
September 16th, 2015 by Vladimir Katalov Category: «Elcomsoft News», «General», «Security», «Software», «Tips & Tricks»
We have just released a brand new tool, and this time it’s not about mobile forensics. Or is it?
Elcomsoft Password Digger is designed for decrypting the content of Mac OS protected storage, the keychain. For one, it’s a Windows tool, so you’ll need to pull keychain files from the Mac OS system along with any decryption metadata (such as the key file for the system keychain or user’s password for decrypting the user keychain). After decrypting the keychain, we’ll export everything into an XML, and create a filtered plain-text file that only contains passwords (to be used as a pluggable dictionary in various password recovery tools).
So what is this all about?
Mac OS Keychain
It’s about passwords. This time around, we are targeting passwords Mac OS users keep in the Keychain. If you follow our blog, you’ve already head of iOS keychain. In iOS-powered devices such as iPhone and iPad, keychain is used to keep a lot of highly sensitive information. With every major iOS release, Apple seems to move more and more stuff under the umbrella of this encrypted storage.
Dealing with iOS keychains is extremely tough, as those are securely protected by strong, hardware-based encryption keys. When dealing with an iPhone, we can only access decrypted keychain via physical acquisition (jailbreak required, 32-bit devices only) or extract from a password-protected backup. Fortunately, keychain acquisition is much easier for computers running Apple’s desktop OS, Mac OS X.
According to various sources, approximately 4.9 to 6.5 of all desktop and laptop computers are running Mac OS X. The use of Mac OS is on the rise, with more Apple computers sold every year compared to other platforms. In Mac OS, the keychain plays the role of a system-wide, centralized password storage. It’s preinstalled on every system, it’s convenient and extremely simple to use, which makes it the tool of choice for most users. As a result, nearly every password a Mac OS user ever types ends up in the keychain.
What’s In There?
As already mentioned, nearly every password the user ever types ends up in the keychain. After just a few days of using the system, the user may’ve already typed the following passwords:
System Keychain
Wi-Fi passwords
User Keychain
Apple ID password
Password to iTunes backups
AirPort and TimeCapsule passwords
Passwords to Web sites and accounts
VPN, RDP, FTP and SSH passwords
Passwords to mail accounts including Gmail and Microsoft Exchange
Passwords to social networks
Passwords to network shares
iWork document passwords
That’s a lot of passwords in a single storage! Extracting them can surely help an investigation. However, there is one particular password that can help the most. And that is the user’s Apple ID password.
Apple ID Password: The Goldmine
If you manage to decrypt the keychain and discover the user’s Apple ID and password, you may have just found a goldmine. With Apple ID and password, you may be able to log in to the user’s Apple account to download and analyze over-the-air backups saved by all iOS devices registered to that account. This includes the user’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. If you’re lucky and no two-factor authentication is present, you can simply use Elcomsoft Phone Breaker Forensic to download a clean, unencrypted backup that can be viewed in Elcomsoft Phone Viewer or analyzed in one of the many commercial forensic tools.
Building a Custom Dictionary
Another purpose of using Elcomsoft Password Digger is building a custom dictionary containing all of the user’s passwords. As you may know, many types of passwords are just too slow to brute force. For example, even if you use a high-end hardware accelerator, you can only try about 25,000 password combinations per second when attacking documents encrypted with Microsoft Office 2013. That’s not a lot, and rules out attacks on long, complex passwords – unless you have a good dictionary. And what could be more relevant for breaking a strong password than a dictionary containing that user’s other passwords? Elcomsoft Password Digger builds just that: a highly relevant dictionary that contains all passwords stored by the user in the Mac OS keychain.
Even if the dictionary attack doesn’t work right away, there are other helpful options available. By just looking at someone’s passwords you can get an idea on whether they reused a common password among multiple accounts, or had a specific pattern for memorizing their passwords. This information will help building a custom template or mask when performing a brute-force attack.
