Mac Desktop Security: The Landscape Is Changing

Only about 20 percent of Americans think Macs are vulnerable to viruses, compared to more than half who describe PCs as "vulnerable" or "very vulnerable" to attack by viruses, according to Alex Stamos, a security analyst at iSec Partners.

That doesn't mean Macs are safe, only that Mac users have a "go ahead, run this unsigned binary, who needs anti-virus" attitude about potential threats, Stamos told an audience at this year's Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. The truth about Macs and malware, according to Stamos, McAfee Labs and other vendors is:

• Any computer is vulnerable to malware
• Apple has ridden the popularity of the iPhone and iPad to a comeback in the enterprise, making its operating systems a more attractive target for malware writers
• The high level of cluelessness about security makes Mac users of all stripes far more vulnerable to infection or phishing attacks than PC users who have learned caution by experience, according to Stamos.