worm
The success of the iPhone has caught the attention of malware writers

RSA 2009: Apple users at risk as Mac malware mushrooms

Smug factor may increase risk to users

Iain Thomson in San Francisco

The days of Apple users not getting targeted by malware are coming to an end, according to experts.

The past few months have seen a dramatic rise in the number and complexity of malware programs being used to target Apple users, and the situation is only going to get worse, according to security vendors, who also say that part of the problem may be down to Apple users themselves.

Advertisement

“Apple malware is definitely on the rise,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

“When malware writers see an opportunity they go for it. And let's not forget the smug factor. So many [Apple users] believe they are protected by magic rays and that the spirit of Steve Jobs protects them wherever they go.”

He pointed out that there is also an increasing amount of malware that is platform agnostic. The Mikeyy cross-site scripting worm that spread like wildfire over Easter was just such a case, since it ran completely in Java.

However, Apple may also be a victim of its own success. As Apple ownership rises, particularly with the iPhone, more malware writers are being drawn to the platform.

Eugene Kaspersky, co-founder of Kaspersky Labs, said, “When Apple starts to distribute iPhones in China then they [malware writers] will do it with Apple systems.

“I am afraid that Mac users will be more easy victims because many of them think they work with a secure operating system, which is far, far from true.”

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Do you agree?

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

Salesforce.com on the new Chatter service

Company explains the need for collaboration service

t-mobile logo

V3.co.uk weekly debrief, 20 Nov 09

This week we round up the major vendor conference events, plus T-Mobile sells customer data

Analysis and Reports

Remote access - Three steps to getting connected

3.4 million UK professionals now work from home – is your company equipped?

Cost benefits of a global collaboration network

This white paper is a must read for organisations looking for evidence of the bottom-line benefits of high-definition video and voice communications

Poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

What is the biggest problem your firm faces as a result of the data explosion?

View poll results

Advertisement

White paper library

Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies; IThound.com brings you over 6,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Advertisement

Spotlight

t-mobile logo

V3.co.uk weekly debrief, 20 Nov 09

This week we round up the major vendor conference events,...

Apple iPhone apps

Top 10 articles, 20 Nov 2009

An App Store upset for Apple, and a scandal at...

Biz Stone

Twitter founder details commercial account plans

Biz Stone says paid-for accounts will give users access to...

Cloud computing

Enisa launches comprehensive cloud security report

EU security agency provides checklist for firms looking to vet...

Primary Navigation