A top security firm has revealed that one of every five Mac computers have Windows malware on their system.

The report comes from Sophos which said in a post on its Naked Security site that “A 100,000 strong snapshot of the millions of Mac computers which have recently downloaded Sophos’s free Mac anti-virus software, revealed that 20% of Mac computers were carrying one or more instances of Windows malware.”

Nonetheless, this is not to say that the Mac computers are infected with Windows malware, they are just, in one way or another, storing Windows malware.

However, Sophos does warn that even though Mac computers will not be adversely affected by Windows malware, there could be harm done if the Mac users also run Windows on their computer.

Furthermore, Windows malware can also be spread from one Mac computer to another.

Warning about the ill effects of Windows malware on Mac computers Sophos warns that this type of infection is like Chlamydia.

It claims that recent studies suggest that Chlamydia is the most commonly spread sexually transmitted disease with about 20 percent of young people estimated to be infected by it.

Sophos says:

“Just like malware on your computer, Chlamydia commonly shows no obvious symptoms. But left undetected Chlamydia can caused serious problems, such as infertility.”

It goes on to say that even though Windows malware will not generally affect you Mac, you should still be responsible enough to clean it from your Mac.

Meanwhile, it is revealed by the security firm that a great number (75 percent) of Mac computers in the study which involved 100,000 Sophos customers have an infection of the Trojan called “Flshplyr”.

“Flshplyr” is a variant of the now famous “Flashback” Trojan which caused quite a stir recently.

This study, as well as the explosion of the “Flashback” Trojan on the Mac computer population recently, is a wakeup call for Mac users that their computers are not resistant itself against malware.

Mac users are advised to run an antivirus program which has the latest virus definitions ensuring it can detect threats and act accordingly.

Furthermore, Mac users, and every computer user in general, are also advised to keep their machines up to date, ensuring their software and their operating systems are patched with the most recent updates released by companies which made them.

Nonetheless, perhaps one of the most important reminders from Sophos for Mac users and Windows and Linux users alike is that everyone should be cautious about the software they install and the sites they visit.

Images from Sophos

About Solon Harmony Dolor

A passion for technology and journalism makes this upcoming writer very interested in social media and technology news. Fresh from finishing an English and Journalism degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, he aims to bring interesting news to our readers .