To answer your question, yes, they're talking about the same malware. Doesn't seem to be anything new there. Although there are some old opinions that may never die. Still amazes me that "security software" firms are asked for opinions while they try to sell software.
Does anyone actually expect any salesman to tell you everything about his own product as compared with any competitor?
If reading about this stuff is a bother, I'm not sure why you would spend time reading about it in Scientific American.
While they are a fine magazine, they are not computer experts. Besides that, it takes months for most magazines to be written, edited, printed and mailed. They are really not much good for fast-breaking information.
Why not go to a source that knows more about computers? Maybe a forum like TS?
No one here knows
everything but we certainly can provide a more in-depth and at the same time wider experienced facts about the Mac and its problems. And the usually supplied links would fill Wiki!