Tech security and control firm Sophos has published in its Security Threat Report 2008 found Apple was a significant target of criminal hackers in 2007, and that the threat would expand in 2008.
While Malware for Macs has been seen before, the Sophos reports that malicious code seemed for the first time to have been written by financially-motivated hackers who saw an opportunity.
“No-one should underestimate the significance of financially-motivated malware arriving for Apple Macs at the end of 2007,” Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley said.
“Although Macs have a long way to go in the popularity stakes before they overtake PCs, particularly in the workplace, their increased attractiveness to consumers has proven irresistible to some criminal cybergangs.,” Mr Cluley said.
The Sophos' Threat Report also reveals that the wider use of new mobile technologies and wi-fi enabled devices, like the iPhone and iPod Touch, may be opening up new vectors of attack for hackers.
Flaws have been found in the mobile email program and Safari browser installed on such devices. But while uptake remains limited cyber-criminals are unlikely to exploit these avenues on a major scale in the near future. However, as personal wi-fi devices grow in popularity, the risks will no doubt increase.
Sophos experts also said that the low cost ultra-mobile PCs, such as the popular Linux-based ASUS EEE laptop, will gain the attention of the cyber underworld as sales continue to grow.
“The ultra-mobile ASUS EEE laptop, like many others, comes pre-installed with Unix, making it automatically immune to the vast majority of spyware and malware attacks,” Mr Cluley said.
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