Why malware for Macs is on its way

[Egnever]

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/why-malware-for-macs-is-on-its-way/3243?tag=mantle_skin;content

It’s not that Mac OS X is inherently more secure against viruses than current versions of Windows (although it was clearly more secure than Windows prior to XP SP2); the numerous vulnerabilities reported and patched in recent years are just as exploitable as their Windows equivalents. But most security experts agree that malicious software these days is driven by financial incentives, and it’s far more profitable to target the dominant platform. <…> At some point, assuming Apple continues to make appealing products, we Mac users will become bigger targets and face a higher level of risk.

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In Apple’s security bulletin for the April 22, 2011 release of OS X 10.6.7, I counted 23 separate fixes for vulnerabilities that allow “arbitrary code execution” in the current shipping version of OS X. At least three of those vulnerabilities are new in Snow Leopard and did not exist in previous versions of OS X.

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This isn’t just a theoretical issue, either. At this year’s Pwn2Own contest, the first successful attack was against a MacBook running a fully patched copy of OS X:

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If you think Macs are immune from drive-by attacks or social engineering, you need to think different. A sufficiently motivated attacker who is aware of an unpatched vulnerability can take over any system, including a Mac.

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The time to start investing in antivirus for macs is here. As they grab market share the target on them gets larger and there will be more and more exploits of mac OS. Dont let the false idea that macs are immune to viruses leave you vulnerable.

[Bonobo]

1. Not disagreeing, but people have been saying it for years and years.

Using mac for the last 20 years, the amount of time and money I have saved on NOT having to invest the time and stress in anti-virus has been priceless.

[FailureToCommunicate]

3. Same here. The anguish of virus-prone PCs in not worth the initial savings.

[RebelOne]

7. I agree, I have been using a Mac for many years and not have had any viruses. n/t

[hobbit709]

8. What anguish?

I build one, install the proper software at the beginning and have no problem. The last time I got hit by a virus was over 5 years ago and that was because I trusted a CD someone gave me. I go to all sorts of dangerous sites online and have no problem. But I don't click without thinking.
I've taught 6 year olds how to properly do things on a computer. The biggest cause for nasties getting in is the idiot at the keyboard.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Few believe it for good reason

If it was cheaper to run a Mac, corporations and governments would go to it wholesale. That they have not is a serious clue

[Exultant Democracy]

4. They have been saying this for years. I'm sure they will be right some day... but not today.

[RKP5637]

2. I even run antivirus on Linux. Many think this is dumb, but I run it, it's on a

CRON job, runs nightly. Also cleans up my virtual windows machine.

[Sherman A1]

5. I always compared these hackers or whatever you would call them to

counterfeiters. It cost a counterfeiter the same to make a $50 as it does to make a $5.00 bill, so logically they would make the larger denomination. A hacker wanting to do damage would shoot for the larger target, that being PC's. I know that Mac are vulnerable, but their lower numbers works to their advantage in this case.

[hobbit709]

6. Macs are also Typhoid Marys in passing along viruses.

If it's in an email attachment it won't infect the Mac but if the Mac user forwards it to someone with a PC, guess what.