Of course, targeting digital key security functions is not only a problem with Apple products, and a determined hacker will eventually overcome any digital signature precautions taken by software companies. However, the fact that it was almost trivially easy to do so, and on products most consumers consider a “walled garden” of safety and security for the past 11 years, brought privacy and security questions to the forefront again.
It is perhaps important to consider why Apple is often thought of as the most private and secure. Most major hacks and malware seem to target Windows operating systems. At first glance, it might seem that Microsoft have been sloppy when it comes to the security of their operating system. However, when one considers the options from a hacker’s perspective, it becomes obvious why Apple products are an afterthought for most hackers and why Microsoft-powered devices are the preferred target. Most of the computers around the world run on Windows, from people’s home computers, to ATMs, to software that help run hospitals, infrastructure and the military. For a hacker, being able to infect as many machines as possible is the goal and given an overwhelming majority of computers run on Windows, it’s only natural to develop malware that targets that OS.
In other words, when less than 10% of the world’s computers run on Mac OS, and almost 90% run on Windows (with a fraction running Linux), it’s only natural that most malware and hacking attempts will target Windows. Therefore, a large part of why most users feel Mac is safer, is because most hackers don’t even bother to mount attacks that could ostensibly only work on 1 out 10 computers in the world.
