Fighting malware and spam

Volvo syndrome for Mac users

Relative safety may lead to unsafe practices.

Symantec has issued a warning to Apple Macintosh users that they are still at risk from online threats, despite the relative scarcity of malware affecting the platform.

In an interview with MacWorld, a spokesman for the security firm warned that the feeling of security engendered by the Mac's well-publicised shortage of viruses and trojans could lull users into a false sense of immunity online, leaving them open to being duped by phishing scams.

'Social engineering can be as effective a method for stealing people's valuable data as a keylogger or data-stealing trojan,' said John Hawes, Technical Consultant at Virus Bulletin. 'Mac users may feel safe from malware, but they do have to maintain the same alertness and caution as everyone else when browsing the web or reading their email.'

The interview, here, was part of the push for Symantec's new 'Norton Confidential' suite, which includes filtering of known phishing sites and a password manager.

28 September 2006

Tags: spam