Macs a growing target for malware

For decades Mac users have been the Volvo drivers of cyberspace, confident the strength of the machines protect them from calamity.

And it remains true, as Sean Richmond of computer security firm Sophos says. "The threat for Macintosh is still nowhere near that of Windows," he says.

"But Macs now make up about 10 per cent of the computer marketplace, double the share of a couple of years ago, making them a more attractive target for the malware makers."

As Mr Richmond says, the criminal gangs who prey on computer users are interested in money, not computer platforms. With more Macs installed globally, laying traps for Mac users is now more worth their while.

Apple itself has acknowledged this by building basic anti-malware software into Snow Leopard, principally against trojans such as a clearly criminal exploit called OSX.RSPlug. It has been around for a couple of years, masquerading as tempting downloadable applications: media players, free anti-virus software and so on.

The most recent version, OSX.RSPlug-F is a poisoned HDTV/DTV program called MacCinema. Avoid it as you would marriage with a werewolf. If you succumb to the blandishments of what is a very attractive website and respond to its demand for your administrator username and password, that's about what you will get, conjugation with a nightmare.

An informative short video on RSPlug-F is at tinyurl.com/cf93vg. Unless you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed, you will think only that MacCinema is faulty. You will not know your computer has been compromised - used for anything from spreading spam to logging your keystrokes and stealing your bank account password.

Nice software does not ask for personal information any more than a bank will send you an email asking you to "update your account details".

The clue that MacCinema is malware is that it asks for your username and password. The upside of this depressing scene is that because the threat is growing and therefore user awareness is heightened, anti-virus companies are turning greater attention to the Macintosh.

Symantec has had Norton Anti-Virus for Mac out for some time. Sophos has Mac AV applications but deals more with corporate networks and small-to-medium business users and now McAfee has entered the arena with its Endpoint Protection for Mac, released in Australia last week. It supports Snow Leopard, Leopard and Tiger.

This McAfee product is not for consumers. However, along with a couple of other leaders in the AV field, McAfee will soon offer a consumer-level version. Macs are big in the consumer space and Mac users tend to have more money and spend more on online shopping.

So, it is encouraging that companies such as McAfee are meeting what is, clearly, a rising malware challenge for the Mac.

That said, I would not spend money on sackcloth, ashes and a gown for a wedding with a werewolf but I do counsel very great caution should you be tempted by an offer on the internet that looks too good to be true. It almost certainly will be.

- © Fairfax NZ News