Are Macs really untouchable?

Mar 1, 2007 09:38 GMT  ·  By

More and more voices rise saying the times when operating systems like Mac OS X and Linux were almost completely secure are over. Back 'then', Mac and Linux users formed a (very) small community and attackers didn't even bother to develop malware that would affect these operating systems.

But now things are changing, Macs are gaining territory and the large number of cross-platform applications could possibly be leaving open gates for intruders. "We have seen an increase in attacks on cross-platform applications in the last 18 months. If attackers can find a popular cross platform, then it could be a threat," Patrick Hinojosa (CTO at CyberDefender and former security chief at Panda Software) told MacNewsWorld. The increasing number of security tools for Mac are a clear sign that threats are increasing as well.

It is true, however, that operating systems like Mac OS X and Linux are difficult to 'break into', compared to Windows systems. But this does not mean it can't be done. It would only take some patient and skillful minds and Macs could encounter security surprises. I'm not suggesting you should scan your system daily and use expensive, resource-consuming security products (like you would on Windows), but all Mac users should be well aware their computers are not risk-free.

In regard to this security issue, I came across an article today, written by Kenneth van Wyk (principal consultant for KRvW Associates, has co-authored two security related books). He has written an essay comparing the security of Mac over Windows, saying "I'm more secure on a Mac than I was on Windows XP".

This article I'm referring to is a second one from this author and compares Mac OS with Linux (Debian). Although he finds Linux more secure than Mac on several points ('Obfuscation by "GUI-ization"', 'Patch practices', 'Desktop target'), he would still choose Mac OS X for an operating system, because "OS X won the functionality vs. security battle". "Quite often, the best solution is not the most secure one," says the specialist.

I wrote this piece down not because I think Macs will become danger zones or because I learned of some security threat for OS X, but because I'm becoming aware I might have to use antivirus software on my Mac sometime in the future and that makes me sad.