Macs or PCs: Which Has Better Anti-virus Security?

Maintaining computer security is important. There is a variety of options for fortifying your digital domain, from anti-virus software to firewall defenses, but one main question remains: which is more secure: Macs or PCs? There was a time when most security experts would have said that Macs were more secure, hands down. The prevalence of Windows-based PCs made them a more likely target, with hackers seeking out more lucrative payoffs from each attack. However, with Macs gaining a greater market share, a strengthening Windows platform and security holes in modern Mac applications, the times are a changing.

Unlike common criminals who are often beset by sociological ills like drug use or illiteracy, cyber criminals are more sophisticated, often living in poor countries like Russia or Brazil. Cyber criminals are often more rational than ordinary outlaws. For hackers, the prevalence of Windows makes attacks on PCs more lucrative. Malware like viruses, spyware and Trojans are more likely to be designed to attack Windows-based systems because cyber criminals rationally attack the larger herd. The prevalence of Windows machines, however, may be changing.

The paucity of malware for Macs doesn't mean Macs are harder to infect. In fact, Macs have repeatedly fallen to the Pwn2Own hacking contest at the CanSecWest security conference. The web default browser in OS X, for example, has long been less secure than Internet Explorer. Plus, the ubiquity of iPads and iPhones and their ability to share malicious codes between them make them a juicier target.

New Mac malware is on the rise. Back in May, Ed Bott of ZDNet.com reported signs of malware authors setting their sights on Macs. A Danish IT company has reported that a new Mac malware kit is being sold in underground hacking communities, with iPad-directed releases underway as well. Web-security firm McAfee Labs has also reported a rise in new Mac malware based on the rising prevalence of Mac OS X and iPhones and iPads.

Another threat faced by both users of PCs and Macs is the phishing scam. A phishing scam utilizes users' fear or lack of technical sophistication to defraud users of money or information. Security threats like phishing scams require little technical finesse because these scams are often done through email. For this reason, both PCs and Macs are vulnerable.

Mac users' self-assurance that their machines are totally secure is beginning to wane. What security experts are beginning to call the "Icarus Effect" is taking shape as the prevalence of Windows systems begins to fall to the ubiquity of iPhones and iPads. New Mac malware is on the rise as Apple systems are beginning to look more lucrative. Yet, phishing scams are a bane of both systems, as this type of fraud uses neither malware nor hacking tricks, but simple ignorance.

In order to defend against internet attacks, make sure your PC or Mac is protected by robust anti-virus software. Check out our anti-virus reviews to see which product we've rated the best anti-virus software.