Survey - Computer Users Trust Mac OS X Over Windows for Security - Following the discovery of the first financially motivated malware for Mac

A recent web poll of more than 350 computer users has revealed that 93% believe Macs will be more targeted by hackers in the future. In light of the discovery of the first "financially motivated malware for Mac OS X," Sophos' poll has also revealed that polled computer users did not believe the problem would not be as great as that faced by Windows users today.

The Sophos podcast entitled "Big Mac attack or super-sized hype?" contains the survey results, which show that Mac users "are becoming less
optimistic about the likelihood of their computers being attacked in future." The discovery of the first financially motivated malware for Mac OS X has clearly been a big influence here, since a similar survey conducted two years ago, saw only 79% computer users saying that Macintosh computers would become more commonly targeted.

Survey results look a little something like this:
(Sophos web poll, 29 January-7 February 2008, 355 respondents)

"The first financially motivated malware for Macintoshes has been discovered. Do you think in the future Macs will be targeted more often?

Yes, but not as much as Windows – 50%
Yes - 43%
No - 7%"

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, had this to say in light of their findings: "Although we have seen the first attempts by criminal gangs to make money through Mac OS X malware, the fact of that matter is that there is only a tiny number of viruses and Trojan horses for Apple Macs when compared to Windows PCs. It seems unlikely that the Mac virus problem will ever be as big as the Windows one. Yes, the Macintosh malware threat is a concern - but it's important to put it in perspective. Sophos's podcast discusses the history and evolution of Macintosh malware, helping IT administrators better understand the problem and protect their systems."

Of course, one can't help but wonder: yes, but what happens if Apple does grow, and more and more computer users adopt their hardware and operating systems? Wouldn't that get Apple where Microsoft is right now, as far as security goes? What are hackers supposed to do, retire?