Using Apple Keychain Access
If you are using a Mac, you can get an idea of what sort of data is stored in the keychain. Just launch Keychain Access, a built-in tool available in every version of Mac OS, and you’ll see the list of passwords along with URLs (or application names), date and time, and other relevant information. When using Keychain Access, you’ll have to type your password every time when opening a new record, so using Keychain Access for an investigation is probably not the best idea.
Requirements to Extract Keychain Data
In order to use Elcomsoft Password Digger, you’ll need a Windows PC to run the tool, a set of keychain files extracted from the target Mac OS computer, and the user’s authentication information (Mac OS login and password or keychain password, if it’s different). For decrypting the system keychain, you’ll need a decryption key that must be extracted from the Mac OS computer (administrative privileges required).
System Keychain
Keychain file extracted from the user’s Mac OS system
Decryption key from the same system * * The decryption key for system keychain must be extracted; administrative privileges are required if extracting from a live system
User Keychain
Keychain file extracted from the user’s Mac OS system
User’s local login password or keychain password (if different)
Obtaining Keychain Files
In order to decrypt the keychain with Elcomsoft Password Digger, the first thing you’ll need aside of the ElcomSoft tool is the keychain itself. In Mac OS, keychain is stored in several physical files. Yet another file holds the decryption key for the system keychain. You’ll need all of these in order to gain full access to encrypted information.
If you’re acquiring keychain files from a live Mac OS X system, do the following.
Make a new folder on the desktop (e.g. “KEYCHAINS”).
Open Terminal and issue the following command:cd Desktop/KEYCHAINS
Copy the following files into the current folder ( “KEYCHAINS”):
Note that you need superuser access in order to extract SystemKey, a file that contains encryption metadata for decrypting system keychain. You’ll be prompted for apassword.Also note there is a final dot at the end of each “copy” command. This is not a formatting error; the dot means that the file is to be copied into the current folder (“KEYCHAINS” in our case).<user name> is the name of the user who’s keychain you are about to extract (currently logged in user is displayed before the “$” sign).
Transfer the content of the “KEYCHAINS” folder to the Windows PC where you have Elcomsoft Password Digger installed. When Elcomsoft Password Digger prompts you for keychain location, point it to that folder.
If you have a disk image instead of the live system, extracting files is easier since you won’t need superuser access or admin password. Just mount the disk image and use your favorite file manager to copy the required files to your Windows computer.
Mounting the disk image is normally not a problem. If you’re dealing with a DMG image, Mac OS has built-in tools to mount it. If the disk image is in EnCase .E01 format, you’ll need to use third-party tools to mount the image.
Issues and Obstacles
The keychain is supposed to be secure, yet Elcomsoft Password Digger offers instant decryption. So is there something wrong with keychain security, or are we not telling something?
Breaking Point Mac Os 7
Well, in fact, there are certain obstacles that can make keychain acquisition and/or decryption difficult of impossible. If, for example, the disk is encrypted with FileVault2, we won’t be able to extract keychain files, so there will be nothing to decrypt.
Another potential issue is attempting to decrypt a user keychain with a missing password. Since Elcomsoft Password Digger requires a password to decrypt the keychain, there’s really nothing the tool can do if the password is not known. At this time, we are working to add the ability to break keychain passwords to Elcomsoft Distributed Password Recovery; we’ll post immediately when it’s ready.
Breaking Point Mac Os X
It’s Getting Better
Elcomsoft Password Digger is still new. Version 1.0 can only accept keychain files copied from a Mac OS X system. This very moment we’re working on building a native Mac OS version of the tool, and adding two alternative ways to acquire keychains:
See the two greyed-out options? The native Mac OS tool will be able to extract keychain files automatically from the current system (if launched on the computer being investigated; administrative password required for extracting decryption key for the system keychain). Both Windows and Mac OS tools will be able to use an offline disk or mounted disk image to automatically locate and extract system and user keychains. The update will be free to those who purchase the initial edition.