Actu
Apple recognizes virus and malware threat to Mac OS X
June 2009 by Marc Jacob
As Apple has provided more information(1) about
Snow Leopard, the next version of Mac OS X (10.6) to be released in September
2009, the company has also publicly recognized the virus and malware threat to its
operating system. This highlights the need to use the best antivirus software to
protect computers running Mac OS X.
On Apple’s web page outlining security features in Snow Leopard the company
discusses features that provide "Defense against viruses and malware," such as
warnings when users open applications they have downloaded, a feature that has
existed since Mac OS X 10.4. This page also states that "Mac OS X offers a
multilayered system of defenses against viruses and other dangerous malware,"
such as "sandboxing," a method of restricting the actions that applications have to an
operating system or its files, library randomization, which "prevents malicious
commands from finding their targets," and execute disable, which protects memory
from attacks.
Beyond recognizing the malware threat to Macs, Apple goes further, admitting that
the techniques it includes in Mac OS X aren’t enough to fully protect Macs from
viruses and malware. The company provides security advice, as Intego has said for
many years, saying, "since no system can be 100 percent immune from every
threat, antivirus software may offer additional protection." Apple’s attitude
toward the malware risk in the past has been careless, especially in its TV
commercials, suggesting that malware targeting the Mac does not exist. This change
in the company’s position shows that Apple has realized that the threat is real.
Apple has flip-flopped on the question of viruses and malware in the past. In
December 2008, the company updated a technical document on its web site
recommending three antivirus programs (including Intego VirusBarrier X5) for use
with Macs. But given the response from the press, regarding Apple’s
acknowledgment that Mac users need antivirus software, Apple removed the
document. It is clear, however, that talking honestly about the security threats that
Mac users face will have no negative effects on the success of Mac OS X. Mac users
will be better informed about the risks they face, and will be better protected since
they are aware of these risks.
"Apple has finally recognized what Intego has been saying for years: that Macs are
not immune to viruses and malware," says Laurent Marteau, CEO Intego.
"With the
recent increase in Mac malware, it would be logical, as a next step, for Apple actually
to integrate anti-malware technology in future releases of Mac OS X. As the only
100% Mac security company, we would be happy to work with Apple to ensure that
Mac users get the best protection from viruses and malware."
Intego has long shown that Macs are at risk from malware, and the company’s
flagship VirusBarrier X5, which Macworld has called "the gold standard", has been
the leading bastion against malware on Macs since 2000. Intego has always
highlighted the risks to Macintosh computers, and ensured that its software protects
Mac users from the latest forms of malware as soon as they appear. VirusBarrier X5
remains the best and most trusted antivirus and malware software for Mac OS X.
