Another Mac OS X Worm Reported

Just days after spreading information about a new worm that affects the Mac OS platform, another worm is reported by anti-virus vendors. The Inqtana worm spreads between Apple systems through a Bluetooth vulnerability in the OS. Fortunately, that vulnerability was patched by an update released in mid-2005, so Mac users who have been keeping their systems updated with the latest security updates were never at risk of being attacked by this worm.

But it does begin to feel like the sky is beginning to fall for Mac users who have historically been able to virtually ignore virus and other malware threats on the platform. Those who have kept their eyes and ears open for this type of possibility have known all along that it was only a matter of time before threats finally started showing up on OS X systems.

Practicing good malware prevention applies to all platforms .And the rules are fairly simple:

1. Keep your systems up to date with the latest security patches.

2. Don’t open attachments from e-mail messages, especially if you weren’t expecting to receive an attachment from the sender, and even more especially if you don’t know who the sender is.
3. “Free” software is almost never “free.” Be careful what you download and run on your computer.
4. Run antivirus software on your computer and keep it up to date.

Follow these simple rules and you’ll avoid most of the malware threats that are out there, regardless of your platform.