Mac OSX Viruses....

After numerous discussions with my colleagues about the validity of Apple's claim or at least users claim, that they were virus free and safe....I scanned the net and found and interesting article....demonstrating the detection of the first ever virus for Mac OSX....16/02/2006...by Sophos Engineers.

Feeling vindicated...I believe the proliferation of viruses on an operating system is a function of its popularity and share of the market place...In other words in the majority of cases not including script kiddies virus writers are skillful enough to tackle any OS platform...its just that more people use windows...

Sophos Article:

16 February 2006

First ever virus for Mac OS X discovered

OSX/Leap-A worm spreads via iChat instant messaging software

OSX/Leap-A uses an image of a JPEG icon to try and fool users.

Experts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have announced the discovery of the first virus for the Apple Mac OS X platform. The virus, named OSX/Leap-A (also known as OSX/Oompa-A) spreads via instant messaging systems....[more]

John