Two new columns from regional newspapers note that Mac users have been immune to the effects of recent virus attacks like the Blaster and SoBig.F worms. Sam Diaz, writing for The Mercury News, wrote a column entitled Mac users watch from sidelines while David Zeiler offered similar thoughts in an article for The Baltimore Sun entitled What, me worry?
“As the latest Microsoft Windows infection spread across the Internet last week, knocking out thousands of PCs in homes and businesses, Macintosh users did what they usually do during a computer virus outbreak — they continued working,” said the Sun’s Zeiler.
Zeiler also noted that while Mac users may have been uninfected, they weren’t unaffected. The recent virus outbreaks have caused widespread problems and disruptions on computer networks, taking down e-mail services and more — services that Mac users depend on as much as their PC counterparts.
According to Zeiler, Windows-borne computer viruses number about 70,000 at last count, while Mac viruses number about 50.
The Mercury News’ Diaz suggested that Mac users may not want to gloat, as it’s certainly possible to write a Mac virus, though Diaz quotes research firm Rob Enderle as saying that Macs make it “much more difficult to write the worm.”
Anti-virus software maker Sophos PLC’s Graham Cluley told the Sun’s Zeiler that Macs have “no more inherent security” than their PC counterparts, it’s just that they’ve failed “to capture interest” among the creators of these viruses.