Digital News

Mac virus storm

It’s quite possible that the computer you are using as you read this article is a Mac – somewhere in the region of 10% of people now use Macs. It’s also quite possible that the computer you are using as you read this article is running anti virus software – probably 99% of Windows users will employ some form of virus protection. That you are reading this article on a Mac running anti virus software however, is extremely unlikely.

Despite recent controversy that Apple users could be increasingly vulnerable to attack and the stoking up of virus and malware fears by some of the antivirus sellers, things seem to be getting back to normal with Apple’s reputation for safety and security largely intact.

The online storm was started with reports based upon a reportedly old notice spotted on the Apple website warning that users should consider installing antivirus software. The recommendation startled many loyal Apple followers, the vast majority of whom consider their machines beyond the evil grasp of common Windows based hackers. Their feelings of invulnerability are in fact relatively well founded as yes, Apples are subjected to only a fraction of the threats faced by Windows machines. Graham Cluley of Sophos commenting that in reality the Mac malware threat is "still a raindrop in a thunderstorm compared to Windows".

Greg Day at McAfee adds. "There are about 10 million unique 'threats' in the Windows space, compared with about 150 threats to the Mac OS."

The statistically minute threat faced by Apple users, however, doesn’t stop Sophos, McAfee or Symantec (another manufacturer of antivirus software) ramping up the fear of Mac viruses - fear that so far isn’t supported by either facts or felt by Mac users. 40% of American University First year students in autumn 2007 opted for Macs on the recommendation of their Universities, who were concerned about Windows based security and virus issues.

Ironically it may one day be this type of mass adoption of the Mac that leads to it being targeted by hackers. Hackers go where the people are: “Once you build a critical base of users, they’ll be there.” says, Mr Ben-Itzhak, IT security expert.