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How to detect a virus?

M

mjdttown

macrumors newbie
Original poster
I recently downloaded a .ZIP file using Safari. Safari informed me that it had detected an executable file inside the archive (which was not supposed to contain any executables), but no obvious executables seemed to be present upon un-archiving it.

I've since deleted the files/folder, but I believe it was mostly .html and .jpg files. However, there were also some Thumbs.db files probably left over from the Windows system on which it was zipped...could Safari have mistaken them for UNIX executables?

How would I know what Safari warned was an executable? How would I detect a hidden virus?
 
I have some Thumbs.db files on my hard drive and Finder calls them Unix Executable Files (even though they're not), so it sounds likely that it caused this. I don't believe there any 'hidden' viruses out there right now for Mac OS X - there's a trojan that's been making the news lately but you have to actually give it your password to install.

In any case, there's nothing really to worry about. 🙂 Although you could download ClamXav to make sure you don't accidentally send PC viruses around.
 
"How to detect a virus?"

Your PC stops working for some odd reason, your temperature boils and you feel like throwing the thing out of the window.
 
mjdttown said:
How would I detect a hidden virus?
Click to expand...

Did something suspicious ask you to input your admin password?

No?

Then you don't have a virus. Period.

Remember that unless you're running Windows via Parallels, Boot Camp or the like, your machine is not vulnerable to Windows malware. There's very little malware out there for OS X, and what little there is can only be described as traps for the gullible (i.e. trojans that require the user to input an admin password before they become effective).
 
Remember OS X uses Unix permissions. If something in the zip file comes out with the execute bit turned on, then Safari thinks its an executable. The only way to know which file it was is to unzip it again and look at the permissions on the file (ls -ltr) using Terminal or Finder.
 
There are like.. Zero viruses for OS X. Adware/Spyware doesnt even exist on Macs either. Just for fun, go to a virus ridden site and purposely download something you KNOW is a virus. Open it and watch it do nothing 😀:apple:
 
Dustman said:
There are like.. Zero viruses for OS X. Adware/Spyware doesnt even exist on Macs either. Just for fun, go to a virus ridden site and purposely download something you KNOW is a virus. Open it and watch it do nothing 😀:apple:
Click to expand...

How is that fun? sorry but just seems the most un-fun thing ever
 
Dustman said:
There are like.. Zero viruses for OS X. Adware/Spyware doesnt even exist on Macs either. Just for fun, go to a virus ridden site and purposely download something you KNOW is a virus. Open it and watch it do nothing 😀:apple:
Click to expand...

But, but, but... who will know when they have the first? 🙄

Will your updates suddenly include SP3? 😉
 
I will run a virus scan for you.




Detecting system settings...
DONE
Checking filesystem status...
DONE
Searching for threats...
DONE

No viruses found.
$
 
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