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Symantec: Threats to Apple Products on the Rise

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Customers can no longer rely on Apple's "walled garden" approach to software and security, Symantec warns-- while iOS and Mac OS X threats remain relatively low, such issues are actually on the rise.

Apple threat landscapeAccording to the company malware aimed at iOS doubled, growing from 3 in 2014 to 7 in 2015. Meanwhile the number of OS X threats is growing on a Y-o-Y basis, rising by 15% in 2014 following a 44% increase in 2013 and a 29% increase in 2012.

Symantec also points out the number of unique malware-infected OS X computers in the first 9 months of 2015 was 7 times higher than all of 2014. A "significant" number of such attack comes through grayware, such as adware, potentially unwanted or misleading applications, but malware is likewise on the rise.

"While the total number of threats targeting Apple devices remains quite low compared to Windows in the desktop space and Android in the mobile sector, Apple users cannot be complacent," the company says. "Should Apple platforms continue to increase in popularity, the number of cybersecurity threats facing Apple users will likely grow in parallel."

Of course, customers can avoid unnecessary risks-- for instance jailbreaking opens iDevices to hackers, since 9 out of 13 documented iOS threats can only infact jailbroken devices. Symantec says users should only install custom apps unless supplied by a trusted source, and while Apple is good at vetting apps some malicious software (such as the recent XcodeGhost and Youmi) still slips through its nets.

One also has to keep in mind phishing (unsolicited requests to verify accounts or provide passwords) remain a risk, no matter the platform.

Symantec predicts Apple Pay might drive cybercriminals to further dig for iOS vulnerabilities, since it involves a financial incentive.

The curious can check a full analysis on the state of Apple security and vulnerability in the link below.

Go The Apple Threat Landscape