Army Buys Macs to Beef Up Security

agent_blue writes "The Army is integrating Macs into their IT network to thwart hack attempts. The Mac platform, they argue, is more secure because there are fewer attacks against OS X than Windows-based systems. 'Military procurement has long been driven by cost and availability of additional software--two measures where Macintosh computers have typically come up short against Windows-based PCs. Then there have been subtle but important barriers: For instance, Macintosh computers have long been incompatible with a security keycard-reading system known as Common Access Cards system, or CAC, which is heavily used by the military. The Army's Apple program, created [in 2005], is working to change that.'"

but

[Anonymous Coward]

i thought they don't allow gays in the military?!?

One small step

[kryliss]

One small step for Mac one giant leap for Mac kind.

According to Hollywood

[techpawn]

All computers used in the military facilities in the Transformers movie by the teams trying to break the Decepticon's code where Apples. It should also be pointed out that the computer that defeated the martins in Independence Day where macs.

Life imitating "art"?

I'm stumped.

[grub]

How will they know if the user prefers a Mac or PC with their "Don't ask, don't tell" policy?

No surprise

[L4m3rthanyou]

With a runaway defense budget like ours, I'd say the mac is a perfect fit!

Re:but

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey I'm gay you insensitive clod... wait no...!!! That joke backfired horribly!!

Re:I'm stumped.

[geekoid]

Very good. I about sprayed salad all over my monitor when I read that.

Re:How many times?

[eno2001]

Tell that to the OpenVMS guy in the food line down the street. Did I say that out loud?

I've seen this before...

[theurge14]

HThe Army's push to use Macs to help protect its computing corps got its start in August 2005, when General Steve Boutelle, the Army's chief information officer, gave a speech calling for more diversity in the Army's computer vendors. He argued the approach would both increase competition among military contractors and strengthen its IT defenses.

"Sir, I have the DOJ on line 2."
"Tell them to get Bill Gates in here."
"Yes sir."
(door opens an hour later)
"Bill Gates, you told us Windows Vista would be more secure!"
"It IS more secure, over five million...(BLAM)"

Military Intelligence

[Foofoobar]

Mac: Hi I'm a Mac
PC: and I'm a PC
Military Intelligence: And I'm no longer an oxymoron

Bootcamp

[corychristison]

Brings a whole new meaning to BootCamp, doesn't it?

Re:but

[Anonymous Coward]

There's no rule against being a Mac user in the military. You're just not allowed to tell people that you're a Mac user, and they're not allowed to ask if you're a Mac user.

Re:OpenBSD???

[calebt3]

Why not split up the Linux category just for the heck of it?
5% Gentoo
5% Slackware 5% !Suse 5% Red Hat 5% Ubuntu 5% SELinux

Obligitory: Why not Vista?

[deweycheetham]

Sorry had to ask...

Don't ask, don't tell ...

[AHumbleOpinion]

but i thought they don't allow gays in the military?!?

They expect the computer to be running MS Office on an Intel CPU. They are not allowed to ask, and you are not supposed to volunteer, whether you are doing so under Windows or Mac OS X. It is a don't ask, don't tell policy, and it upsets a lot of people in the Bay area.

Re:but

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't insult us gays by linking us with Apple, you fucking nigger.

Re:Army buys BigMacs to Beef Up

[Nullav]

Anyway, who else has a hard time imagining an army without right clicks?

Not me! How do they plan to assign orders after selecting units? It's like these people have never been on the field!

Don't ask, ...

[AnomaliesAndrew]

Don't ask, don't Intel?

Re:but

[RadioElectric]

The funniest thing about this comment is the idea that it's possible for a Mac user to NOT tell somebody he uses a Mac in any given conversation.