Apple Security: Time To Stop Feeling Superior?

[Peaches]

Apple Security: Time To Stop Feeling Superior?

There have been far more Apple-related security problems in the past two years than in previous years, requiring Mac users to be more vigilant than ever to ensure that their computers are safe.

By Thomas Claburn

InformationWeek

"Apple issued 35 security updates in 2008, down slightly from the 38 issued in 2007, but significantly more than the 22 security updates in 2006 and 23 in 2005.

In a report on the state of Mac security, Intego -- a seller of Mac security software -- claims, "There have been far more [Apple-related] security problems in the past two years than in previous years, requiring Mac users to be more vigilant than ever to ensure that their computers are safe and secure."

Intego dutifully recounts the Mac malware it saw in 2008. Variants of the RSPlug Trojan horse, first noticed in October 2007, surfaced in April 2008 and again in November and December. There was a new Mac OS X Trojan in June, OSX.Trojan.PokerStealer. And several rogue security programs for the Mac were spotted: Macsweeper, iMunizator, and MacGuard.

The company also notes that significant vulnerabilities were reported in Apple Remote Desktop software and in QuickTime, which is also available for Windows.

"Mac OS X, while more secure than Windows, contains its share of flaws, and Apple has to constantly keep on its toes to issue a couple dozen security updates each year, to Mac OS X in general, as well as to specific parts of Mac OS X that are often found to contain vulnerabilities," Intego said in its report. "

Story: http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardwa...cleID=212700677