Viruses and malware on Mac computers have reached an 'unacceptable' level, according to Apple exec Craig Federighi

• Apple's computers are getting slammed with malware and viruses, according to Apple.
• "It's an endless game of whack-a-mole," Apple senior VP Craig Federighi said in court on Wednesday.
• The rare admission is part of Apple's defense in an ongoing lawsuit brought by "Fortnite" maker Epic Games.

Apple's computers, from its iconic iMac to the latest MacBook, are getting slammed by malware and viruses.

That's according to Apple senior VP Craig Federighi's sworn testimony given on Wednesday in a California court room. "Today, we have a level of malware on the Mac that we don't find acceptable," he said.

For every virus or piece of malware that Apple is able to stop or block, another several pop up. "It's an endless game of whack-a-mole," he said.

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Federighi appeared as a witness for the defense in an ongoing lawsuit brought against Apple by "Fortnite" maker Epic Games.

During questioning, Federighi compared the differences in security of Apple's computing platforms.

Apple's computers are "like a car," he said, and that means users can take it off-road or wherever they'd like - for better or worse - whereas the iPhone and iPad operating system, iOS, needs to be usable by children and even babies.

In the lawsuit, Epic is attempting to force Apple to open its iOS platform to alternate app stores.

Epic argues that iOS is a computer operating system and should be open to competition. Apple argues that allowing alternative app stores introduces major security issues.

The Mac operating system, Federighi said, is less secure than iOS specifically because of its open nature. If you were able to download iPhone and iPad apps outside of Apple's App Store, Federighi said, you'd be open to a variety of security issues that Apple couldn't review before use.

This is due to the App Store's review process, he said, which offers a standard of safety across all iPhone and iPad apps.

Read more: Bill Gates and Warren Buffett got 211 billionaires to pledge half their wealth to charity. Now some are falling short - and still getting massive tax breaks.

Epic Games filed suit against Apple last summer after its hit game, "Fortnite," was pulled from Apple's App Store.

Apple says it pulled the game because Epic violated the terms of its developer agreement when Epic implemented a payment system in the game that enabled players to circumvent Apple's App Store. Epic says the App Store is a monopoly, and argues that iPhones and iPads are no different from computers.

The in-person trial began in early May at the US District Court for the Northern District of California in Oakland, California, and is expected to conclude next Monday. Apple CEO Tim Cook is scheduled to take the stand as a witness for Apple on Friday morning.

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