Sophos Offers Mac Users Free Antivirus

Amidst reports that threats to Macs are steadily increasing, security firm Sophos is now offering a free version of its business antivirus software to Apple computer fans. It's a pretty good deal: dubbed Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition for Mac, the software comes with no strings attached and will be updated forever (or the foreseeable future).

The Sophos software has been adapted from its business roots so that it is easier to install and operate. (Source: zdnet.co.uk)

According to Chris Kraft, Sophos product management vice president, the Mac offering is the exact same model currently being used by over 100 million business users around the world.

Mac Home Users Encouraged to Protect Themselves

Sophos, which for the most part sells its products to businesses, says home Mac users need to realize that the threat to Apple computers is rising. "While most businesses recognize the importance of protecting their Mac computers from malware threats, most home users do not," Kraft said.

"By offering free industrial-strength security to home users, we aim to protect Mac users against today's and tomorrow's Mac threats. Everyone knows that Macs are beautiful computers -- Sophos wants to lend a hand to keep them that way." (Source: usatoday.com)

More Macs in Use Means More Threats Online

In a recent survey, Sophos found that 95 per cent of 640 respondents recognize that malware threats to Mac computers are increasing. As Apple's share of the computer market grows, so too does the chance that Mac users will be targeted by all kinds of different hacker schemes, including those involving phishing, spyware or remote code execution.

Recent reports suggest hackers have used a number of different strategies for attacking Macs. These include the use of malware on peer-to-peer file sharing sites specifically targeting Macs and adult video links that silently download a Trojan horse. Even Twitter Tweets have been tied to new Mac malware: malicious links are said to infect Mac users who click on these Tweets.

Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley says now is the time for Apple users to protect themselves. "Wise Mac users will secure their computers now, outwitting malware authors -- if we make their jobs of infecting Macs... difficult, they will go elsewhere to make a quick buck."