A new McAfee 
report has brought Mac OS X down a peg from its once rarified perch as a virus-free operating platform.
Malware attacks targeting Mac OS X are on the rise. They reached 143 last year from 45 in 2003 -- a 228 percent increase over the past three years -- according to findings from McAfee Avert Labs.
A Little Bit of Luck
This has little to do with Mac's overall approach to security, David Marcus, security research and communications manager for McAfee, hastens to add.
"The Mac has never been 'more secure' or 'less secure' than a Windows operating environment," he told MacNewsWorld. Rather, he said, it has just been lucky -- at least up until recently.
New McAfee data shows that malware writers are shifting their focus -- which has largely been concentrated on Windows -- to include the Mac platform.
The Money Trail
Malware writers are simply following the money trail, he explains.
In recent months, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has taken several strategic steps to increase its footprint in the business community -- notably, with the introduction of an Intel-powered product line, which is more business application friendly.
"As more businesses switch to Macs, you can expect to see more malware writers target Mac OS," Marcus predicts.
This is exactly what is happening, McAfee's latest findings suggest. For instance, while attacks on the Mac OS platform increased by 228 percent over the past three years, they only rose by 73 percent against Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) during the same time period.
It is only a matter of time, the report said, before Apple products such as the iTunes music store and iPod software also will be targeted.
Strutting Their Stuff
As a malware target, Apple is now in the proof-of-concept stage of evolution when virus creators are primarily interested in showing off their technical prowess and making a name for themselves. This competition -- made easier by the ready availability of Mac exploit code on the Internet -- makes the Mac an open target for malware, the security firm said.
It is an unfortunate turn of events for Apple, which has won -- perhaps without earning it -- the reputation of being a safe haven from Internet malfeasance. It is a good development, though, for Apple users, who can only benefit from becoming more aware of the inherent dangers of operating online.
"Many believe that using an Apple operating system is a form of security 
in itself, believing that they are far less susceptible to malware than Windows users," said Stuart McClure, senior vice president, global threats at McAfee.
"While the threats targeting the Mac operating system are low in volume, the use of Apple products does not provide an invisibility cloak from malware," he emphasized, "and users need to be more vigilant about security as adoption rates soar and attacks on Apple operating systems increase."
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