GPU glitch or possible virus? Weird problem....

[PDE]

My girlfriend just had something very strange happen on her macbook (core2duo 2.16) that I've never seen before. Basically the letter B became distorted in several applications - firefox, Mail and preview. Restarting the apps didn't solve it, but logging out did. For now at least.

It is visible when I took a screen grab, indicating that it's hardware, but still very strange. Are there any viruses for mac that could do this? I've used macs since 1992 and never seenanything like this..

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[danvan21]

There are no viruses for mac. idk why it would do that but viruses are out.

[heliocentric]

their are viruses for mac

[Prekesh]

There are no viruses for mac. idk why it would do that but viruses are out.

hahaaha

their are viruses for mac

+1

[danvan21]

their are viruses for mac

ok, name 1

[heliocentric]

ok, name 1

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/02/apple_mac_av_advice/

apple did it for me

[danvan21]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/02/apple_mac_av_advice/

apple did it for me

It was a year old article that was pulled when it was discovered. Just because protection is recommended does not mean there is an actual virus.

[heliocentric]

It was a year old article that was pulled when it was discovered. Just because protection is recommended does not mean there is an actual virus.

ok heres a newer one

http://www.atomicsub.net/2009/01/iwork-09-virus/

[danvan21]

ok heres a newer one

http://www.atomicsub.net/2009/01/iwork-09-virus/

Its not a virus, its a trojan. There is a big difference.

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp

http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/index.cfm?newsid=24572

[acfusion29]

ok heres a newer one

http://www.atomicsub.net/2009/01/iwork-09-virus/

Did you even read the article?

[old-wiz]

That's not a virus; it is a trojan that is included in pirated copies of iWork 09 that people download from torrents. A trojan is not a virus.

[danvan21]

That's not a virus; it is a trojan that is included in pirated copies of iWork 09 that people download from torrents. A trojan is not a virus.

thank you very much

[heliocentric]

trojan/virus...whatever

both things a good virus scanner would hopefully find

[Zenor]

What about helping the OP instead of fighting about the existence of viruses on macs?

[PDE]

What about helping the OP instead of fighting about the existence of viruses on macs?

Thanks. I realise that this is probably not a virus, but it looks very suspicious to me. All letter B were basically bleeding downward. No other letters are doing it, just B. And I could grab it with the screenshot function too. I've seen all sorts of graphics weirdness in my life, but never just one letter like this. Has anybody else seen something like this?

She didn't download any pirated copies of iwork09 either....

[Zenor]

Do you remember if the problem occurred after a software installation?

[PDE]

Do you remember if the problem occurred after a software installation?

No, she was just working on her computer: writing, downloading some articles. No new software.

[Hierotochan]

Corrupt font maybe?

You said it showed a strange "B".
Corrupt files can sometimes mess up a whole bunch of things.

[old-wiz]

Try changing the font to something else and see if it makes a difference.

[PDE]

The B was corrupted in preview, firefox and Mail - would they be using the same main font? She had chosen Times in the Firefox preferences and lucida grande in the Mail preferences, but do those really affect the GUI fonts or just content? I don't think it was corrupted in the finder itself.

[jav6454]

Although there are virus for Mac, Apple has long issued the respective security updates and pushed them to a point in which a Mac today would be immune.

There were virus for Mac, just none right now and that doesn't necessarily mean there won't be. The trojan going around in iWork is not a virus. Virus by nature are destructive and do damage without a user's permission. Anything that requires user authorization to be installed is an app/daemon or simply a program. This program has capabilities that allow it to run the machine even though its not supposed to. Thus, it leave the realm of application and becomes a malware and is now known as trojan. Since it came an innocent app and turned to be evil. (to say something)

Anyways, back on topic more likely, its a glitch in your drivers. Also, maybe a problem with your screen. Try calling Apple Care or taking it to an Apple Store.

[penter]

whats the difference between being able to capture the glitch with a screen capture or not?

[daneoni]

Have you tried a PRAM reset. Might also want to run an AHT

Also check you don't have duplicate fonts running

[penter]

no duplicate fonts, zapped the ram, but what is the other thing?

[daneoni]

no duplicate fonts, zapped the ram, but what is the other thing?

Apple Hardware Test

[penter]

aaahh!!
o well. i'm just gonna take it to a Genius Bar. I'm experiencing some other unrelated problems as well. I think this machine has to go...