Malware That Infects Both Windows and Mac OS Devices
Did you know that about 1 of 5 Mac OS devices are infected with at least one type of malware for Windows? Although most of the malware aiming for Windows devices do not manifest on Macs, they can easily spread to other Windows-based devices.
Now, even though there aren't too many malware threats for Macs (about a a couple of hundreds, compared to over 17 million distinctive malware programs designed to infect Windows devices), and the Mac OS security system is quite sturdy, an antivirus like Avira, MacKeeper, BitDefender or Sophos is not a bad choice.
Also, knowing one or two aspects regarding a few viruses that can infect both Macs and Windows devices is indicated, so here are two of them:
- Crisis - is a relatively new type of spyware (2012), classified as a low threat though. It's a Java written software and packed as a Java archive, archive which features to executables: one for Mac OS and one for Windows. Once Crisis detects the OS platform, it will install the apposite backdoor version to the device. As Symantec relates, on Windows devices it operates as a virus, and on Macs does not spread, just installs the backdoor binaries.
On Mac OS, Crisis installs as a user or administrator, monitoring and recording activities in live messaging programs like Skype or Adium, and the most popular browsers like Chrome, Safari or Mozilla.
- Tibet.a - is also a new malware (2012), trojan-type, which can infect both Windows and OS. It appears that the web page or the source device containing the malware can determine the target platform and will send the apposite binaries to the targeted computer. It makes a backdoor to your computer via a Java applet.
Anyway, Macs are still safe for now, since the malware threat hasn't reached a considerable magnitude for Mac OS devices. However, considering at least a basic (in some cases, free) version of an antivirus, plus sharpening your "common sense" when surfing the web (in other words, avoid suspicious sites, double check your downloads before unpacking etc), can surely keep your machine malware free.