Are malware writers targeting Macs?

Does a single trojan indicate an army of malware writers are on the Mac's horizon? The folks at Intego Inc. would lead you to believe that's the case. A spokesman for the Mac-only security company points to the RSPlug Trojan released last fall that specifically targeted the Mac OS. He concludes, "Organized crime is discovering the Mac." Perhaps.

RSPlug is a rewrite of the DNSChanger for Windows. Among its tricks, the nasty code alters DNS settings and redirects your browser to porn sites. Intego's software protects you from RSPlug and other bad binary bits out in the wild. If you manage Mac users who make it a habit to download and open files, it's wise to get them some anti-virus software. Intego has a version of its VirusBarrier tool that lets you manage its anti-virus clients centrally. What's more, Intego's software protects your Windows users from Mac folks passing along Windows viruses on your network.

But let's face it, the Mac malware problem is isolated today despite Apple's growing share of the PC market, which is still well south of 10%. RSPlug is more like a proof-of-concept than the sky-is-falling situation. When asked about the number of Mac-focused malware running rampant on the Internet, the spokesman said, "We don't count or discuss the number of Mac viruses." But when prompted about the number of viruses on Windows, he had a ready estimate: 50,000. In fact, when pressed about what to expect from Intego in 2008 he said, "We'll be increasing the number of virus definitions for Windows." And that's the best reason to get virus protection for the Mac today: protecting your Windows clients.