Security vendors are saying that attacks on the Mac are now significant enough that Apple users should invest in antivirus software for what was once the "invulnerable" platform. With Koobface variant Boonana fresh in people's minds, the concept of a virus attacking Macs seems less laughable than it did even two years ago. "Mac users must remember that less targeted is not the same as invulnerable," said Richard Wang, manager of SophosLabs. The threat is still not that prevalent, with only "one to two" attacks on Macs each week, compared with the "tens of thousands" per day against Windows PCs. Mac OS X has only 10.6 percent market share in the United States, according to IDC and Gartner, but the day hackers will find the platform worth targeting is not far off, vendors said. Mac antivirus software is not new, but it used to have a bad reputation for being resource-hungry and inconvenient. That's soon to change as vendors release new Mac antivirus tools that are quite unobtrusive. Here are some of them.
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Mac Malware Attacks Prompt Security Vendors to Rush Out Antivirus Tools
by Fahmida Y Rashid
Sophos
Sophos Antivirus for Mac detects both Mac and Windows malware. If the Mac navigates to a compromised Website that tries to download a Windows virus, the software will detect it and shut it down before it can wreak havoc on the network. Sophos is offering home users a free download of the antivirus tool.
ESET
Expected in November, ESET's Cybersecurity for Mac offers cross-platform protection against threats targeting the Macintosh, Windows and Linux platforms. It can block threats that enter via USB and other removable media, as well.
Panda Security
Panda Security launched Panda Antivirus for Mac in October. Designed to defend Mac OS and OS X users against viruses, spyware, adware and other forms of malware, the antivirus tool will also scan iPhones, iPads and iPods. It scans both e-mail and local files, so users won't accidentally send infected files to others.
Kaspersky Lab
As part of its newly launched Anti-Malware Protection System, Kaspersky Lab updated its antivirus engine for the Mac. Information about protection status and any necessary user actions is presented in a graphic format that is easy to understand. The antivirus software can run in automated mode and not bother users with repeated requests. It can work with versions of OS from 10.4.11 and later.
McAfee
One of the older Mac antivirus software programs available, McAfee VirusScan for Mac was formerly known as Virex. It supports Mac OS X 10.4.6 and later, and can be installed on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.
Symantec
Symantec, another security vendor that has been selling anti-malware kits for the Mac for years, has several products in its Mac-based Norton lineup. Depending on the exact product, Symantec offers the following capabilities: antivirus, vulnerability protection, worm detection and removal, identity protection, anti-phishing, and two-way firewall.
OS X
At one point, Apple recommended that Mac users install antivirus software, even though it soon backpedaled on that recommendation when it went back to touting the Mac's innate security. OS X comes with built-in security features, such as the adaptive firewall, system-level security alerts and application sandboxing. As malware gets more sophisticated, relying on just the operating system might be a mistake.
Trend Micro
Trend Micro promises "total" protection for personal data with its antivirus offering. In addition to detecting worms, viruses, Trojans and spyware, Trend Smart Surfing for Mac protects against phishing attempts by blocking links to dangerous sites within instant messages and e-mails. It also prevents sites from downloading and installing software. Parental controls are also available.
ClamAV
No list would be complete without at least one open-source offering. Based on the ClamAV engine, ClamXav offers real-time virus scanning and some e-mail scanning. An add-on, ClamXav Sentry offers real-time malware monitoring on folders. While there is limited support for older OS X versions, ClamXav will run on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.
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Security vendors are saying that attacks on the Mac are now significant enough that Apple users should invest in antivirus software for what was once the "invulnerable" platform. With Koobface variant Boonana fresh in people's minds, the concept of a virus attacking Macs seems less laughable than it did even two years ago. "Mac users must remember that less targeted is not the same as invulnerable," said Richard Wang, manager of SophosLabs. The threat is still not that prevalent, with only "one to two" attacks on Macs each week, compared with the "tens of thousands" per day against Windows PCs. Mac OS X has only 10.6 percent market share in the United States, according to IDC and Gartner, but the day hackers will find the platform worth targeting is not far off, vendors said. Mac antivirus software is not new, but it used to have a bad reputation for being resource-hungry and inconvenient. That's soon to change as vendors release new Mac antivirus tools that are quite unobtrusive. Here are some of them.