Mac Malware
 

You know I am principly(?) a WinDozer, but I don't knock Macs.
I support a few for customers.

But here are 2 articles that should put all Mac users on guard.

Follow back the link in the first one too, his article from last week, he discusses a Mac Bot out there.
Can't happen ?
Secure ?
I think not.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/why-malware-for-macs-is-on-its-way/3243?tag=nl.e539

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/new-mac-os-x-scareware-delivered-through-blackhat-seo/8614?tag=nl.e540

Yes, if you are dumb enough to allow unknown solfware to be installed on your Mac you can end up with malware. If you drop you Mac on the floor it may break. Someone wake me up when there is a real threat on the wild.

A completely secure computer is useless.

PLEASE read those articles.

They are discussing REAL WORLD, in the WILD viruses for the Mac OSx, NOT proof of concept.

One is even a drive by, meaning it can install w/o your knowledge.

I know, I read the same story every 6 months. I'm still waiting for a reason to take one of these "viruses" seriously. Maybe someday it won't just be link-bait. If/when there is a real threat, I'll take appropriate precautions.

I've been reading about them a lot too, most have been Proof of Concapt, buggy, not real dangerous or developed by researchers.

These are real.

If you are technical etc. less worry, but it's the average computer user I worry about.

Especially Mac users, who have minimal experience with computer problems. 72 virgins waiting for a nutty attacker.

Apple device users (Mac, iPhone, etc) are typically unaware of virii and malware because its so rare, relative to Win PC users, however they do have to practice reasonable use, like not clicking on every link in a spam message or being somewhat dubious about various offers and contacts online.

You'd think this sort of thing would be obvious but anyone in the computer service industry will tell you, SO many people blindly click on anything. I've gotten 2 free computers from my gf's mother simply because she has no clue when it comes to clicking on links/ads (this makes me rage...just won't listen!). I've had to reformat her HD more times than I can count. There are a ton of people out there like that, specifically mac users since they would have bought their macs with the expectation that they won't have to worry about viruses.

I've had my windows PCs/laptops with zero firewall/AV software except for the occasional Malwarebytes scan and I have NEVER had a virus, ever, simply because I'm computer literate.

So, how many actual infected machines have been identified so far?

I actually use my ipad to check out anything that really looks malicious. It's normally just someone trying to get me to download a exe file (presumably a windows virus).

I've encountered no issues. While I don't dispute they're out there, somewhere, the vast majority of them will still require user mistakes. For now, my Macs are computers that work virtually all the time and don't have to be dicked with frequently to keep them secure. I'm unprotected, and unconcerned.

After over 20 years on PC I've moved to Mac 4 years ago....never looked back. Never had a single problem. The Mac security updates are about once every 10 days....windows once every 6 hours...
I am running 10.5.8 on my laptop, this is my road warrior, battery still hold 3.45/4 hours, screen is bright as the first day, the machine never ever crashed. Running fast for everyday use as everything up there....

Well the one article says the BotNet is 60k computers, .2% of the Macs.
A small percentage yes, but real.

Interesting too though is the couple of articles I've read (skimmed) recently that discuss the size and number of patches Apple has been releasing for OSx.
For a system that is so secure these are LARGE updates and contain a lot of security fixes, although Apple does not provide a lot of details.

Thanks for the info, but I'm not ready to start worrying; and I'm certainly not ready to start running any type of anti-virus software on any of my macs. I have never had a hint of a problem, I just don't install anything that I don't trust. I also avoid using adobe reader.