An article from PC World reported last week that Apple quietly pulled claims of virus immunity from its website and marketing materials.

Apple's previous claim, "It doesn't get PC viruses", was quietly replaced with the message "It's built to be safe."

The changes can be seen in this image.

As the article explains, the move comes in the wake of the Flashback botnet which targeted Mac computers and infected over 670,000 computers across the globe.

Hackers and virus authors have historically focused their efforts on the PC Windows platform because of its broader user base, but as more and more people make the Mac switch it seems like cybercriminal might be shining a brighter spotlight on Apple moving forward.

So my question to the IT forum world is:

Does this shift in messaging change how you feel about Apple? Does the death of their "no virus" claim lessen your desire to buy a MacBook or your trust in the company?

I figured it was only a matter of time until Apple would fall victim to cybercriminal efforts. And although I was never a MacBook user myself, I do think it was one of the most appealing traits in the eye of the consumer.

The hackers seem to keep getting smarter and now that they’ve finally broken down the Apple barriers, I think this is only the beginning of the risks that lie ahead. I trust Apple will come up with further security solutions to combat this issue, but at the same time, it will never have the same effect.

After all, the idea of a product being “indestructible” is the ultimate marketing ploy. Once your track record is damaged, it becomes a lot harder to hold onto that top spot.

Still, Apple is no Titanic. I’m confident they will be able to stay afloat.

I think Carly is right that it was only a matter of time. Until recently, Apple really hasn't had a user-base worth investing too much time and effort into. But times have changed.

One of the great things about Apple's software ecosystem, is a relatively pain free updating process with the App Store. This should hopefully keep the vulnerabilities down to a minimum.

Conversely, the Windows software and operating system landscape is much more fragmented. Many exploits also target vulnerabilities that have long been patched, but do to clumsy or inefficient update processes users are still susceptible.

The only real protection against any of it is to be careful where you are browsing, and what you're clicking. Watch for malware tucked into legitimate installers. And turn on pop-up blockers when venturing into the more "uncharted" places of the Internet to avoid inadvertently clicking something.

Yes, Apple has quietly removed statements on their website and presumably from future literature that says the Mac operation system (OS X) is virus proof. And yes, its website used to say that OS X “doesn’t get PC viruses” and now says, instead, “It’s built to be safe.”

This means two things: first, Apple is finally acknowledging that they aren’t “immune” to anything and second, by that acknowledgment, they’re taking security a little more seriously.

=== The Flashback Botnet changed everything.

When the Flashback botnet attacked computers and made the big time last year and early this, it hit a population of computer users who, until now, had felt themselves relatively safe from virus or similar attacks. Flashback, however, attacked Mac computers specifically and was the first widespread virus to be publicly acknowledged as doing so.


About 670,000 computers worldwide were affected and 98% of those were Mac OS X machines. Apple was slow to respond, by analyst’s claims, largely because they were ill prepared to deal with something of this nature. Apple, at its very core, is a closed-door place where secrets are heavily guarded and technology is kept close to the vest. That is the exact opposite of what is required in a corporate culture when a virus spread is underway.

=== Apple responds tangibly.

While the changes to Apple’s website are telling, other quiet changes that didn’t get the marketing glitz that other upgrades to Apple products usually do, were also released.

When OS X 10.8 (called Mountain Lion) releases, it will include a new feature called Gatekeeper that restricts which applications users can install on their devices. This will likely work in a way very similar to user level restrictions in Windows.

Further, Apple has also released security guidelines for the iOS system used in iPhones and iPads. The guide focuses on possible vulnerabilities (usually due to user apathy) on these devices and how to be vigilant against them.

These moves show that Apple is at least beginning to address security in their products.