Mac-based Malware Forced Apple to Recommend Multiple Antivirus Software

Apple has advised its users that they should upload multiple antivirus software solutions on their machines to protect from possible infection.

As per the news reports, it is still not clear why Apple has given this advice to its users. But there are possibilities of new viruses circulating on the web and targeting the Apple operating system.

According to Apple, unlike Windows PCs, Mac has remained protected from mass malicious software primarily due to the availability of Unix base of Mac OS X operating system. Moreover, virus writers have mainly focused their attacks on Windows PCs, but now it seems that they are shifting their attacks to Mac.

Matthew Bath, Technology Editor, Which? News, said that Apple has been strongly crowing of its security prowess against Windows PCs for many years. But now it appears that online security threats have made inroads to the Mac security covers, as reported by Which? News on December 3, 2008.

Graham Cluley, Senior Technology Consultant, Sophos, said that the activities of Macintosh malware have escalated significantly in 2008, as reported by Vnunet on December 2, 2008.

For instance, Troj/RKOSX-A was detected in the month of August 2008, said security experts. This malware was a Mac OS X tool that enabled hackers to create a backdoor Trojan that makes way to take over Mac. Recently, security experts have discovered more dangerous program called OSX/Jahlav-A Trojan planted deliberately on the websites to infect Mac users visiting them.

In the beginning of 2008, Sophos conducted a survey in which 93% of users claimed that cyber criminals would target Mac operating systems in future. The results of the survey were preceded by the detection of a Mac-based malware that could expose Mac users to identity theft threats in the end of 2007.

Graham Cluley said that this is a real threat and a proof-of-concept. Regular Mac users could become victim of this threat.

As per the security experts, the recommendation made by Apple is very surprising because the company has made use of the flaws in viruses targeting its software. Security experts also accepted that the low frequency of Apple viruses is primarily due to its small user base; as a result, a large number of users don't bother to load antivirus software.

Related article: Mac OS X Devoid of Malware, Vexing Experts

» SPAMfighter News - 10-12-2008

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