Mac computers are often touted as the most secure choice for users , but a new study has found that Apple computers have become a favorite target for hackers in recent times .
The study was conducted by Malwarebytes researchers , who analyzed data related to cyberattacks targeting the company's customers. The researchers discovered that year . malware attacks on Mac computers have increased significantly over the past
According to their report, in 2019 the average malware “detection” per Mac was 11. In 2018, the average was just 4.8.
The most interesting finding, however, is that attacks on Macs outnumbered attacks on Windows during 2019. The average number of attacks on Windows was 5.8.
Additionally, researchers have noted that threats targeting Macs are very different from those targeting Windows systems. The most common threats to Macs are adware and other “potentially unwanted programs.” These programs may be useful as legitimate software, but they are installed on Macs through aggressive marketing and intrusive tactics.
As mentioned above, Mac systems are generally considered secure because they can effectively detect threats and malware. However, hackers find ways to bypass the systems' defenses.
“While these threats are not considered as dangerous as traditional malware, they are a nuisance for users , who can no longer say that their beloved systems are not at risk from malware,” the report states.
Of course, there are bigger threats targeting Mac computers. For example, trojans that target Macs. These attacks were not as effective as those on Windows, but they still pose a risk to users.
Experts believe that cybercriminals will improve techniques and start causing greater damage to Apple.
