It seems like forever. Apple users were able to justify the cost of their Apple product, if for no other reason, because it was safer than a Microsoft device. Think about it. While there were tens of thousands of viruses for the Windows Operating System, there were, maybe, a hundred or so for the Mac OS.

Thanks to improved anti-virus for Windows and Apple’s inherent virus resistance, there haven’t been any major virus outbreaks for a very long time. Smooth sailing, right?

Not so fast. Enter malware. Suddenly, those problem-free Apple devices had unwanted pop-ups appearing, pages were being redirected to the wrong website and the devices were slowing down tremendously. Oh, the same thing was happening on Windows devices but that was to be expected, right? All thanks to malware.

While companies have improved when it comes to fighting and preventing malware, we’re not finished yet. Next comes phishing emails and websites. (Not sure of the definition of phishing? We’ve done a number of posts about it, just click HERE to see them.) Guess what? Just like with malware, Apple users are vulnerable. In fact, in a report just released by UK cyber security company Redscan, the number one brand used in Google search when it comes to phishing is Apple. Let that sink in a second. Not Microsoft, which didn’t even make the top 5 of the list, but Apple.

Phishing is a problem for everyone, not just Windows users. And, it can happen on a computer, on a tablet or on a smart phone. It can appear through Social Media programs, too! Phishing, of course, is usually accomplished through Social Engineering – another large theme of this blog. If you haven’t read them before, here’s a link to our posts on Social Engineering – just CLICK TO READ.