[Mac] Why Mac OS X "does not get" Viruses

[Mac] Why Mac OS X “does not get” Viruses

June 17th, 2009

A lot of people ask me why Macs don’t get viruses. Some people I come across also think that it’s not possible for a Mac to catch a virus (oh brother).

That couldn’t be farther from the truth- it is possible for any OS to get a virus, including OS X- but there are a lot of reasons why OS X hasn’t had a big threat for a while now- while Windows machines have become toolbar infested, pop-up happy, identity stealing lag-boxes over night.

Here’s what you should know:

1. OS X is built on UNIX. UNIX is on a multi user system and its security architecture was built into it from the beginning. WINDOWS came from single user architecture with security and multi user capability implemented later.

2. UNIX had networking built into it since its start, for Windows this was included later.

3. Windows developed Internet Explorer deep into the OS, and allowed code execution within the browser. In OS X the browser is a completely separate program, it’s not a major part of the OS. This is a HUGE screw-up Microsoft made, as they opened up so many doors into the OS.

4. In earlier Windows, everything ran as the system user, so the capability to compromise an entire system was easier (see reason 1)- UNIX requires you to sign in as Root to make changes (which Mac uses).

5. OS X has no registry. Another HUGE flaw Microsoft made.

6. OS X asks for your password before allowing you to run new software or install something. Not fool proof, but it helps.

I want to pull my hair out when I hear people saying “Macs don’t have viruses because their market share is so low, so programmers don’t want to waste time developing the threats”. Are you serious?!? Don’t you think that a virus writer would love to be one of the first to write a virus on OS X!? It would’ve been done.

Viruses are possible on any computer system, it CAN be done. But, Mac’s architecture works in its favor.