Chicago (IL) – Consumer Reports has published its annual State of the Net survey and found that one of the most common “online blunders” is to believe that a Mac will shield you from malware threats, such as phishing scams. The magazine zeroed in on Apple’s web browser and said that users should use Firefox or Opera until Apple improves the security features of its web browser.

Consumer Reports found that Mac users fall prey to phishing scams at about the same rate as Windows users. However, in contrast to Windows users, fewer Mac users actually protect themselves with an anti-phishing toolbar – which would be a necessity as Safari does not include anti-phishing protection at this time.

Consequently, Consumer Reports tells the Mac audience among its readers to “use a browser with phising protection”, which would include Firefox, Opera or even IE. A free anti-phishing toolbar such as McAfee Site Advisor or FirePhish, is mentioned as an alternative to switching the browser. According to NetApplications, safari currently has a market share of 6.14%, behind Firefox with 19.22% and IE with 73.02%. Opera is estimated at 0.69% market share.

Other “online blunders” include the assumption that security software is protecting a PC, accessing a bank account through an email link, using a single password for all email accounts, downloading free software, clicking on a pop-up ad that claims your PC is insecure and shopping online the same way to do in regular stores.

Wake up!

Aug 07, 2008 10:06     

Hopefully these news actually reach iPeople. But I'm afraid not. I quit using Safari long time ago and I really don't understand why almost every mac user uses it. Wake up, these machines are really not as bulletproof as you think...
Maz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +5

Correct, Safari will not protect noobs

Aug 07, 2008 10:30     

But if you surf safely and intelligently, you won't have any problems with Safari.
Hax Or report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -2

Sad

Aug 07, 2008 10:39     

Shows how many people don't really understand that much about their machines. Likely no one that reads Tom's falls into this group. Are there not many viruses & malware apps for the Mac (yet)? Sure. Does that mean that currently you are safer? Sure. But phishing isn't installing some crazy app ... it's just dupping you into giving up info. Sorry friends, protection from that is up to the user, not the ol' machine. Luckily a good browser can help, but it comes down to the user actually using their noodle.

JT report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

RE: Correct, Safari will not protect noobs

Aug 07, 2008 10:44     

Unfortunately, most Mac users don't know how to browse safely, even more so than your average PC user...
al report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

re: Wake up!

Aug 07, 2008 10:44     

I imagine the reason most Mac users use Safari is the same reason most Windows users use IE - it's the zero effort option.
John Williams report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +4

n00bs

Aug 07, 2008 10:48     

nothing can protect a n00b. nothing
Pdogg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +7

Just goes to show you

Aug 07, 2008 11:39     

iSmug users are dumb. I just loved how they touted Safari is better and safer than IE, and these are the same people that are always on tech forums asking for help on using their beloved Macs. Funny thing is, on support forums it's usually 70% Mac users asking questions. And they only have 8% of the market, what does that tell you?
Devon M report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +4

RE: Just goes to show you

Aug 07, 2008 11:52     

I think that is exactly the problem. Mac users spent a lot of time talking about how nice and secure Macs were and though this is not untrue it has probably given quite a few average joe Mac users a false sense of security. Ultimately I think users of IE/FF have in the past been targeted more often (with success) and the browsers have responded by becoming every so slightly more idiot safe than safari is today.

Ryan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

OS X the First compromised

Aug 07, 2008 12:42     

At CanSecWest in March, the MacBook Air was the first one compromised (of an Ubuntu, Vista, and OS X laptops), and the exploit was through the Safari browser. Hmmm...
EEngineer report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

Mac OS is like swiss cheese

Aug 07, 2008 13:18     

Any real computer geek/user knows this. iheads are just to smug to care or notice.
Ricko report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

no browser is safe.

Aug 07, 2008 14:04     

All you have to do is go to a hotmail,yahoo mail, gmail account and open up a phishing scams email and then either reply or call them by phone.... It doesn't matter what browser you use... There is no subsitute from well functioning brain.
yo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Good Luck

Aug 09, 2008 02:47     

Good luck telling this to all the dip-shit mac fanboys out there that grin as they spend $2000 for a laptop that's only worth $1000....but *bonus* you get a fucktard high-five on your way out.
Me report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0