Some reports, which have been released recently, claim that Mac computers faced more threats than Windows systems in 2020.However, according to security experts, the average Mac OS user has encountered less malware/ransomware than users Windows
In February 2020, Malwarebytes reported that threats to Mac users were about twice as high as those targeting Windows users . However, these threats were mostly related to potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and adware, not malware.
“On Windows, we see all kinds of exploits – it’s much more common on the Windows side, for example, to visit a site and suddenly your machine is infected,” one researcher said. “That doesn’t happen on Mac OS.”
Apple devices , as well as a more tightly controlled ecosystem. Binaries must typically come from either the Apple App Store or a recognized developer, to avoid requiring the user to allow the program to be installed, a feature more restrictive than the AppLocker policy in Microsoft Windows.
Extra protection doesn't mean there are no risks
Apple 's operating systems , MacOS and iOS , are certainly not completely free from attacks.
A recent report by The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto highlighted that the commercial sale of zero-click exploits in iMessages allows governments to buy access to dissidents’ systems. Additionally, various malware that previously only targeted Windows (or Linux) is now targeting Mac computers.
“Historically, threats to MacOS have focused primarily on adware and trojanized downloaders of well-known software,” says Ian Davis, a researcher at BlackBerry. “While these less dangerous threats still make up the majority of samples encountered, we are also seeing advanced attacks and tools being developed and used alongside their Windows and Linux.”
More and more sophisticated attacks are starting to target MacOS. In 2020, the community saw an increase in ransomware, botnet campaigns, and information-stealing backdoors on Macs.
The user can act as a vulnerability on Mac systems
According to a report published by Malwarebytes in February, at least a quarter of the threats facing Windows systems are malware. On Mac computers, however, only 1% of threats are considered malware. Attackers targeting Macs are primarily trying to trick users into doing things that could allow malware to run.
According to security, the user themselves have become the most important agent for executing malicious code on systems. Therefore, companies should make sure to educate Mac users so that they are able to recognize a threat.
Users should be wary of downloading or running software from untrusted sources and not granting additional permissions. “Threats researchers continue to rely heavily on users executing a file and/or granting administrator privileges at runtimesay.
As Apple invests in tools to enhance user privacy, attackers can't easily gain access to data Mac To gain access, an attacker must gain specific permissions , and to do that, they try to trick users.
Cybercriminals are upgrading attacks their , and those developing malware for Mac are incorporating tactics used in malware intended for Windows and Linux.
“The old adage that MacOS is not vulnerable to malware is far from reality, and the gap between Windows and MacOS threats is closing,” says a BlackBerry researcher.
Source: Dark Reading
