Apple acknowledges a bleak, but true aspect surrounding its Macs recently

Dec 1, 2008 11:44 GMT  ·  By

A support document has recently appeared on Apple's website detailing information “about antivirus utilities available for the Mac OS.” Apple admits that Mac OS X has grown to become popular among regular computer users and hackers alike.

Tech-driven sources point out to a technical note dishing information on Mac antivirus software, noting that this is the first time Apple is faced with suggesting such software for its precious OS. Avid technology news readers will agree that Apple was prone to admitting Mac virus threats sooner or later. Hackers slowly, but imminently, shift their focus towards platforms whose popularity is on the rise. This can also be considered good news, as it indicates a growing market share for Apple's computing solutions. Apple's Support section reveals,

Mac OS: Antivirus utilities

Summary

Learn about antivirus utilities available for the Mac OS.

Products Affected

Consumer Software, Mac OS

Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.

The company headquartered in Cupertino, California then goes to recommend three software applications that can potentially stop hackers in their attempts to compromise a system. The respective antivirus programs are Intego's well-touted VirusBarrier X5, the Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11 for Macintosh and McAfee's VirusScan for Mac. All three applications are available for immediate download using the links below.

Softpedia note: the iPhone is also very, very popular. Need we say more? They've even managed to get Linux working on it, and they did it just for the heck of it. Imagine what the iPhone is up against when actual profits can be made from malware.

Download Intego VirusBarrier X5 10.5.5 (Update / Trial / Buy)

Download Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11 for Macintosh (Buy) Additionally, download Norton AntiVirus 11.x Definitions from Softpedia

Download McAfee VirusScan for Mac (Update / Trial / Buy) Update 1: the article has been modified to include a link to Apple's actual Support web page that recommends antivirus utilities for use with Mac OS X.

Update 2: the situation has now been clarified with Apple deniying reports of Mac OS X needing antivirus software at its's recommendation. Special thanks go to commenter Marco for hanging in with us until the situation was clarified.