One in 5 Mac computers spreading Windows malware: Report

London, Apr 25 (ANI): One in five Apple Mac computers are spreading malware to Windows PCs, a security firm has claimed.

According to a study conducted by Sophos, the Windows malware is not harming the Macs, because they use different operating systems, but the computers are spreading it to other machines.

The study also said that 2.7 per cent of Macs carry their own harmful Mac malware, The Telegraph reports.

Apple computers have long been considered invulnerable to viruses, but the Flashback virus, or botnet, was recently discovered on more than 600,000 Macs.

Sophos said fake anti-virus attacks, which scare users into handing over their credit card details, and Flashback, dominate the chart of Mac-based threats.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, pointed out that cybercriminals view Macs as a soft target, because their owners don't typically run anti-virus software and are thought to have a higher level of disposable income than the typical Windows user.

"Mac users must protect their computers now or risk making the malware problem on Macs as big as the problem on PCs," the paper quoted Cluley, as saying.

According to the paper, Cluley claimed 'Mac malware can spread via USB stick, email attachments, website download, or even a silent drive-by installation where the user doesn't realise their Mac's security has been subverted'. (ANI)