Computer security a concern for all IT professionals, not just those with Microsoft

3/25/2010 1:19 PM

The popular stereotype in the IT community is that Microsoft's products are more vulnerable to illicit access and tampering than Apple's, but a recent hacker conference has contradicted this in dramatic fashion.

UK-based tech news site The Enquirer reports that participants at the Pwn2Own hacking competition found Apple's iPhone OS and Safari web browser among the easiest products to crack, discovering critical vulnerabilities early on.

The Enquirer also said that, contrary to the aforementioned stereotype, Windows 7 was among the most difficult pieces of software to hack, although it, too, eventually fell victim to the determined efforts of the security consultants in attendance.

Experts say that the popular perception of Apple's security and Windows' vulnerability is heavily influenced by the fact that virtually all malicious hacking attempts until very recently targeted Windows due to its outsized market share. Put another way, there simply weren't enough Mac users out there to justify going after them.

However, the forthcoming release of several new Microsoft Office products and the increasing popularity of Apple PCs and devices could mean that the tech world is in for a rude awakening.

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