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Panda: Mac is less secure than Windows, here's an antivirus

Discussion in 'TechSpot News and Comments' started by Emil, Oct 22, 2010.

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  1. Emil Newcomer, in training

    The number of Mac OS vulnerabilities has quintupled in less than a year. In 2009, 34 vulnerabilities were detected for Mac OS. So far in 2010, this number has risen to 175 vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the platform can also be affected by 170,000 macro viruses for Windows and there are 5,000 classified strains of malware that specifically target Apple systems, according to Panda Security.

    Read the whole story
    Emil, Oct 22, 2010
    #1

  2. princeton TechSpot Addict

    Why? Wouldn't it be more fun to see the apple users who say things like "Mac is better at photoshop than windows" and "Macs don't get viruses" get attacked by these viruses and then have apples sales go back down where they should be.
    princeton, Oct 22, 2010
    #2

  3. Leeky PC Arsonist & Moderator

    No computer is completely safe from virus', even *nix based OS' like Linux and Unix. This includes OS X, and any other version of Mac's OS as well.

    I've never been able to understand why anyone would *think* they're safe from virus infections. I personally use BitDefender on all my Linux and BSD installs for this reason. I'd rather have protection for the 0.01% of the time it's needed, than the 99.99% of the time I'd get away with not having it.
    Leeky, Oct 22, 2010
    #3

  4. gwailo247 TechSpot Chancellor

    Viruses love to propagate in an environment with no immunity. All those Mac users who don't believe in Mac viruses will get burned sooner or later. No amount of AV software is going to stop you from clicking on a link and installing something willingly.
    gwailo247, Oct 22, 2010
    #4

  5. bakape Newcomer, in training

    As with all businesses, there are viruses as long as there's a target ***** pool.
    bakape, Oct 22, 2010
    #5

  6. prismatics TechSpot Booster

    That "track=53647" at the end of the URL isn't for a referral, is it?
    prismatics, Oct 22, 2010
    #6

  7. Guest

    Name ONE, just ONE virus on the Mac OS X.

    I'll wait.....until then there is no need for this.
    Guest, Oct 22, 2010
    #7

  8. Emil Newcomer, in training

    I don't know but I've removed it in case it was.
    Emil, Oct 22, 2010
    #8

  9. danteoz Newcomer, in training

    HellRTS.D Backdoor
    danteoz, Oct 22, 2010
    #9

  10. SNGX1275 TechSpot Special Forces

    No instances of it "in the wild".
    SNGX1275, Oct 22, 2010
    #10

  11. mario TechSpot Developer

    Emil you really dig up those anti mac news. It's a shame you're so biased. It looks like you're obsessed with trashing Apple.

    This week alone Apple has reported one of their most profitable quarters and they even had a keynote presenting a bunch of different products and there were no news from you about any of it.
    mario, Oct 22, 2010
    #11

  12. matrix86 TechSpot Enthusiast

    to add:
    ~OSX/Inqtana.A
    ~Leap.A (aka Oompa-Loompa)

    These may have been secured by now, but they make it obvious that Mac isn't perfect...that it is vulnerable. Whether it be a full fledged virus like HellRTS.D, or simple malware like the ones I listed, only the fool would believe Mac to be invincible. As Mac gets more and more popular, more hackers will look into writting viruses for it. Right now, there's no point. Why wright a virus for an operating system that only has something like 11% of the market, when you can target the biggest operating system used by most big businesses?

    The other reason for so many Windows viruses is not only because Windows dominates the OS market, but also because it is easier to get control of. Even as a Windows user myself, I know how vulnerable the OS is...I don't deny it. But Mac is not invincible. I'm not looking forward to the day when us Windows users get to say "mm-hm...told you so" as I would never wish that upon anyone, but that day will come. Maybe it'll be soon, maybe it'll be years from now, but that day will come. Nothing is perfect.
    matrix86, Oct 22, 2010
    #12

  13. Leeky PC Arsonist & Moderator

    Any OS is vunerable, but that way Unix/Linux OS's run with permissions generally prevents them from causing any harm.

    The worms (I think it was anyway) that were found to be included in certain torrent downloaded Adobe Photoshop and iWork '09 copies an example. Sure as long as you didnt "authenticate" when asked (which gave admin rights to install the nasties) you were safe. Plenty of people unwillingly did give permission though and consequently infected there OSX installs. You could argue it was well deserved for downloaing illegal software, but it still proves the point that infections are possible.

    I would be surprised if less than 50% of those using a computer today hadn't at some point given admin rights without actually understanding why. It only takes this to happen once at the wrong time and you then have an infected computer, with no antivirus to warn you of the infection.

    It is a known fact that worms, and malware have been found for MacIntosh OS computers - Viruses themselves have also been found in the past - I don't know of any for OSX but previous OS versions had some.

    Ultimately no system can remain virus free without protection, and while it might only be a 0.01% threat, its still one none-the-less. That's without the simple fact you could also be passing Windows based viruses to people you communicate with using Windows OS'. It might not affect your computer, but would you act with the same negligence if you knowingly passed a virus to a Windows user and caused major damage?
    Leeky, Oct 22, 2010
    #13

  14. matrix86 TechSpot Enthusiast

    Doesn't matter. The point is that it existed. The mere fact that it existed is proof that Mac is indeed vulnerable to attacks, whether big or small. I'm not trying to trash Apple here, just using the little thing called "common sense." Like I said before, the more popular it becomes, the more viruses will be written for it. After-all, if you were a hacker, wouldn't you go for the more popular, more vulnerable OS? Once Mac gets popular, and hackers begin to finds back doors, we'll see Macs getting attacked more often. For now, Windows is just too easy...hackers are just that lazy, lol.
    matrix86, Oct 22, 2010
    #14

  15. Rick TechSpot Staff

    Of course, because Panda wants to sell you their software...
    Rick, Oct 22, 2010
    #15

  16. Relic TechSpot Chancellor

    I never understood why Mac users think they're invincible. All operating systems are vulnerable to some extent and can be exploited. While they may have been protected by small numbers, their growth & popularity over the years will make them a target, especially in the mobile area.
    Relic, Oct 22, 2010
    #16

  17. Guest

    http://store.apple.com/us/search?find=antivirus

    Even Steve Jobs thinks you need antivirus on your mac, or he would not sell it.
    Guest, Oct 22, 2010
    #17

  18. bakape Newcomer, in training

    bakape, Oct 22, 2010
    #18

  19. St1ckM4n Newcomer, in training

    Maybe there are no viruses on Mac because it's like UAC and doesn't let you do anything. :D
    St1ckM4n, Oct 22, 2010
    #19

  20. Wendig0 TechSpot Paladin

    LOL! I love it!
    Wendig0, Oct 22, 2010
    #20
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