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Panda Security Launches Antivirus Software for Mac

AntiVirus for MacOS Protects MacOS and Scans iOS Devices to Prevent Transmission of Malware

AntiVirus for MacOS Protects MacOS and Scans iOS Devices to Prevent Transmission of Malware

Cloud based Internet security software firm, Panda Security, today launched Panda Antivirus for Mac. The new solution helps protect Mac users from malware affecting Mac OS and Mac OS X and scans files and email, detecting and eliminating or blocking many types of threats, including viruses, Trojans, spyware, keyloggers, adware, hacking tools, botnets, dialers, scareware and other threats.PandaAntivirus for Mac

In its most recent quarter ending in September 2010, Apple sold 3.89 million Macs during, a 27 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. Additionally, Apple sold 14.1 million iPhones and 4.19 million iPads during the quarter – all devices that SHOULD be protected.

“We are approaching a tipping point where it will soon be financially viable for cybercriminals to target their efforts at Mac users,” says Ivan Fermon, senior vice president of product management, Panda Security.

“When Apple reaches 15 percent marketshare worldwide, which Panda expects will happen very soon, we predict that hackers will begin to aggressively target attacks against this platform. The rapid increase in use of Apple-powered devices – iPhones, iPods, iPads – is also making the Mac platform a much more attractive target.”

Panda’s Anti-Virus for Mac solution incorporates two scan engines: an on-access scanner, or resident protection, that protects the computer at all times and alerts the user to any security incident; and an on-demand scanner that lets users scan the complete system or specific components at any time. The software can also scan Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod devices, ensuring that those devices are not used to transmit infections between other similar devices or Mac computers.

Malware is being creating at a rapid rate and targeting multiple platforms. In the first half of 2010, security firm Sophos received an average of 60,000 new malware samples every day, about 1 every 1.4 seconds. The majority of those malware samples are targeted to Windows users, but malware targeting MacOS is growing as well.

“Until recently, Apple users were not an attractive target for hackers because the number of potential victims was so small compared to Windows. But now the market is changing and with Apple’s global reach, the numbers are becoming more financially appealing for cybercriminals,” said Luis Corrons, technical director, PandaLabs.

Panda says it is aware of approximately 5,000 strains of malware that specifically affect Apple systems, with around 500 new samples appearing every month. In addition, PandaLabs has cataloged approximately 170,000 cross-platform macro viruses, which are additional sources of vulnerability for Mac users. Many web and e-mail based threats, such as phishing scams and scareware, are platform-neutral, relying on human trust rather than malicious code to achieve their criminal ends. More vulnerabilities in Mac operating systems are also emerging; in 2009, 34 vulnerabilities were reported in the Mac OS, a figure which as risen to 175 so far this year.

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Panda Antivirus for Macintosh is available today for $49.95 via download for a one-year license, including updates, upgrades, and online technical support. A CD version will costs users an additional $12.66. Also, for $8.95 users can purchase an “extended download” option – enabling users to re-download the software anytime during the license term. The software will be available in six languages at launch: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese.

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