Apparently more people then ever are making “the switch” from PC to Apple, but is this going to bring the inevitable cabal of hackers along with it?

According to Forbes, Wall Street analysts are raising their targets for Apple’s stock ceiling with signs that sales may be up as much as 47% year-over-over on Mac sales for the holiday season.  The increase in sales appears to be a combination of Leopard’s release, new iMacs, and the iPod/iPhone “halo effect”.

While this is exciting news for Apple, there may be a another type of halo effect: The bigger the operating system, the bigger the hacker base working to destroy it.  According to an article in the Financial Times, security experts are seeing an upswing in attacks on the Mac, but unlike PCs, they require a bit more carelessness on the part of the user.

As opposed to the PC, where malware can auto install, Macs need the user to approve all installs.  Most groups, such the Zlob gang, the hackers are making their files look like they are required to play videos.  So long as the user is careful, they shouldn’t have a problem.

As with all companies, the bigger, and better known you are, the more people will attempt to bring you down or damage your reputation.

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Related:

iPhone SIM hackers report success, phone now works with non-AT&T carriers

Mac’s low popularity makes it look more secure than Windows

Apple’s Leopard beta eludes software pirates

Windows users pray for increase in Mac HaXXors

Apple blacklists iPhone hackers, unless they have great people skills

Stumble It!

Entry was posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 at 2:13 am under Apple, Mac, Security.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Sean P. Aune.