According research Kaspersky Lab and B2B International, Apple computer users face digital threats just as often with other platform users. 
Indeed, they may face even more risks with regard to specific types of threats. It is true that security experts have not so far detected so many malicious software for OS X as for other platforms (including Windows). However, this does not mean that Mac devices and data stored in them have some kind of "immunity" against risks.
The survey found that of the 26% of European users who said that Apple desktop computers were the main device to access the Internet and 15% of users who prefer Apple laptops were reported to have encountered malware during the past year*. The number of affected PC owners in Europe is slightly higher (31%). However, malware such as ransomware was encountered by 19% of European Mac owners compared to 11% of Windows device users. Both OS X users and Windows users reported experiencing incidents targeting their financial information (52% and 54% respectively).
According to the survey, Mac users are generally less aware of Internet threats than Windows device users. For example, 41% of MacBook owners in Europe have never or almost never heard of proletterransomware and 34% are unaware of dangerous malware that can exploit software vulnerabilities. In comparison, among respondents overall, 30% know next to nothing about ransomware and 27% know nothing about exploits.
Η έρευνα δείχνει ότι οι μισοί από τους χρήστες Mac εξακολουθούν να παραμελούν την ανάγκη για την εγκατάσταση λύσεων ασφάλειας στις συσκευές τους. Στην Ευρώπη, μόνο το 30% των MacBook και το 50% των επιτραπέζιων υπολογιστών Apple είναι προστατευμένο. Επιπλέον, όταν οι χρήστες της Apple επιλέγουν μια λύση ασφάλειας για τις συσκευές τους, οι περισσότεροι δίνουν έμφαση στην τιμή (40%), ενώ η αποδοτικότητα στον εντοπισμό κακόβουλου λογισμικού αποτελεί κορυφαία προτεραιότητα για το 37%. Συγκριτικά, οι χρήστες Windows βάζουν ως κορυφαία προτεραιότητα την αποδοτικότητα στον εντοπισμό malware (48%), με το κόστος και τη δυνατότητα καταπολέμησης online απειλών να ακολουθούν (45% και 32% αντίστοιχα).
"OS X users have long lived 'insulated' from the dangers of the Internet and for that reason can feel almost invulnerable. However, as today's digital threats expand their areas of action more and more, it is important to be prepared for them. In this context, Kaspersky Lab strongly recommends that Mac users not only install security solutions, but also remember the rules of safe behavior on the Internet." said Peter Aleshkin, Consumer Marketing Group Managers of Kaspersky Lab for the Emerging Markets area.
The flagship of Kaspersky Lab solutions for home users, Kaspersky Internet Security - Multi-Device 2015, is designed to protect users of different operating systems, including OS X, from digital threats. The solution offers a reliable "defense" against malware and ransomware as well as protection against financial risks by using Safe Money technology.
Kaspersky Lab: * From now on, it will refer to users who have recorded a laptop or a desktop computer operating on a given platform as their primary device for Internet access. Due to the fact that people can use different devices on different platforms at the same time, they can address the threats listed in the text in any of these.
