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Martin Reynolds, vice president of the research firm's Dataquest organization, said last week that although the number of Apple Computer systems used in businesses is relatively small, just one vulnerability exploit could cause trouble.
OS X in hackers' crosshairs
"The Macintosh installed base is relatively small, with only about 3 percent of systems in use today running the Mac OS," Reynolds wrote in a research note. "The Mac OS is also a harder target...However, it only takes one exploited weakness to cause trouble," he added.
He said a Mac-only worm would be unlikely to spread very quickly, but it might be possible to create a hybrid worm that attacks both the Mac and Microsoft Windows operating systems.
"If an infected Macintosh attempts to spread a worm, it will reach a system resistant to that infection 97 percent of the time. A hybrid worm targeting both the Mac OS and Microsoft Windows could be developed, but such an attack would be difficult to orchestrate," Reynolds said.
He was also concerned that spyware targeting the Mac OS could establish itself before its existence was widely documented.
"Although it is almost nonexistent on the Mac platform today, problem spyware could emerge. Spyware that exploits vulnerabilities can establish itself more deeply in the system, becoming both harder to detect and harder to remove. Don't assume that your Macintosh systems are immune from viruses and other malicious-code attacks," Reynolds said.
Munir Kotadia or ZDNet Australia reported from Sydney.
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Martin Reynolds, Gartner Inc., Apple Mac OS, Apple Macintosh, target
I think someone must talk to Mr. Reynolds about UNIX/Linux and the differences these OSes have with the Windows!
That said, I fail to see the point of their message. This looks little different than the self-serving and useless note posted yesterday? about the possibility of more virus activity targeting Macs based on a Symantec news release.
I think someone must talk to Mr. Reynolds about UNIX/Linux and the differences these OSes have with the Windows!
That said, I fail to see the point of their message. This looks little different than the self-serving and useless note posted yesterday? about the possibility of more virus activity targeting Macs based on a Symantec news release.
malware applications to eradicate a threat that doesn't exist.
Be very afraid... of what? The future?
malware applications to eradicate a threat that doesn't exist.
Be very afraid... of what? The future?
How many are there for OS X again? Let's count them...
0
zip
zlich
nada
nicht
...
How many are there for OS X again? Let's count them...
0
zip
zlich
nada
nicht
...
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1781171,00.asp
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1781171,00.asp
You would think these so called experts would know the difference. Marketshare goes from quarter to quarter, whereas installed userbase is almost impossible to calculate because it depends on how long a computer put to use, which could be for years. Look at the Amiga, its users are still computing along quite happily with computers over a decade old, though new Amigas can be had today.
- Never confuse market-share with installed-userbase!
- by JuggerNaut April 1, 2005 6:56 AM PST
- ... "The Macintosh installed base is relatively small, with only about 3 percent of systems in use today running the Mac OS," Reynolds wrote in a research note. "The Mac OS is also a harder target...However, it only takes one exploited weakness to cause trouble," he added."...
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(14 Comments)You would think these so called experts would know the difference. Marketshare goes from quarter to quarter, whereas installed userbase is almost impossible to calculate because it depends on how long a computer put to use, which could be for years. Look at the Amiga, its users are still computing along quite happily with computers over a decade old, though new Amigas can be had today.