A good read:
The idea that Apple will inherit Microsoft’s problems is based in the ignorance that Windows’ security problems are rooted in its popularity, rather than its poor architectural design. That is not true, as countless examples of viruses attacking minor platforms attest. Malware targets weakness, not popularity. Windows is plagued with malware, not because it is ubiquitous, but because it is riddled with weaknesses.
The Unavoidable Malware Myth, roughlydrafted.com
The article makes some good points, points I had not considered. I still believie that as Apple grows in popularity the exploits will grow. It may never reach the epic proportions of Windows or even straight up UNIX boxes, but it will grow.
But as the article points out, there have been many lessons learned at the expense of Microsoft and there’s hope that they will be applied to the future growth of Microsoft’s successor or the next generation of Microsoft products.
As it stands now I have not seen the level of exploitation in Vista that we’ve seen in XP and 98 so Microsoft may be learning, albeit slowly. That’s not an endorsement…just an observation.