Over the past 10 years I must have heard it a million times “My Mac can’t get a virus” and I’d reply “really…!”. The fact is that these people were correct because there was so little malware created for Mac’s. However, with the new proliferation of Mac computers in the business world there is also plenty of new Mac malware, so companies with Mac-based users need to know the risks.
In the past hackers targeted Microsoft based OS’s which dominated the business environment. These also were the days of disruption more than a money making endeavor. Hackers used to be more about anti-establishment than business men looking to become millionaires, and they really didn’t like Microsoft, so Mac users were generally safe because of the lack of development of malware and cyber-attacks. Now that Apple is no longer the underdog but rather a massive entity themselves, and the fact that hackers care about money not social awareness, Macs are part of the attack surface and you need to prepare yourself by taking the precautions necessary to remain safe and successful.
With more and more employees using Macs and Mac operating systems in the workplace, the number of cyber-attacks has increased. Hackers know that many C level execs have added Macs to their portfolio of devices so enabling access to confidential company data and intellectual property is a real possibility and a huge risk. This new set up with smart people hacking data and selling it or holding people for ransom over it is unprecedented in the IT world.
Introduced in July of 2012, Macs have Gatekeeper installed which is Apple’s anti-malware feature designed to block untrusted and dodgy apps from running, keeping Mac OS X systems safe from malware. However, the reality is slightly different according to experts who say hackers can install malicious software on Mac computers, even when Gatekeeper is set to its most restrictive setting. Most security experts stance is that Mac OS X software is actually more vulnerable than Windows-based OS’s.
A few ways to protect your computer and your data:
1. Keep your operating system and applications current with the latest security updates, and always install the latest security patches. This can be vetted beforehand and automated by an IT support company so that a user’s workflow is not interrupted.
2. Always use Anti-Virus and Malware tools on your PC’s and Macs.
- Only install and run one antivirus product (more than one can actually cause more of a security issue and slow a computer down significantly)
- It’s very important to have a reputable anti-virus/anti-malware program installed and there are some out there that will not consumer a great deal of RAM and hard drive space
3. Be safe when clicking links and downloading anything from the internet. Specifically Mac users should only download software from the Mac App Store and be more careful while downloading apps from the internet.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let us know!
