Apple Exec Calls Level of Mac Malware ‘Unacceptable’

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Apple is using the growing threat of malware on its Mac platform as a defense in a lawsuit that could force the company to open up new channels of applications for its mobile iOS platform.
 
In testimony in a California court Wednesday, Apple head of software engineering, Craig Federighi called the level of malware threat against the Mac platform one that the company finds “unacceptable” and continue to defend against with restrictive application-distribution platforms, according to a published report on CNET.
 
Federighi’s comments were made as Apple executives begin testifying in a court case (PDF) Epic Games—the maker of the hugely popular Fortnite—have brought against the tech giant for what Epic views as restrictive policies on the iOS App Store. Proceedings in the case began earlier this month in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, and top Apple executives were testifying to defend their side this week.
 
Throwing the security of its own platform under the bus is an about-face for Apple, which for years boasted about the security of Mac over rival Windows platform. The company even began running a popular comedic television advertising campaign illustrating this point of difference starting in 2006.
 
For years, it was certainly true that PCs suffered the bulk of the malware woes while the Mac platform remained a more secure option, largely due to its proprietary nature. While all of the software on an Apple machine was more or less vetted by Apple and could only be used on computers sold by the company, the use of Windows on different hardware platforms—and its general ubiquity as a PC platform—made it a more open playing field for attackers.

Read more: Apple Exec Calls Level of Mac Malware ‘Unacceptable’ | Threatpost