Will Snow Leopard anti-malware invite attacks?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Snow Leopard, Apple's new operating system, comes with an anti-malware tool that scans files downloaded from the web for two Mac OS Trojans. But web security experts are warning that the tool does not go far enough and may encourage malware writers to unleash more attacks.
According to multiple reports, Snow Leopard's anti-malware tool identifies downloads infected with RSPlug (OSX/Puper) and iServices (OSX/IWService), two of the most common Mac-targeting Trojans.
Apple's advertising pitch to users (particularly PC users wary of virus attacks) hinges on the reputation, now not entirely well-founded, that Macs are safer from malware than PCs. Security experts believe there may now be hundreds of malicious programs targeting Macs, according to the Register.
Security researcher Craig Schmugar, of security giant McAfee, said on a company blog the Mac anti-malware tool could become "a catalyst for more Mac malware to be created."
Schmugar points out that the rapid growth of malware is partly due to the success of antivirus software - malware writers have to constantly create new programs to avoid detection.
"Apple's inclusion of malware identification into the OS could certainly be a catalyst for a more intense game of cat and mouse with virus authors, an ironic scenario should this come about," Schmugar said.
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