Sophos Alerts Mac Users of Growing Malware Threat

According to Sean Richmond, senior technology consultant at computer security firm Sophos Australia, Mac users have been like the Volvo drivers of the cyberspace for decades. Mac users are confident enough that the strength of the machine will protect them from mishap, as reported by Brisbane Times on October 29, 2009.

The threat for Macintosh is very less as compared to the threat for Windows, added Richmond. However, as of now, Mac accounts for around 10% of the computer marketplace, twice the share that was few years back. This makes Mac a more enticing target for the malware authors.

He further added that criminal gangs who target users are interested in money rather than computer platforms. As more Macs are installed across the world, targeting Mac users is more worth their while.

In fact, Apple itself agreed on this as it has developed Snow Leopard with fundamental anti-malware software, specifically against Trojans, for example, an obvious criminal exploit OSX.RSPlug.

Security researcher at Sophos, Graham Cluley recently mentioned in his blog that hackers are using new ways to distribute the OSX/RSPlug-F Mac Trojan horse. It is done through MacCinema, sort of a poisoned HDTV/DTV program, as reported by ZDNET ASIA on October 22, 2009. He noted that even on Apple Mac, visit to a website that shows signs of authenticity can redirect users to download the Trojan horses.

Also, it has been designed in such a way that once a malware piece of this type is placed on the user's system, it can perform any task the hacker wants. Cluley added that if Mac users believe that they are somewhat immune from threats as compared to the Windows users, they are actually gambling with their system's security.

The actual fact is that as Macs have low penetration in the global market, they are comparatively less exploited; although, Mac Operating Systems are like regular software pieces that can be compromised easily by skilled hackers.

At the 2009's Black Hat security conference held in Las Vegas, a security researcher Dino Dai Zovi unveiled a proof-of-concept rootkit which runs on Apple's Mac OS X system. This proved the fact that all the software have flaws, be it is Mac or Windows.

Related article: Spike in Attacks Causes Early Release of Windows Patch

» SPAMfighter News - 11/9/2009