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Kaspersky, others prepared for potential Mac epidemic

updated 01:15 pm EST, Tue March 4, 2008

Potential Mac epidemic

Several internet security companies have preliminary Mac OS X anti-virus applications, awaiting a potential large-scale attack before deploying the countermeasures. According to Yahoo News, Kaspersky Lab keeps a prototype of a Mac-based anti-viral program that could be distributed in a matter of days, should an outbreak occur. Kaspersky has even tested a version designed specifically for the iPhone.

Kaspersky is joined by F-Secure, AVG, and Dr. Web, all of which have either interest in the Mac platform or have a working bare-bones version of their software. The companies heavily debate having an official presence on the Mac, since it currently stands strong against many forms of attack. Since the risk of infection is lower, many view it as an unprofitable venture.

"We see that Mac OS is taking a bigger and bigger share of the market," Kaspersky said. "We made the prototype to be ready just in case."

Symantec, McAfee, Intego, and Sophos are currently the only four companies with a fully functional anti-virus program.

 
Previous Comments

Uh huh...

03/04, 01:37pm reply

And they're just hoping for an outbreak.

howiethemacguy

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2007

0

hey

03/04, 01:44pm reply

At least they've looked at it and said "Na, nobody needs it, so we're not selling it!" They could be like Norton and say "Buy us now! For your future is in doubt!"

testudo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

Re: uh huh

03/04, 01:47pm reply

They probably don't care too much. As they don't already have a product in user's hands, a major outbreak (unlikely to occur as there still isn't that "critical mass" of Macs to keep virii populating all over the place) will drive most people to companies they know have a mac presence, rather than some company swooshing in to make a quick buck.

And let's be serious here. "Kapersky"? Sounds Russian. Probably with ties to the Russian mob. And most likely has ties with all those Russian hacking organizations causing havoc in the PC world.

testudo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-1

Don't hold your breath

03/04, 01:50pm reply

Think of it like an emerging market or a newly available land that can be developed- it's untouched, and if it pans out like others have in the past, there's definitely money to be had. Unfortunately for vendors such as these, there's little chance that we'll see an "epidemic" anywhere near on the scale of those M$ is prone to.

They may not be quite the fear mongers that Norton is, but I have little doubt that they'll turn to it if they don't change their offered service and products from what they're targeted at now.

danviento

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

0

@rooshky Kapersky

03/04, 01:53pm reply

We know how there are quite a few shady operations out of that particular nation. Perhaps this upcoming epidemic might be the result of a concerted effort drawn from a pool of such skilled persons...?

Call it a conspiracy theory, but what else is MacNN good for?

danviento

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

0

Hmm

03/04, 01:53pm reply

I'll believe it when I see it.. This seems rather like sending the fire brigade out to a building, and just waiting there, just incase something happens.

Grrr

Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Jun 2001

0

solution

03/04, 02:03pm reply

this just seems like a solution in search of a problem.

scottnichol

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

0

You are all fools...

03/04, 03:20pm reply

I wrap my Mac in a large plastic bag when I go out. I change it several times a day just to make sure. I wash my hair in antiviral soap and do the same with my cats. Every time I touch a doorknob, I say a Hail Mary, wash and repaint the door and grease the hinges just to be safe. I assume you do too. I place my toenail clippings in an envelope just in case, but that is pretty standard protocol, so an antiviral pre counterassault seems like a good precaution to take. I also wrap my entire body in duct tape when ever I go out to avoid cancer, and it gets rid of all that unwanted body hair when I go to remove it at the end of the week.

Faceplant

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2003

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"Kaspersky"?

03/04, 03:22pm reply

"Testudo"? Smells like a troll.

Kaspersky, however is a welcome alternative to Symantec, in the PC world. You can look it up...

sligett

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2004

0

its nice to see

03/04, 04:11pm reply

That these guys are busy trying to write viruses .. oh i mean anti-viruses for our machines.

kind of funny that people would spend a lot of money on anti-virus dev when you're writing for a machine that doesn't have any live in the wild.

I saw someone the other day ripping OSX for not having phishing protection. I'm sorry, phishing protection is not being a f****** tard.

zaghahzag

Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Aug 2006

0

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