Official from Cupertino: Mac users need antivirus too

T

techie_007

Forerunner
Apple suggests Mac users install antivirus software | Security - CNET News

In what appears to be a first, Apple is recommending that Mac users install antivirus software.

But don't read this as an admission that the Mac operating system is suddenly insecure. It's more a recognition that Mac users are vulnerable to Web application exploits, which have replaced operating system vulnerabilities as the bigger threat to computer users.
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Apple support site link: Mac OS: Antivirus utilities

Its valid now that most issues hitting users are NOT OS vulnerabilities, but crafty malware attacks through the web.
 
I don't think they were targeted earlier because of the limited number of users. I mean why would someone writing a virus (which is very platform dependent) waste time if the number of target users is small.

Now since Mac users seem to be growing, more people would start targeting that as well I guess. And maybe soon we would have several threatening *nix viruses out as well (depending on its adoption of course).
 
Boot_Comp said:
I don't think they were targeted earlier because of the limited number of users. I mean why would someone writing a virus (which is very platform dependent) waste time if the number of target users is small.

Now since Mac users seem to be growing, more people would start targeting that as well I guess. And maybe soon we would have several threatening *nix viruses out as well (depending on its adoption of course).
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Not really. The link refers to malware vulnerabilities which are NOT dependent on OS etc but on the browser you are using + phishing scams etc are possible too.

There are no known viruses in the wild that exploit a vulnerability in the Mac OS, and Windows continues to be the overwhelming preference for malware writers to target their programs. But malware isn't just taking advantage of operating system weaknesses anymore. In fact, the majority of such threats now come from code that targets weaknesses in browsers and other applications that aren't platform specific.

Mogull said he doesn't recommend that the average Mac user install antivirus software because of the low-level of malicious software seen for Macs at this time.
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Meanwhile, Apple has deleted the support article from their website :rofl: Too much -tive publicity and gloating from Windows users as "I told you so? :P"

Apple deletes Mac antivirus suggestion | Security - CNET News
 
Reminds me of a famous quote by bill gates "Nowadays, security guys break the Mac every single day. Every single day, they come out with a total exploit, your machine can be taken over totally. I dare anybody to do that once a month on the Windows machine."
 
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