According to McAfee's latest report, the number of malware in Macs is reported to have increased by nearly 750% in 2016. The blame? Users
There is a conception that still dies hard among Apple users, according to which the products of the Californian company are immune to hackers. Maybe it was fine a few years ago. As the numerous cases discovered confirm, no connected device today is inviolable.
In fact, there are numerous malware and viruses that over the years have also affected Apple devices. A few weeks ago, for example, Macs were infected with a Trojan that could steal passwords, screenshots and even take over iPhone backups saved on the PC. Before that, Apple computers were infected by a malware contained in a word document. And according to one of the latest reports by McAfee, a well-known company specializing in computer security, the amount of malware discovered on Macs in 2016 has grown exorbitantly. In fact, the data leaves you open-mouthed: the presence of infections would have increased by 744%.
Malware also increases because of users
It is not the case, however, to be alarmed. Of the 460 thousand infections identified by McAfee's experts, in most cases they are advertisements placed by developers in applications and software. However, the problem remains. There is another element that should make you think. Thinking that you can defend yourself from hackers just because you own a device made by the Cupertino-based company is not only wrong, but very dangerous. By letting down their guard, users are in fact exposed to many risks.
Macs sold are growing (and so is malware)
Whether the number of users affected by malware on Macs has grown depends on another factor: more people are deciding to buy Apple-made PCs than a few years ago. The operating system of the Californian company is still one of the best and safest against hacker threats, but it is not completely immune.
How to protect yourself
If you have a Mac, a PC running Windows or an Android device, be careful. Don't click on links you don't know about, don't download programs from unofficial sources and don't open attachments from unknown emails. It is our superficiality that helps hackers to carry out their attacks.