2011 tipped as the year of Mac malware (again)

Stephen Withers
Monday, 10 January 2011 16:18

Opinion and Analysis

If you keep betting on the same number of a roulette table, you're sure to win eventually - right? But the behaviour of malware merchants is not a random process.

It seems as if security companies have for years been predicting a significant uptick in malware for Mac OS X, but each year passes with no significant outbreaks, despite the number of security patches needed by the operating system (and in some cases significant delays between a vulnerability being reported and Apple delivering a fix).

I must admit to being in the camp that says "yes, it could happen one day," and that's why I've been running antivirus software on my Macs for at least a decade. (Let's not get bogged down in semantic arguments about viruses vs Trojans vs whatever - we all know what we're talking about, and the Mac AV products I've looked at do detect Trojans.)

It seems to me that if there is a significant outbreak of Mac malware, I have more chance of avoiding it if I already have AV software running with frequent checks for updates than I would if I waited for news of an outbreak and then took action. Cost doesn't come into the argument, as there is a choice of free AV programs from major vendors.

But here's what McAfee officials said today:

"Apple: No longer flying under the radar
"Historically, the Mac OS platform has remained relatively unscathed by malicious attackers, but McAfee Labs warns that Mac-targeted malware will continue to increase in sophistication in 2011. The popularity of iPads and iPhones in business environments, combined with the lack of user understanding of proper security for these devices, will increase the risk for data and identity exposure, and will make Apple botnets and Trojans a common occurrence."

So what's changed in the last year or so? Please read on.