Another OS X Malware App Pops Up, But Danger is Still Limited
According to a handful of dedicated hackers of Apple, Inc.'s (AAPL) computer operating system, OS X, the OS is actually less secure than Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows. But thanks to the OS's small market share (traditionally 5 percent or less) most cybercriminals haven't felt it worthwhile to target the platform. Also, some hackers have misgivings about attacking Unix-like operating systems (e.g. Linux, OS X).
Still, Apple's growing market share and boastful claims of security have lead to an increased interest in attacks and some OS X malware has been popping up of late.
The latest malware to target OS X is dubbed "MACDefender". Attack pages for the new malware exploit the way Apple's default Safari browser handles Javascript, running a script that auto-initiates the download of a script file. If the user has opted to open "safe" files, the archive will then auto-open and initiate an install dialogue.
