Game Theory, Antivirus Improvements Explain Rise In Mac Malware

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Game Theory, Antivirus Improvements Explain Rise In Mac Malware

Posted by Soulskill on Friday April 20, 2012 @04:20AM from the apple-blames-solar-flares dept.

Sparrowvsrevolution writes "Four years ago, security researcher Adam J. O'Donnell used game theory to predict in a paper for IEEE Security and Privacy when malware authors would start targeting Macs. Based on some rough assumptions and a little algebra, he found that it would only become profitable to target Apple's population of users when they reached 16% market share. So why are we now seeing mass attacks on Macs like the Flashback trojan when Apple only has 11% market share? O'Donnell says it turns out he may have underestimated the effectiveness of the antivirus used by most Windows users, which now makes overconfident Mac users a relatively vulnerable and much more appealing target. Based on current antivirus detection rates, O'Donnell's equations now show that victimizing Macs becomes a profitable alternative to PCs at just 6.5% market share."

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Hey Apple Users... by pwnyxpress · 2012-04-20 04:25 · Score: 4, Funny

How it security by obscurity treating you now?
1. Re:Hey Apple Users... by cpu6502 · 2012-04-20 04:35 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  So does Ubuntu Linux have 6.5% share yet?
  
  --
  My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
2. Re:Hey Apple Users... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-20 04:37 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Thank you, Captain Cliché, for pointing out the obvious and already stated!
3. Re:Hey Apple Users... by Charliemopps · 2012-04-20 05:05 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  as stupid as windows user are... and I'll grant you they ARE stupid... Absolutely nothing compares to the apple market. There's a price to be paid for making your OS so easy to use that you don't even need to be smart enough to tie your own shoes to use it... namely, that your OS will attract all of the people not smart enough to tie their own shoes.
  
  Now, I know all you apple "power users" are going to get all mad and scream "You're calling me dumb! I'm not dumb!" I'm not saying you're dumb... I'm saying all your friends are dumb... and you make bad technology choices... I'm sure you made a very smart, well informed decision when you chose the wrong operating system.
4. Re:Hey Apple Users... by Khyber · 2012-04-20 05:44 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  "The odd thing is, I've never actually heard anyone ever say "I have a Mac, so I'm immune""
  Oh, boy. You must not sit around Best Buy, Apple Stores, or 4chan's /g/ very often.
  Hell, I hear that in the workplace all the time. I go over, infect their machine, and laugh at them.
  
  --
  Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
5. Re:Hey Apple Users... by mcgrew · 2012-04-20 07:18 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Well, hey, then Mac AV will work a lot faster than Windows AV since there's only one virus in the definition database!
  
  --
  Free Martian Whores!
6. Re:Hey Apple Users... by Americano · 2012-04-20 11:04 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  I have to disagree with this. I have an iPad, and I can assure you, it really, truly is MAGICAL.
  Here's what casting a lightning bolt was like before my iPad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ04mfAY2BU
  Here's what it's like AFTER the iPad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxYGT51JTfE
  Apple is always explicitly literal in their advertising copy, and any suggestion that they aren't is just crazy talk.
Nay! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-20 04:32 · Score: 5, Funny

Tis a feature, allowed by the Almighty Jobs as a test thy faith in Apple .. so only mayest the True Believers be granted the next iDevice.