A new report from security software provider Secunia shows that despite considerable security investments, the software industry at large is unable to produce software with substantially fewer vulnerabilities.
The latest data shows that Apple has surpassed Oracle and even Microsoft with accounting for the most software vulnerabilities, though the No. 1 ranking is related only to the number of vulnerabilities–not to how risky they are or how fast they get patched.
This analysis also supports the general perception that a high market share correlates with a high number of vulnerabilities–with Apple (maker of iTunes and QuickTime), Microsoft (Windows, Internet Explorer), and Oracle’s Sun Microsystems (Java) consistently occupying the top ranks during the last five years, along with Adobe Systems (Acrobat Reader, Flash), which joined the group in 2008.
Mac OS has remained relatively untouched by major viruses and hacking efforts in the past, as most ne’er-do-wells may have considered the operating system’s market share and thus potential for private information less enticing than those of Microsoft’s Windows. With the rise of Mac market share and the popularity of the iPhone, however, there is little doubt that Apple platforms will become major malware targets in the near future.
Secunia offers a FREE security tool (Personal Software Inspector) designed to detect vulnerable and out-dated programs and plug-ins which expose your PC to attacks.
It’s a good program… I use it.
Thanks for the infomercial.
I don’t see Mac listed, so this sounds like a lot of BS.
The current list of requirements that must be met for the Secunia PSI to function correctly are the following.
Supported Operating Systems (32 & 64 bit):
* Microsoft Windows 7
* Microsoft Windows Vista
* Microsoft Windows XP – Service Pack 2 or later
* Microsoft Windows 2000 – Service Pack 4
Apple produces something with vulnerabilities? Sacrilege!! The fanboys will demand a mighty penance for your heresy.
Why should you need Itunes to install songs on an ipod? How about cut and paste?
Something over 90% of computers run Windows so if you want a botnet then Windows is the system to attack.
On the other hand one reason Apple is rolling in money is it sells 90% of the over $1000.00 computers. That suggests to me the best system to hack in order to do an identity theft are Macs. If you’re going to steal, rob somebody with money not a 400< net book or cheap laptop who may not have much cash.
Apple owners are smarter computer-users than people who use nonApple equipment. That’s why Apple iUsers ™ don’t contract viruses. :/
That is why Apple iUsers aren’t attacked by virus creators.
A Mac will not be affected by the vulnerabilities if you hold it correctly.
Everyone writes “happy path” code, and neglects protecting program execution.
Use NetBSD!
This is a count of security vulnerabilities in a specific company’s individual products, not just an OS.
When you consider that Microsoft makes at least 100x the products that Apple makes, the “insecurity factor” is even bigger against Apple products. Far smaller number of products, yet more vulnerabilities. Heck, just the SQL Server division of Microsoft probably has more products than Apple does overall.
Apple… 33 million users.
Microsoft… 1.1 Billion users.
Apple devices used for business? Almost none.
If you are a hacker, who do you find more productive to target?
But the days that Apple can count on “Security by obscurity” are numbered… I expect the first great iPhone hack to happen any day now.. or has it already? Anyone notice how easily iPhones are “jailbreaked”? Looks pretty vulnerable to me already.
If Microsoft has any sense they would have red teams attacking all Apple products.
Apple’s reputation is built on image, innovation, design, and security. Apple has already lost image in comparison to Google. Apple could also lose the innovation battle to Google’s Android. Apple is currently in a spot of trouble in the design department. If the perceived security advantage evaporates…
I have always thought an expert could secure a unix-based box better than a windows one. That does not mean that the whole installed base is more secure. Not by a long shot.
Apple does make good products, but I am proud to say I am an Apple hater. A large amount of their revenues consists of convincing their users the higher prices equate with higher self worth.
Give me a decent machine at an unparalleled value. I really enjoy walking into a Best Buy to see that the masses are still paying more for something I bought two years ago. I would rather be smarter than more stylish.
You see one of these articles every year to inflame the trolls, and it works. The fact remains that there has been, and is currently, NO effective malware or virus on the Mac platform. Despite all the doomsaying by prognosticators and the anti-virus software industry. End of subject, time to move on.
#12. Just read your post and then looked at news. There is a story at Techtree.com reporting that a flaw in Safari would let a malicious website steal contact info if Autofill is enabaled.
So sorry.
Golly gosh.
Now I know why Mac users are lined up in the streets by the thousand – complaining about all the security intrusions they’re experiencing. 🙂
Self-serving, security software company hogwash!
thanks for the ad on useless security software
[If something is free, is it an ad? – ed.]
Fanboy Freakout in 5, 4, 3,…. too late.
You gotta love the lame reactions.
#17: “You gotta love the lame reactions.”
But you gotta admit it is a little much that the article states that Safari and iTunes – running Windows – has a lot of security issues, and all the haters use this as an example of how insecure a computer – running Mac OS – is…
Wait… What?
If they wrote an article showing how many security faults existed on those programs while running on a Mac, and then lots of Windows-hate articles made fun of Windows PCs because they ran the same software… completely ignoring the fact that the article was describing vectors and events on Mac… I would expect Win-Fanboy freakout, too.
#19 You do know that your reputation as a troll has become so great that even if you post something useful no one can take you seriously. The sad thing is you can’t see this happening.
#20
Whoot! got another one.
Macs cause global warming. Ha.
Which of the Security Software providers has the most holes?
Secunia.
Figures.