The saying is true: once you go Mac, you never go back. The cliché is especially relevant for the world of computer security. The Mac operating system, OS X, is the favorable choice for those seeking refuge from the viruses and spyware that continue to plague Microsoft Windows. Halfway through 2007, Mac OS X is still free from any harmful viruses or spyware (malware). This is not to say that there is no malware floating around for the Mac it’s just that none of the existing Mac malware is destructive.

Over the last year, I haven’t met a single Windows owner who has not been hit with some sort of virus or terrible spyware infection. On the other hand, most Mac users I talk to do not utilize any anti-virus or anti-spyware programs on their computers. At this point in time, it is really not necessary. This situation is bound to change, but for now it is a wonderful position to be in - not having to worry about any malware whatsoever. Imagine!

Given this information, it astounds me that more people do not own Macintosh computers.

Apple’s Mac is not the same computer it used to be. For some reason, many still believe that the Mac is crippled in terms of the software it can run and how compatible it is with typical Windows attachments. This is most definitely a myth the Mac can do anything a Windows machine can do and can do it better, and is easier to use. Have you seen those Apple commercials with the “Hi, I’m a Mac… and I’m a PC” guys? They’re hilarious, effective and pretty much a good representation of the Mac vs. PC battle.

Perhaps because of the piece of mind Apple users enjoy in using a more secure operating system, in 2006, Apple was the only computer company to gain in market share. All other manufacturers lost market share in 2006. It is apparent that the tide is finally shifting somewhat. There’s still a long way to go, especially in the corporate world, but many organizations are starting to take notice. With the release of OS X Server software, I am seeing more and more local companies embracing Apple as the Operating System of choice for their desktop and networks.

Also, I am aware that several law enforcement agencies in both the US and Canada have already begun deploying Mac OS X in their operations. This is very promising. I was very fortunate to sit down for coffee with one of the directors of computer security of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), while attending the annual hacker convention, Defcon 14. We talked about the increased visibility of the Mac in the marketplace and what it means to the computer security world.

On one hand, it’s great that we are seeing more Mac deployments in organizations. However, it was somewhat troubling to notice that a significant number of the ‘evil’ hackers (and I do mean evil, these people shut down the hotel’s entire emergency system before the conference started) were now using Macs as their primary computer system.

What does this mean? It’s still too early to tell. It is safe to conclude that there will come a time when the Mac will get hit with a malicious virus or spyware incident, but it’s hard to say when. Mac users cannot be complacent and just assume that day will never come it will. But for now, Mac OS X is so far ahead of Windows in terms of security, efficiency, ease of use, and most importantly, FUN. Plus, in October, Apple releases the latest version of Mac OS, Leopard. There are some amazing additions to the operating system, making the Mac an even better (and more secure) experience than ever. Check out Leopard’s features at www.apple.com/macosx/leopard.

So if you’ve been thinking of ‘going Mac’, what’s stopping you?