MacScan Spyware Protection Ships Universal Binary

[MacBytes]

Category: News and Press Releases
Link: MacScan Spyware Protection Ships Universal Binary
Description:: SecureMac is pleased to announce the release of MacScan 2.1, a major update to its popular anti-spyware program. MacScan 2.1 has been totally revamped and is now a Universal Application, which will run natively on both Intel and PowerPC-based Macintosh Computers.
Posted on MacBytes.com
Approved by Mudbug

[Mudbug]

while I almost never post PR releases from software companies unless they're freeware, I'm curious - what EXACTLY is this thing looking for?

[Nermal]

Norton

[SilentPanda]

Originally Posted by Mudbug

I'm curious - what EXACTLY is this thing looking for?

Can't get more exact than this:

http://macscan.securemac.com/list.php

Still won't buy it.

[yellow]

Spyware scanner. <cackle> Good one. This has been pointless since day one, but they capitilize on swicher's fears.

Which I believe is what Nermal was alluding to.

[greatdevourer]

Originally Posted by yellow

Spyware scanner. <cackle> Good one. This has been pointless since day one, but they capitilize on swicher's fears.

What's worse is that I used to know this guy, and he was just like you and I, hating Norton and McAffee and their ilk for their scamming

[superleccy]

Originally Posted by SilentPanda

Can't get more exact than this:

http://macscan.securemac.com/list.php

Eh? Are these real? If they're real, are they actually dangerous? Has someone just made up a load of convincing-sounding malware names? I can do that... look...

ClassicBelchX - Trojan
ClassicBelchY - Trojan / AutoMole
BelcherBon - Trojan / PhatLogger
GatesSmeg 8.2 - Shopping Mallware
BonzoPlop Adv. - TrojoMop

etc etc

Now, will someone buy my anti-spyware software please?

[yellow]

It's a pretty short list for an OS that has been out for 5+ years.

[zwilliams07]

Its all pretty much bullsh*t. None of those pieces of "malware" are real. Just another bogus attempt to gain naive consumers.

MacScan is, and always has been a scam.

[Kingsly]

Originally Posted by superleccy

GatesSmeg 8.2 - Shopping Mallware

Im pretty sure my sister has some kind of Shopping Mallware on her computer.
How do I get rid if it?

[nagromme]

Originally Posted by superleccy

Eh? Are these real? If they're real, are they actually dangerous? Has someone just made up a load of convincing-sounding malware names?

They're not all made-up--but nor are they malware. Glancing at the reviews at MacUpdate for instance, I see that CarbonKeys is a key logger that the owner/admin of the machine can install by CHOICE to monitor non-admins. Like an employer logging keystrokes of employees. Now, I object to that, but it's not malware, nor a vector for malware to enter. You could as easily say Disk Utility is malware, because if a hacker got your admin password, she could erase your HD. Anything that requires "if a hacker got your admin password" in front of it isn't malware in my book And removing CarbonKeys from your work computer is probably just going to get you fired anyway, so you may as well just quit and find a job working for someone less paranoid

Originally Posted by Kingsly

Im pretty sure my sister has some kind of Shopping Mallware on her computer.
How do I get rid if it?

You could try donating it to a school or church, selling it on eBay, or giving it away via Freecycle. But if it's too old to have much value left, your best bet is to find an electronics recycling center.

[whooleytoo]

Err.. what's wrong with OSXVnc? I've had that on my Macs for some time!

[SecureMac]

Greetings MacRumors Members,
My name is Nicholas, I am head of SecureMac and this thread was brought to my attention. I wanted to answer some of the questions and concerns on this forum and open myself to additional questions from the readers here.

MacScan was created because we saw the potential and rise of spyware being developed for the Mac. The program has remained free up until 2.0 where the program was rewritten from the ground up.

The applications MacScan detects are indeed spyware and although the ‘list’ of spyware online is not up-to-date with the current definitions that MacScan uses we continue to push more updates for the definitions.

Is spyware a threat on the Mac? Indeed it is, although it is not as abundant as it is on Windows the threat does exist and continues to grow. With more people ‘switching’ to Macs more people are paying attention and developing applications for the Mac to spy on users from keystroke loggers to backdoors.

I try to refrain from listing actual spyware as it is not a good route to go and more people will play with files they are not familiar with that could cause harm. Not only is spyware being made by developers and hackers it is being made into commercial solutions to spy on people, they market it as watching your loved ones and protecting them but it can be used for anything.

nagromme, for your comments, the software can be installed by anyone, is a keylogger not to be considered spyware? What if the same software is installed on the boss’s computer or teachers computer, the purpose is to monitor and spy on the user. And not all of the software needs to be installed as root, furthermore there is proof of concept code floating around the net to escalate permissions at a later point when the user authenticates for something legit.

Many people we’ve had the chance to talk to think that spyware is something that changes the computers surfing habits or creates popup windows, this is one effect from spyware written to do that but it is not all that spyware is.

Recently huge media was made about Sony BMG rootkit on the Windows but little attention was given to the fact that it was also out for the Macs. Windows users thought this was spyware, enough to make an issue out of it and have it pulled from the shelves. This was the first spyware introduced on the Mac by a large trusted company.

Now about greatdevourer’s remarks. I am a huge believer in products and being fare. We saw anti-virus companies release software before any virus threat for Mac OS X was discussed, that is fine, it is best to have a proactive solution in security. My beef with the companies were that they were charging monthly updates. They are keeping on top of the threat but with the updates being mostly if not all Windows Viruses definitions it didn’t seem very fair. On the other hand, in an environment where DOC files are being sent across network via e-mail and being edited it would be very embarrassing and harmful if someone from a PC sent an infected file to a Mac and the Mac person sent the file off to their boss on a PC infecting them. This is where these windows definitions come into good play.

We don’t charge for monthly, yearly or any subscription fees for MacScan for the fact there is not the over-abundance of spyware for the Mac as of now therefor we don’t need to hire an additional person to handle it at the moment. Costs are low.


whooleytoo, nothing is wrong with VNC or the other remote administrative utilities. These will not be removed by MacScan and the website will separate them in the definitions soon. The purpose of detecting it is so that the administrator is aware it is running, often users will setup protocols or applications for a time period and forget they are running or are still on the computer.

Any questions, comments or suggestions are more than welcome.
I thank you for letting me answer some of your concerns,
Nicholas

[greatdevourer]

Hi Freaky. Are the forums still up? Or did they go the way of TSF. At least you never started charging for the use of the forums...

[thrillz3]

In reference to spyware/malware, our school Mac Server (10.3.9) Finder locks up under certain logins (the main admin locks up, my admin account doesn't). Does anyone have any idea what this could be/how to get rid of it? You can still run programs that are in the dock, but that's about it.

[thegreatluke]

Originally Posted by thrillz3

In reference to spyware/malware, our school Mac Server (10.3.9) Finder locks up under certain logins (the main admin locks up, my admin account doesn't). Does anyone have any idea what this could be/how to get rid of it? You can still run programs that are in the dock, but that's about it.

It's the new DockLockerUpper virus! You have to get MacScan now!

It's probably nothing. Mac OS X can get messed up sometimes.

Try reinstalling it?

[phatpat88]

Hi Nick, its Patrick, we met at the Irvine Spectrum opening i believe, you were first or second in line.

Did you ever get my email?

[SecureMac]

Originally Posted by phatpat88

Hi Nick, its Patrick, we met at the Irvine Spectrum opening i believe, you were first or second in line.

Did you ever get my email?

Shoot me an email nick@securemac.com or msg me on here Was good meeting you at the spectrum