Mac users still at risk

A Kaspersky Lab survey has revealed that many Mac users still believe they are immune to malware, despite the recent increase of attacks targeted at OS X.

A survey conducted by Kaspersky Lab has revealed that Mac users are far less security conscious than PC users. The survey, conducted among 9 000 consumers in the US and Europe, revealed that many Mac users still believe that using OS X will protect them from internet risks. In fact, the survey found that only 50% of Macs have internet security or antivirus software installed, compared to 84 per cent of Windows machines.

“Despite the increased attacks on Mac OS X, most notably with the Flashfake Trojan, which infected around 700 000 Macs and controlled them remotely via a botnet, Mac users still remain largely unaware of the fact that Macs are no more inherently secure than Windows devices,” says Simon Campbell-Young, CEO of Phoenix Distribution. “Virtually every day sees an increase in the volume of malicious code and Internet threats that could compromise the security of your Mac and the personal data you store on it.”

He points out that using an effective security software suite will provide protection from the viruses, Trojans, spyware, phishing attempts, dangerous websites and other threats that Mac users are becoming increasingly vulnerable to. “A program like Kaspersky Security for Mac can keep your Mac, your data and your children safe – plus it can prevent your Mac from passing PC malware to family, friends and colleagues on your network,” Campbell-Young says. “Boasting many features that ensure real-time protection, Kaspersky Security for Mac uses both traditional and cloud-based technologies to deliver advanced protection from known threats as well as new or emerging threats.”

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