Mac OS X Is Still Immune To Viruses
By Kristjan at 20 December, 2008, 2:20 pm
Just recently there was an article at Apple Support Centre which said that it is advised to download an anti-virus program as Mac OS X isn’t virus proof. This raised questions among Mac users which were answered when Apple spokesman Bill Evans said the following at Macworld:
We have removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was old and inaccurate, the Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box.
No need to worry anymore, Mac users are 100% safe! Honestly!
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- Pingback by OS X and Apple immune to viruses and malware! Not quite… « Tech Czar on January 21, 2009 @ 2:33 am
Don’t fool yourself. ALL operating systems can be compromised and need extra security.
Mac OSX is not immune to viruses, trojans, and spyware.
And as the popularity of Mac OSX increases, the number of malware writers focusing on things to exploit on that operating system will increase as well. Many claimed Firefox to be the more secure browser that couldn’t be exploited, but as more used that browser, more malware writers went out of their way to exploit it…and it was compromised…many more times than once.
Apple has already proven they can’t write software that can’t be exploited.
Remember the release of Safari for Windows was compromised in less than 24 hours. It was a flaw in their software and not Windows that was the problem. Not to mention the security issues that have plagued iTunes and Quicktime.
Now this is not a crack against Apple. Like I said, ALL operating systems can be compromised. There are no exceptions. All software can be exploited once you find a way to do it. There are people that get their kicks and earn a living from looking for ways to exploit software. They target stuff widely used in order to do the most damage and make the biggest profit. This is why Windows, its software, and its users have always been a big target.
My intent is to prevent you, the Apple user, from engaging in the foolish behavior of thinking you don’t have a need for extra security. We all do, no matter what OS we run. Install an antivirus and keep it up to date, and use a good firewall that will not only block threats from outside, but threats from within, too.
And keep your operating system and all 3rd party software up to date. Most security issues are in unpatched OS’s and 3rd party software.
But the biggest security issue, and the easiest one to exploit, is you…the user. If anyone has convinced you that you are safe because you use a Mac, you have already been compromised, mentally. The rest will be much easier once the malware writers focus their attention on taking advantage of your foolishness.
And if I have not convinced you of the need for extra security, maybe these links will:
http://www.google.com/search?q=os+x+trojans
http://www.google.com/search?q=os+x+spyware
http://www.google.com/search?q=os+x+malware
Some choice articles related to the subject that are quite an interesting sobering reading experience for Mac OSX users:
http://www.macforensicslab.com/ProductsAndServices/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=11&products_id=174
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/12/giz_explains_why_os_x_shrugs_off_viruses_off_better_than_windows-2.html