Apple Macs no safer than PCs from computer phishing attacks

[kentuck]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/2009/11/mac-phishing-attacks.html

<snip>
Mac users get victimized by a certain, very active segment of the cyber underground -- phishers -- just as often as PC users, says Randy Abrams, director of technical education at antivirus firm Eset.

And Macs that are allowed to tie into Windows-centric company networks can help elite phishers spread malicious attacks, adds Timothy Armstrong, security analyst at Kaspersky Lab.


<snip>
Yes, Mac fans, virus writers continue to focus primarily on Windows, since nine of 10 computers connected to the Web are PCs. However, phishers are platform agnostic. And right now phishing attacks are surging.

Phishers rely on social engineering to victimize Web users. And their latest sleigh-of-hand is to lure your into giving up your Web mail or social network account log-ons. Anyone who uses Hotmail, YahooMail, Gmail, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn or Twitter is likely being attacked -- doesn't matter what computer operating system they happen to be using.

"Phishing attacks are just as effective on Macs, Linux, Windows, Solaris, and any operating system since they rely on tricking the user and not upon malicious software or any software vulnerabilities," says Abrams. "The Mac offers no immunity to phishing attacks and so we see an equal percentage of victim representation across the board."

.........more


.

[Robb]

1. In a related note

...Drivers who use the Club rather than an electronic auto theft security system are not more protected from carjacking. ;)

[HuckleB]

17. +1

[951-Riverside]

18. +1

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Well, duh.

Your mac isn't going to offer you any protection from 419 scammers or online stalkers either. E-mail is e-mail.

[NYCGirl]

3. Silly article. It's not about the operating system, it's about the person opening,

reading, and responding to bogus emails.

[cliffordu]

13. Yep.

[fascisthunter]

4. phishing is through your email right?

so unless you open the email and actively click on a link to give out your info, does it still steal info just sitting in your inbox?

It has nothing to do with the computer nor the operating system.... all info is at risk when it comes to phishing. I think we all already knew that.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Phishing is a PBKAC issue

"Problem Between Keyboard and Chair"

[slackmaster]

7. Otherwise known as an ID10t error

:hi:

[emulatorloo]

8. LOL n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. In Brazil we call it a BIOS problem

Burro Imbecil Operando o Sistema (Imbecile Dumbass Operating the System)

Yeah, I know. Untranslatable joke.

[Canuckistanian]

14. LOL

I got enough to understand!

[emulatorloo]

6. Well, DUH! who is paying "Randy Abrams" to come up with these pearls of obviousness?

And why is USAToday stupid enough to think this is significant. Makes me think USAToday writers are ripe for phishing attacks

[MineralMan]

9. Bad Keyboard/Chair interface there...

Moooove!

[safeinOhio]

10. Still if

you are surfing midget porn on a Mac, you are safer than on a PC.

[yodoobo]

11. Computers are NOT the target of phishing attacks.

people are.

[HuckleB]

15. Maybe. But that claim appears to be just one person's opinion.

I don't see actual evidence to back up the claim.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. It is not the OS that is at risk in phishing attacks but the operator

I had a cute one of those yesterday...

Many of those are done through the email systems .

[Generic Brad]

19. Social engineering is now considered a virus?

Sounds like Mr. Armstrong took a stupid pill.