2016 kicked off with more than 20 million new samples of malware detected and neutralised by PandaLabs – an average of 227,000 per day. This figure is slightly higher than that of 2015, which saw around 225,000 per day.
Throughout 2016, we’ve seen how the number of new malware has been slightly lower than in 2015 — about 200,000 new samples of malware per day on average — however attacks have become more effective.
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Many people think that Mac computers are not susceptible to viruses, but this is a common misconception. Perhaps in the past these systems were free from viruses and malware, but lately no operating system is threat-proof.
Apple’s invulnerability to threats was largely due to the general public’s lack of interest in Mac and as a consequence hackers didn’t feel the need to develop viruses for it. Since then Apple has gained tremendous popularity and the number of Mac users has increased dramatically over that last five years. Recently we have seen more and more hackers developing viruses and malware specifically targeting Mac users.
Hackers are also aware that most Mac users feel their systems are not at risk and are therefore less aware of the danger and easier to attack.
As technology is developing and the world is moving increasingly towards online solutions, we see trends such as fake or fraudulent websites, malicious emails, fake apps or online scams, becoming increasingly popular.
Here are five of the most common threats to Mac users
– Flashback is a Trojan that has infected more than 650,000 Mac systems worldwide.
– This malware spreads via streaming sites and warez, exploiting a vulnerability in Java.
– There are several risks to users. After infection, the Mac computer becomes a zombie. Bank details and personal information are also stolen and users are redirected to fraudulent websites.
– When Apple addressed the vulnerability, cyber-criminals launched several new versions of the virus, such as Sabpab.
