Apple Mac computers are not foolproof and can be manipulated by hackers despite their virus-free reputation, a security expert has warned at a conference in Las Vegas.
Mac researcher Dino Dai Zovi said at the Black Hat security conference, which is one the top conferences in the industry, that while Mac viruses remain rare they will become more popular as Apple gains market share.
Dai Zovi demonstrated a type of software that is designed to run on certain systems to steal information or control a computer.
The “Machiavelli” technique effectively took advantage of vulnerabilities in Apple’s software that many users ignore, as the Mac computer is often marketed by Apple as hardware that does not attract viruses.
“There is no magic fairy dust protecting Macs,” he told The Age.
Dai Zovi, who co-wrote “The Mac Hacker’s Handbook” with computer researcher Charlie Miller, pointed to research from Gartner that shows Apple held 9% of the computer market in the second quarter of the year.
The two also said that because the Mac software holds more code than Microsoft’s Windows operating system, there are more opportunities for hackers to take advantage of the software.
“[Apple] is advancing. Our concern is that they are just not advancing as fast as they are gaining market share,” Miller said. “Everyone is on their toes.”
Anthony Edwards, technical support manager at TrendMicro Australia, says Mac users should remain vigilant and not become complacent when it comes to viruses.
“Everyone needs to be aware of viruses. The threats aren’t as prevalent on Macs as they are on PCs, but we are seeing more malware towards Macs as their popularity increases.”
“There is anti-virus software for Macs available, so users can deploy anti-virus solutions. Apart from that it’s the same sort of thing you would tell anyone, you don’t open strange attachments, don’t go to strange websites and don’t download things you think are high-risk.”
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
