How to Protect Your Mac from the Newest Viruses

We've noted before that Macs (and iOS) are not immune from viruses, but they are less afflicted than the Windows computer platforms. It's a question of scale - why write a virus for a small percentage of the computer market. 

With the success of the iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) as well as the expansion of the Mac market we're seeing more vulnerabilities being exploited in the Apple world. 

Here are some links for Apple anti-virus tools:

2012 Best Mac Antivirus Software Comparisons and Reviews

Mac Security: Antivirus

Apple suggests Mac users install antivirus software (from 2008!)

The article below is from our June newsletter (Monthly tech news and tips).  If you'd like to sign up, send an email to info@on-siteoc.com with the subject "newsletter."

Macs have always had the reputation for being less susceptible to viruses than are PCs. That doesn't mean, though, that Mac users can happily scour the web without any protection. 

Hackers, cyber criminals, and spammers are clever. They know how to break into that Mac of yours. 

Fortunately, you can boost the security of your Mac by taking some fairly simple steps.

Install those security updates

First, always install Apple's security updates. Apple recommends these updates for a reason: They offer the latest protection for your Mac. Yes, installing these updates may seem like a nuisance. But if you don't, you run the risk of leaving your Mac vulnerable to the newest security threats.

The benefits of anti-virus software

It also makes sense to protect your Mac with private anti-virus software. You might think that your Mac is strong enough to resist hackers and viruses without spending money on anti-virus software, but why take the chance? The money you spend on this software — and you can find high-quality anti-virus software for free, too — will provide you with peace of mind as you browse the Internet. It's difficult to put a price tag on that.                 

Of course, you can protect your Mac, too, by being a wise Internet user. This means not opening files from users you don't know or trust. Spammers and hackers often infect computers by tricking users into opening files that contain malicious programs. Hackers will do this by making you believe that a file is either useful or, often, salacious. Don't be fooled.

Be a smart web surfer

You shouldn't download files, either, from websites that you don't trust. It's easy to infect the computers of gullible web surfers interested in downloading pirated or adult movies, for instance. Smart users only download programs from well-known and trusted sites.

Finally, make sure to update your passwords frequently. And use passwords that aren't easy to crack.

The truth is that most security breaches happen when computer users become overconfident. Failing to install security updates, running computers without virus protection programs, and blindly opening email attachments are the easiest ways to run into security problems, even when you're a Mac user.

Visit On-Site Technical Solutions for information on how you can move to Google Apps or other Cloud Computing applications. Call us for all of your network computing and business IT needs. We can also help with your data security and mobile computing. Follow us online below. Call or text me at 1-949-212-2168.

 

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Apple fans: You're going to need an anti-malware tool

This post from eWeek reminded me to remind my friends using iOS (Apple) products that at some point they are really going to need anti-malware tools for their devices. 

One of the problems that will get in the way of their security is Apple - the company doesn't want to own up to device security. 

iOS Needs Antivirus Protection: Kaspersky

From the post:

Last week, Kaspersky was again talking about Apple, this time saying he was “a little bit disappointed … Apple won’t let us” develop antivirus software for iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads. In an interview with The Register news site, he warned that—like with Macs and Mac OS X—the rapidly growing popularity in the iOS devices will mean that criminals increasingly will target the operating system.

“We as a security company are not able to develop true endpoint security for iOS,” Kaspersky toldThe Register. “That will mean disaster for Apple.”

However, he said, right now, hackers are content to hit up other platforms that are less complicated than iOS.

“They are happy with Windows computers,” Kaspersky said. “Now, they are happy with Mac. They are happy with Android. It is much more difficult to infect iOS, but it is possible and when it happens, it will be the worst-case scenario because there will be no protection. The Apple SDK won’t let us do it.”

Eugene Kaspersky will of course make money if his company can sell anti-malware tools to iOS consumers. In this case that doesn't necessarily mean he's wrong. His estimate that "Apple is 10 years behind Microsoft in terms of security" probably isn't that far off. 

Microsoft spent years harming us with ineffective security on their products while being the target of almost all malware attacks because of their market share. What self-respecting criminal or teen-age geek would write software to attack less than 10% of the market when 90% was ripe for the picking?

Those years of attacks and Microsoft's response have made Microsoft products much safer. And now with the success of the iPhone and iPad attacking iOS isn't as absurd as it once was. Kaspersky thinks it's only a matter of time - and it will be a disaster for Apple and its customers. 

Visit On-Site Technical Solutions for information on how you can move to Google Apps or other Cloud Computing applications. Call us for all of your network computing and business IT needs. We can also help with your data security and mobile computing. Follow us online below. Call or text me at 1-949-212-2168.

 

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Android leads US market share, iOS may have stopped growing, RIM is still falling -- Engadget

We've been advising our clients for a couple of years now to choose iOS (iPhone) or Droid in when in the market for a smartphone. Droid now has a much wider range of choices of hardware and pricing than the iPhone, but in terms of functionality they both work very well for our clients. Blackberry, not so much. 


From Engadget.com:


Android leads US market share, iOS may have stopped growing, RIM is still falling -- Engadget:

Visit On-Site Technical Solutions for information on how you can move to Google Apps or other Cloud Computing applications. Call us for all of your network computing and business IT needs. We can also help with your data security and mobile computing. Follow us online below. Call or text me at 1-949-212-2168.

 

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