Apple begins recommending Antivirus utilities to users
It looks like the care free days when Mac owners could sit back and relax without having to worry about malware are indeed coming to an end – maybe. Last month we told you about two new pieces of OS X malware that had been discovered and while neither poses a significant threat in most people’s eyes, it is clearly a sign of things to come. As loyal and vocal as Mac computer users are, until recently they hardly represented a significant portion of the market. As such, those responsible for creating end user-targeted malware focused on Windows since it was the clear and overwhelming market leader. Now that Apple’s computer market share is growing however, Mac user complacency with regards to viruses might lead to some big and easy scores for malware. Apple recently posted the following technical note as a result:
Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.
The page goes on to recommend three antivirus solutions for OS X, two of which are offered for sale in the Apple Online Store. For the time being, we still haven’t heard any reported cases of a virus actually finding its way to a Mac computer in a real life situation so the following question is posed: Has Apple just firmed up its deals with antivirus providers or are we really in store for a hail storm of Mac malware sooner than we think? In either case, at least we won’t be seeing the commercial above air again any time soon.
[Via Newlaunches]
Any operating system can be compromised. Once there is enough reason to do so, it will be done. Is OSX more secure, perhaps, but as the OS gains greater adoption, you can guarantee more holes will be found. It happens.
Mac users have been encouraged to use anti-virus solutions for years, but the idea is to be “good net citizens” and not pass along emails with viruses. The threat has never been to the Mac platform, but rather to pc’s from forwarded files that are infected. Macs can be carriers, but retain their immunity (for now).
@Jeff
Nonetheless, I can’t tell you how many Mac owners I hear saying that Macs can’t get viruses. In fact, I do not know a single Mac owner who actually understands that their Macs can one day be exposed to malware. Nonetheless, I don’t bother explaining or its a pointless battle trying to overcome a Mac zealot. Instad, I just smirk and nod.
@ Jeff
Macs aren’t more secure than Windows. As stated in the article, viruses/malware are uncommon on Macs due to their low market share. Why would a programmer waste time coding a virus for a Mac when they could potentially get billions more on a PC?
BUT APPLE SEZ THAT MACS R SAFE N CANT GET VIRUSEZ???????
PC FTW
@Vic, The simple fact that there’s hundreds of thousand viruses/malware for PCs makes macs already more secure, but yes as they gain more & more market share it will become more of a target. even the very few virus that where suppose to attack macs don’t work to good cause they always identified them self and ask you to install, which you won’t do. I have download hundreds of shareware and all kinds of MP3s on my mac and never had a single issue, but as soon as i send them to my brothers PCs he gets screw. Again Microsoft can take more control of their products and at the same time Stop norton/mcafee from milking their customer but i guess that’s to much to ask
@Mike, what they mean is that macs are Immune to the over 1/2 a millions viruses that are out there for Pcs which is complete true, same as if you where to create a virus for a mac, a PC won’t understand it and it will be immune to it, it’s not a myth is a fact. same as is also a fact that for every 2 macs there’s 8 PCs out there
For the most part viruses, as we new them in years past, are gone. I haven’t seen a case of a wiped drive or deleted mp3s in 5+ years.
What is rampant right now is idiots clicking on shiny objects and install a mess of system compromising, password stealing, browser hijacking malware. All of which will soon be Mac and Linux (thanks netbooks!) compatible.
The market share vs number of viruses is a MYTH!
Take a look at the apache market share vs the IIS market share. Then, take a look at which is more compromised.
Where did all you people learn to spell? Can we get a grammar and spell checker BG? I think to/too/two, your/you’re, and there/their/they’re is just too confusing for some people.
I have wondered when someone will seriously target macs. They have been gaining market share steadily and they have been so vocal about not getting viruses / malware. It is only a matter of time until some hacker decides to target macs. Apple’s advertising about macs not getting viruses could be seen as a challenge to hackers. And most malware/ viruses now are targeting applications not the OS itself, making macs more vulnerable.
linux FTW!!!
there is no need to worry about viruses unless u no wat youre doing. y spend somuch money an an antivirus if its not needed. i have used windows for years and never once had a virus or antivirus. just no wat youre doin and youll be fine.
Oh how the times have changed. The fact that PCs have more viruses does not make them less secure. It just means they are targeted more often that macs, which is a fact. It’s similar to boxers…one can be undefeated and another can have 10 losses. That does not make the undefeated stronger than the one with 10 losses because they could’ve faced weaker opponents. When macs start facing tougher viruses look for the vulnerabilities to be more leveled.
I’m sure Apple would love charging users lots of money to sell us customized AV products.
Market it right and they’ll have people camping out outside their retail stores before its release.
This sucks, but I knew this day would come. People are going to figure out how to make viruses for Macs too.
Macs are still better with viruses than PCs. There is no doubt on that.
One day, it MIGHT happen, definitely is POSSIBle, but for now there still is no Mac virus. The windows registry is an awful piece of architecture and an absolute haven for virus/malware. The Unix underpinnings of Mac OSX are the big security advantage, not the platform’s relative obscurity.
I’ve never agreed with the idea that macs are more secure against viruses that PC’s – It’s security through obscurity…
In terms of 1-100 scale for being a “target” for those writing viruses, Mac’s are like a 5, PC’s on the other hand are like a freakin’ 500 only because they are SOOOOOO MUCH MORE prevelant than macs…
That’s not secure, thats lack of market share.
There wasn’t a lot of gloating and smugness in the Mac community prior to the iPhone. If more malware and viruses are coming out, it’s likely a retaliatory method of trying to get these Fanboys to STFU.
First, I use both mac and pc, and i love both. PC for games and work and MAC for daily uses.
Yes it is true there are a lot of viruses for PCs and very few for MACs, and thus Mac is more secure. BUT the only reason for that is because of MAC’s small marketshare, not really because OSX is more secure.
THEREFORE~ Smart Mac users will stop promoting people to buy MAC and stop having pointless arguments w/ pc users about which one is better. When the day all PC users switch to Mac (if that day will ever come). i think Mac will become even more unstable than PC.
Just my 2cents.
@ Scott and SW Engineer…I completely agree
@RAS
>>>the idea is to be “good net citizens” and not pass along emails with viruses<<<
I think there’s 2 major reasons why people get nabbed my malware: 1 – hanging around sites and downloading potential problems. 2 – Not being knowledgable about AV and hacking in general.
To those ends, I’d think Apple owners are less likely to troll file sharing sites, and other target areas. However, it’s a problem if Apple users think they are bulletproof.
I never thought I’d see this day.
I hope Apple later on makes their own Antivirus application, base on Clamav problably, that exsists as a preference pane and has live scanning in all accounts.
That’s freakin’ funny! I didn’t even realize they are recommending MULITPLE AV programs! HAHAHAHA!!!
I have a router, Windows XP firewall and McAfee and my system is bullet proof even with me being local admin.
This is silly!
Apple has been suggesting people use multiple AV barriers for years. Why is this now news. Because two analyst wanted to make this news. The update they site is only an 18 month old revision from LAST SUMMER.
Way to break news!