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Technology Lifestyle Virus scare a lesson for Apple
Technology Lifestyle Virus scare a lesson for Apple | Virus scare a lesson for Apple |
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| by Alex Zaharov-Reutt | |
| Thursday, 19 October 2006 | |
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While the Mac guy states something to the effect that ‘I can’t be affected by YOUR viruses and spyware’, and we’re left with the feeling that only PCs running Windows are vulnerable, the stark reality is that malware and viruses are being written specifically for the Mac OS X operating system today. It’s only a matter of time before a big outbreak on Apple systems occurs, similar to the ‘Code Red’, ‘I love you’ virus, ‘Nimda’ and other attacks that swept the PC owning world over the past few years. If and when that happens, we might just see Windows users saying to Apple and Mac owners something along the lines of ‘We aren’t affected by YOUR viruses and malware either’. The problem is only going to get worse because, let’s face it, there’s never been a better time to buy a Mac. It’s now fully Windows and PC compatible, right down to the main processor, the Intel Core Duo. Free software from Apple, called BootCamp, lets you boot into the Mac OS, or into Windows. The Parallels Virtualisation software even lets you run almost any version of Windows and Mac OS at the same time, albeit with Windows in a very fast and very usable virtual session made even better by special virtualisation technology Intel built into its latest ‘Core’ range of processors. The longed for ‘halo effect’ of all those iPod sales seems to be coming true. Add to this the fact that Macs can run Windows too, and we’re seeing iMacs, MacBooks and Mac Pros are becoming more popular than ever. And with an influx of new users comes a stack of new people now using Mac OS X, whether in addition to Windows XP or not. What’s scary about anecdotal evidence that I have gathered is that the majority of Mac users really do think they’re invulnerable to viruses, spyware and other attacks, so don’t even bother to find out what Internet Security options are available, and so don’t install anything. In one sense, they’re right – no Windows virus or spyware is going to infect a Mac. But what happens when we start seeing virus writers and hackers upping the ante?
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