A Flashback Trojan hit 550,000 Macs 56% of which were located in the U.S. This is one of the first widespread viruses that has become targeted toward Macs. As Apple's popularity has grown, so has the risk of using a Mac without virus protection software. The article below explains the virus.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402641,00.asp
This next article shows you how to check and see if your computer is infected although Apple has not fixed the bug with an update. But just in case you were curious:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/tech/web/mac-flashback-trojan-check/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
I tried to encourage some of my friends to check their computers but because my email read like spam, they suspected that it in fact was a virus and called me before opening it.
My message subject read: Check if your mac has a virus
The body read: You can see if you have a virus. It's super easy. You probably don't. I didn't but just in case!
Yes, I completely understand why they were concerned. We are so vulnerable in the world we live in that we have to think before we click. Always. Then you have to wonder how we will continue to protect our privacy as the trend continues toward mobile applications and use.
I had always responded to people who told me Macs were superior to PCs because they didn't get viruses with skepticism. A couple years ago when Macs were getting really popular, I predicted to my brother that viruses would start hitting Macs. His Macbook was infected with the aforementioned virus; can you say "I told you so?".
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