Mac Viruses

[DotNetWebs]

Lots of talk at the moment about Mac Viruses

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/hackers-hitting-macs-virus-industry-experts-202856151.html

Regards

Dotty

 

[PandaIT]

If there is one thing I hear all the time is people trying to tell me Macs are unable to contract any type of virus/malware. This will finally put that myth to bed!

 

[Posilan]

I knew I'd bookmarked this other thread for a reason *whistles*

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=242912

Steve

 

[andygambles]

It is not a virus it is a Trojan

 

[DotNetWebs]

It is not a virus it is a Trojan

True but 'virus' if often used as 'generic' term for viruses/malware/spyware/trojans/rootkits/worms etc as this Yahoo article shows.

The point is that non-technical users of Macs are often given a false sense of security IMO by the people who keep saying that "you can't get a virus on a Mac" etc.

Regards

Dotty

 

[andyszabler]

Mac virus was originally launched 1990 year by Susan lesch. Mac virus will remain the resolutely independent website. Mac viruses are very strongly block the any website. It is a very good application. It is a very long time run any website.

 

[Posilan]

It is not a virus it is a Trojan

Maybe, but these days the term "Virus" is generally used to describe a virus, malware or trojan etc. just in the way that anti-virus software doesn't only protect from viruses

My point is that the thread I referred to contained advice from several people basically stating that all AV on a Mac is a waste of time and only "idiots" will get infected.

Steve

 

[ecenica]

An update is available.

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/06/apple-releases-second-update-to-java-in-two-days/

Apparently 274 machines "from Cupertino", presumably meaning at Apple's headquarters were infected.

If the 600,000 infected machines is correct, surely it's a long way short of your average Windows PC infection?

After 10+ years of running virus scanning software on our Macs we're yet to come across a positive hit.

Rich

 

[Subbynet]

If the 600,000 infected machines is correct, surely it's a long way short of your average Windows PC infection?

That figure is from a fairly unknown brand of AV, namely Dr. Web. It doesn't mean only 600k infections took place, but that Dr. Web has found 600k instances of it.

The number is probably much higher.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...If the 600,000 infected machines is correct, surely it's a long way short of your average Windows PC infection?...

IMO sitting smugly behind the "Apple is more secure than Windows" standpoint is what leads people to a false sense of security and is EXACTLY what has been exploited here.

From the link you posted:

...While Oracle had released an update closing the hole on Windows back in February, Apple had yet to issue a fix for Macs...

In others words: It was a hole in 3rd party code that was exploited. Microsoft implemented the patch immediately but Apple were complacent and didn't patch it until after their machines were compromised. Maybe they didn't think they where vulnerable to such attacks.

We all know that unix-based operating systems are inherently more secure than older-generation Windows systems. But, as in this case, the 'bad guys' are clever and will think up inventive new ways to 'come through the back door' if they feel it is worth their while.

Regards

Dotty

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

If the 600,000 infected machines is correct, surely it's a long way short of your average Windows PC infection?

That will be because Apples desktop user numbers are way short of Microsoft

The basic point is that all operating systems have vulnerabilities. Microsoft is the usual target not because it is necessarily the lowest security but because it has by far the most users. Now Apple are gaining more users they will be targeted too.

 

[Newmedia]

Can a iPad or iPhone get a virus?

And any big ones ever happened?

 

iPhones were hacked a while back, and they continue to fall foul of problems. Anything that takes a large market share will come under sattack - sure that's the whole point.

The whole 'Macs don't get viruses' idea will soon disappear, once there are actually enough users to make it worth the virus-developers while.......and it appears that time is coming soon.

Sure they seem to be more secure, but when you have little to block, anything can look secure.

A simple pice of free software and your Mac should be fine though, and it'll not slow much either. I know it makes some Mac users feel like they are selling out, cos their Mac is a demi-god after all, but bite the bullet, load the AV software, and get on with drooling over your screen

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

An old article but I do remember it at the time, given a choice of Mac, Windows, Linux laptops to hack in the quickest possible time, the Mac was chosen.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9072959/Mac_easiest_to_hack_says_10_000_winner

First iPhone hack was found 5 years ago, again using the browser.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...nerability_exploit_steals_data_operates_phone

 

[DotNetWebs]

More on this on the BBC website today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17675314

Regards

Dotty

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

It is only going to get worse for Apple, their user numbers are increasing to the point it is worthwhile for criminal hacking and their profits have overtaken Microsoft for the 'free-world' hackers.

Will be interesting to see how Apple cope with this new threat, a good opportunity for security experts to get a job with Apple as they fight to save their reputation.

 

[jamesrenrut]

If there is one thing I hear all the time is people trying to tell me Macs are unable to contract any type of virus/malware. This will finally put that myth to bed!

Yeah. A real evidence!

 

[garyk]

Hmmm 1 trojan and everyone and it becomes a sensation???

A little perspective needed me thinks.

 

[KarlAustin]

Hmmm 1 trojan and everyone and it becomes a sensation???

A little perspective needed me thinks.

AFAIK it isn't the first, but it is the first that has had a large spread. I think the reason it has made the news etc. is because for years people have pushed the Mac OS is more secure and doesn't get viruses/malware angle - when all in the IT industry know that it was just a matter of time before it became worthwhile for someone to actually bother to write the exploits.

 

[terryuk]

I think when you install software which is trying to fix something that isn't broken then you will arise with problems like these people. I can't say for sure.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Hmmm 1 trojan and everyone and it becomes a sensation???

A little perspective needed me thinks.

It's only a sensation because the Apple Fanatics said it could *NEVER* happen.

Regards

Dotty

 

[mit74]

Hmmm 1 trojan and everyone and it becomes a sensation???

A little perspective needed me thinks.

no it's not one trojan, it's the first big one... and it was what?.. only a few weeks ago we had all the regulars who post about how great Macs are saying you don't need an AV with a Mac because they're so secure.

Mac can develop a tool but once a big trojan is out there they can't possibly combat all the variants that will be created, each one designed so the tool can't detect them. Most of the Windows malware out there today are just variants of others.