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Why Are There No Viruses on Mac OS X?

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Mac OS X, Security

As I’ve previously discussed many times, one of the (many) things that makes Mac OS X such a great operating system is its rock solid security. The ability to work without having to worry about viruses not only saves money, it also provides peace of mind.  But did you ever wonder why there aren’t any viruses for Macs?  The following article by Hedi Regaya does a great job of explaining "Why there are no viruses for OS X?"

  • OS X is built on UNIX. UNIX was a multi user system with a security architecture built into it at the beginning. WINDOWS came from a single user architecture with security and multi user capability as an after thought.
  • UNIX had networking built into it from the beginning, again in Windows this was bolted in at a later date.
  • Windows built Internet Explorer into the O/S at a very deep level, and allowed code execution within the browser. In OS X the browser is a completely separate application, its not a integral part of the OS. IMHO, this is the fundamental screw-up Microsoft made, as they created so many hooks into which someone can attack the OS.
  • In earlier Windows everything ran as the system user, so the capability to compromise an entire system was easier. (see reason 1)
  • Microsoft’s backward compatibility mantra doesn’t do them any favours as to run old software they need so many old APIs, all of which can have holes in them.
  • OS X has no registry. IMHO, second fundamental flaw Microsoft made.
  • OS X asks for your password before allowing you to run new software or install something. Not fool proof, but at least fool resistant.
  • Where do viruses usually hang out in Windows:
    1. At the root.
    2. In the user’s local settings temp folder.
    3. In these folders: \windows, \system, \system32 — the most common places where I find viruses.
    4. As registry entries.
  • None of those areas are exposed to the environment in OS X. You can’t see those folders. Virus writers can’t access them. Thus, viruses can’t exploit those areas. Vista’s UAC is MS’s attempt to prevent changes to those totally exposed folders without your being aware of the changes.

Source:  "Why There Are No Viruses for OS X" by Hedi Regaya, published at Mac Amour.

  • PC user

    This article is completely bias… there are many Mac viruses just not as many as PC’s because there are a vast amount of PC users over Mac’s in the world. Also, during a recent competition at the National Security Conference the Mac was hacked easiest among all of the popular Operating Systems. Vista was the most difficult to crack into. So, take everything people write with a grain of salt. You can purchase 2 PC’s for the price of one Mac and there are no gains in my opinion! In fact, PCs have freeware available for just about anything you wish to do. Macs have their own proprietary applications which costs allot more $$$$

  • Mac and PC User

    I agree with you that you can buy 2 PC’s for one MAC……..BUUUUTTTT…..both of those PC’s put together could not match the performance of that one MAC. It has been proven again and again and again, that if you built a PC comparable to the performance level of a MAC, it would cost more. The MACs are better machines hands down, I used to trash talk out my ass like you until I owned a MAC and then I realized I WAS TALKING OUT OF MY ASS!
    MP

  • keeya

    Does this go for the new IMAC Intel? Because the system is Intel does that allow the Mac vulnerable to viruses?

  • Max Power

    @PC User: Nope, sorry, you are incorrect: there are no active viruses for Mac OS X, and the hack contest you’re referring to certainly did not happen at any National Security Conference as an official event. Also, if you match up features and hardware line-for-line, including screen size and resolution, and put virus protection on the PC, the Mac will cost less than 10% more, and is sometimes the same price, depending on the PC manufacturer; hardly the 200% cost you claim.
    @keeya: The Intel processor doesn’t have anything to do with any of the points discussed in the article, so all of the points above are true and valid. Keep in mind, though, that just because there are no active viruses and very little malware, it doesn’t mean there won’t ever be any. A Mac is a far, far safer computer than Windows Vista and below (7 just came out, so we’ll have to wait and see on that one), though.

  • degsy

    The reason why there are so few viruses for mac is because it’s hard to write them. The reason for so many Windows viruses is because it’s easy to write them. Microsoft deliberately provide back doors and hooks into Windows so that they can sell tools to enable third-parties to enrich and enhance your Windows experience. This is fine if the third-parties are trustworthy and have no malicious intent. But even with the best of intentions this approach can go wrong (remember Sony’s copy-protected cd scandle?), Apple have rightly left the decision about what software runs on your computer and how it runs up to you. You can compare the default settings of IE8 and Safari if you need proof.

  • http://www.modonetworks.com Mark Grafing

    It is a serious issue when people are perfectly willing to mislead other people with false statements. “YES, THERE IS VIRUSES FOR MAC’S”. If you think they do not exist then you are an incorrect. Mac’s represent a very small user base, hence, there are less viruses (or applications) for that particular OS. I like Unix/linux/AIX…and they too have viruses out there…Just not as many as there are for Windows. It has NOTHING to do with hooks in the OS but everything to do with the user base. If you want to affect a multitude then you attack the largest user base and that is Windows. You want to be different so you buy a Mac and Jetta and that is awesome. But do not be so ignorant of the world that you post untrue information that others may read and be mislead. As the Mac OS gets more popular (and I hope it does)there will be more and more trojans and viruses being written and those of you who are so foolish to think you are safe will be the first the victims. I apologize if I have offended you :)

  • SixnaHalfFeet

    @ Mark Graffing
    Please name one self replicating “virus” for the Mac. You are complaining that people are spreading false information about the Mac, but you are spreading false information yourself.
    To date there have been no self replicating viruses (definition of a virus is that it self infects and self replicates without user interaction) that affects Mac OS X. Is there malware out there for the Mac. Yes, but not very much (a handful?). Is there a virus in the wild for Mac OS X. No.
    There are trojans, worms, and spyware out there, but all of these require user interaction to install them for them to work (either via a bad web page or a bad third party software installer, or by using a poorly programmed application). These by definition are not viruses, but are trojans. Again name one virus (self replicating and self installing), I bet you can’t.

  • Skeptic

    PCUser, above, and many others continue to write that there are Mac viruses, some write that there are many. BUT NOONE EVER NAMES EVEN ONE!
    Some claim there are extra-terrestials and UFOs but none of them have been shown to exist either. It may be the same group of people making both claims.

  • James

    I see several mentions above of Mac viruses, yet I don’t see anyone who has risen to the author’s challenge to come back here and name one. It just drives you Windows nerds crazy that there aren’t any Mac viruses yet, doesn’t it?
    Will there someday be a Mac virus, or many? Sure, probably. But today? Nope, none, zero.

  • Mike

    I work in an office with about 10 MACs. For the past 10 years we have had 0 viruses. I’ve had 2 PCs at home over the past 2 years and have had several viruses that died a hard, stressful expensive death. I recently converted my wife to MAC. Problems so far, none! Hal-a-freakin-lujah!!! To me PCs are now like cassette tapes. Never again. I would pay 3 times more for a MAC if I had to.

  • http://macandviruses.com Stefan Dzimidko

    This is not a problem in most of cases with OSX itself or even Apple (as many people can say), but with people themselves and third part applications. As you know OSX is build with on BSD (most secure system), but also (by default) all ingeration into the system should be done with admin password. People most of the time don’t read this information. On the second way there is also problem with holes in Firefox, Adobe products which Apple doesn’t monitor.
    So in my opinion words like 35 viruses/trojans 10000 viruses/trojans are useless, because it’s always problem with other applications and users.

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