News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

March 21, 2007

security

Security experts befuddled by lack of OS X malware

Posted Mar. 21, ’07, 8:43 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Security

ShruggingThose poor security experts! They’ve been telling us for ages and ages that malware on OS X was imminent. That it was right around the corner, lurking like some sort of…er…lurker. Any day now.

And yet, despite attempts to showcase OS X’s vulnerability, we’ve seen nary a single serious widespread exploit in the wild. No wonder those experts are questioning their faith.

In an article for the McAfee Avert Labs blog, security researcher Marius van Oers pointed out that Mac malware is “pretty much non-existent at the moment”.

The researcher said that out of 236,000 known pieces of malicious software, only seven affect Mac OS X.

“With an estimated OS X market share of about five per cent on desktop systems we would expect to see more malware for OS X,” said van Oers.

You would expect to see more, wouldn’t you? Van Oers dismisses out of hand the theory that OS X is inherently more secure, but does acknowledge that malware writers have just been having too good a time with the “low-hanging fruit” that is Windows.

Honestly, we prefer to think that Mac users are mostly busy using their computers for constructive means. Hey, how about an Apple ad where PC tries to convince Mac to write some malware, but Mac is too busy with his blog? Seriously, it could be the “just say no” ad for the 21st century.


2 Comments

Dave said:

"attempts to showcase OS X’s vulnerability" links to MacUser? I didn't know that was your mission?

March 21, 2007 11:25 AM
Dave said:

I think you're onto something. Lord knows that the more I use my PC at work, the more I envision doing violent things to it. Maybe all the malware is just an expression of the frustration that is Windows.

March 21, 2007 11:28 AM

Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: