If you believe that Mac computers do not get viruses, then you live in a fool’s paradise!
Many Mac users believe only Windows computers are vulnerable to viruses. Windows’ track record is not exactly stellar, so you can excuse them to think that. However, recent times have revealed many (some very significant) vulnerabilities in Mac OS. Just this month, a security researcher published details of a weakness in Mac OS that could grant an attacker root privileges. Root access means complete and total control over your Mac! This is but one example.
We deal with compromised mailboxes and FTP breaches on a regular basis. A user’s login leaks out to the bad guys, and they then use the mailbox to send spam or upload phishing websites. Quite often the cause of the problem is a key-logging virus on the user’s computer that sends login information to the bad guys. And it goes further than just breaking into email and FTP; we are aware of users whose credit card information leaked from the computers too. And guess what? We find that more often than not the user has a Mac computer!
Even if it may be true that Windows computers are less secure (that’s the perception at least), Windows users tend to use anti-virus software. And the Mac users? Well, they don’t think anti-virus software is necessary because “Macs don’t get viruses”!
If you are a Mac owner, please secure your system by installing anti-virus software. And stay away from the free products (you get what you pay for) and invest in a reputable name such as Norton (Symantec), McAfee or Nod32 (Eset). Do us all the favour ;)