Mac users tend to believe that their computers are immune to viruses and fraud, especially when compared to PC users. In the past, they would have been right, but with Apple gaining a greater market share in the home computer sector, as well as being the major player in the smartphone and tablet markets, its users are increasingly vulnerable to hacking attacks.
Experts have been warning Mac users for some time that they need to pay more attention to security. Back in April, a Trojan virus infected over half a million users, mostly in the UK and US. What’s more, Google has got into trouble for bypassing the security settings on Apple’s Safari browser in order to gather data on users. While the focus of the story was largely on Google’s wrong-doing, Apple and its users should be concerned that Google was able to hack a browser thought by many to be ‘hack proof’.
Because of this misplaced trust, many do not have anti-virus software. Indeed, a survey released this month showed that only half of MacBook users have it, compared to 84% of Windows laptop users.
However, recent events have proven that viruses and hacking can affect anyone, whatever their choice of machine. As well as good online security software, using a virtual private network is always a good idea. It’s become increasingly clear that using Apple products does not keep you safe from the threat of external attacks; a virtual private network, however, will provide an extra level of security. Users of iPhones and iPads should also think about using this technology to log on to the internet, especially when using unsecured public networks.
Online security breaches are a real threat, whether you’re sitting at home on your desktop, on the train with your Mac or on the move with your mobile. Just make sure to take the proper precautions before surfing the web.
HideMyAss.com is a leading online privacy website, this is our blog dedicated to providing you with news, updates, and general privacy topics.
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