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Keeping Your Mac Safe

October 1, 2007

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Summary Are Macs infallible? Kevin Finisterre’s findings reveal that even the most secure operating system is prone to vulnerabilities. A Mac owner needs to prepare for incoming internet traffic risks and viruses that target desktop applications.

In This Article

Introduction
Macs are vulnerable
Online threats are universal
Stay protected
Related Links

Introduction

Apple has gotten a lot of mileage out of the fact that its OS X operating system has yet to be attacked by a virus. A recent ad campaign for Mac computers featured a flu-ridden individual representing a PC while the Mac guy appeared untouched by illness. Some people see it as smugness, but there is no denying that up until now Mac users have enjoyed a long stretch without any serious threats to their platform.

By contrast, according to Symantec’s latest Internet Security Threat Report, in the second half of 2006 there were more than 6 million bot-infected PCs worldwide.

Macs are vulnerable

This past January, Kevin Finisterre, an independent security researcher, caused a stir in the Apple community by creating a Web site that revealed a new Apple bug each day for an entire month. And while some critics dismissed the report as a publicity stunt, Apple recently issued a patch to plug some of the holes listed on Finisterre’s Web report.

Mike Romo, product manager for the Macintosh team at Symantec, readily admits that, historically, the Mac operating system has largely been untouched by threats, but he also warns that there simply is no such thing as an operating system impervious to risks.

“There are still plenty of viruses that can affect individual programs that people use on the Mac,” he says. For example, Microsoft macro viruses, which can be embedded in Excel spreadsheets and other office documents, target specific applications running on the Mac rather than the operating system.

In addition, Apple’s monthly security updates clearly show that software vulnerabilities, such as errors with the code or the logic of the application and how it interacts with the operating system or the Internet, are becoming increasingly common.

“As more applications are written for both the Mac and Windows, we’re seeing a lot more software vulnerabilities,” explains Romo.

Online threats are universal

Mac users have grown accustomed to operating in an environment where they’re not the primary targets of malicious exploits, but when it comes to Web threats, like phishing and ID theft, they’re just as vulnerable as users on any other platform. “If you’re using the name of the street you live on as a password, it could be very easy for someone to get access to your system regardless of what operating system you’re running,” warns Romo. There's nothing an operating system can do to protect you from social engineering threats.

Romo recommends Norton AntiVirus for all Mac users working on a cross-platform environment or with many Windows users. Norton AntiVirus scans incoming mail and Internet files while providing protection against viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other emerging threats. Norton Internet Security For Mac goes a step further by offering Macs protection against platform agnostic threats such as phishing and is especially designed to help users approach online transactions with confidence. It prevents personal information from being provided to phishing Web sites, and delivers early response protection against identity thieves seeking to exploit newly discovered application and operating system vulnerabilities. It also safeguards important files from tampering or accidental deletion.

Stay protected

Romo says the fact that there have been no successful exploits against the Mac should not lull Mac users into a false sense of security. “The bottom line is that there have been no successful virus attacks on the Mac until now.”

"The Mac platform is becoming more and more popular, not just with home users, but with government and enterprise users as well; this rise in popularity should encourage the Mac community to have frank, open discussions regarding security and learn how to take basic precautions. There’s never been a better time to switch to the Mac, and we’re excited to offer those switchers with some really great products,” he says.