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Macs harbouring dangerous malware: Security company

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Mac owners might think their computers are virus-proof, but a U.S. security company says that's not the case.

Officials at Sophos analyzed 100,000 Mac computers running its free anti-virus software and discovered one in 36 machines had Mac OS X malware.

"Some Mac users may be relieved that they are seven times more likely to have Windows viruses, spyware and Trojans on their Macs than Mac OS X-specific malware, but Mac malware is surprisingly commonly encountered," Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley said in a release Tuesday.

"Mac users need a wake-up call about the growing malware problem."

As well, Sophos said one in five machines had one or more kinds of Windows malware. While the Windows malware won't affect a Mac, it can still be spread to other computers.

Some of the malware Sophos saw on the computers included viruses from 2007.

"Cybercriminals view Macs as a soft target, because their owners don't typically run anti-virus software and are thought to have a higher level of disposable income than the typical Windows user," Cluley said. "Mac users must protect their computers now or risk making the malware problem on Macs as big as the problem on PCs."

 

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