The various OS X vulnerabilities allow attackers to carry out information disclosure, authentication bypass, code execution, privilege escalation, and DoS attacks. The appearance of a rootkit109 called Opener in October 2004, serves to illustrate the growth in vulnerability research on the OS X platform. 'Apple Computer has become a target for new attacks. 'Out of the public eye for some time, it is now clear that the Mac OS is increasingly becoming a target for the malicious activity that is more commonly associated with Microsoft and various Unix-based operating systems,' the report said. 'Contrary to popular belief, the Macintosh operating system has not always been a safe haven from malicious code,' Symantec said.
According to Symantec, as Apple increases its market share-with new low cost products such as the Mac mini-its userbase is likely to come under increasing attack. In its seventh bi-annual Internet Security Threat Report, Symantec said over the past year, security researchers had discovered at least 37 serious vulnerabilities in the Mac OS X system.
