I did a search and nothing came up. Anyone read about the Switchback virus?
http://www.lowendmac.com/lite/03/0813.html
http://www.lowendmac.com/lite/03/0813.html
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
A virus for OSX
- Thread starter billyboy
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
it sounds more like a joke than anything else, heh. what is that phrase, molasses in january? that sounds like it would mean it isn't spreading... oh well.
There's only one virus I know of for Mac OS X...it's the one that installs Windows onto your computer...oh wait, that's just the VPC installer... 
MAYBE IT ATTACKS THE HOLE IN fb_realpath() THAT WAS FIXED IN THE MOST RECENT SECURITY UPDATE! EVERYBODY GO TO WINDOWSUPDATE.MICROSOFT.COM AND INSTALL IT RIGHT AWAY!!!!!
Oh.... wait... sorry.
Seriously, though, the last virus I ever heard that infected the Mac was the MBDF A virus, that caused directory damage or something. The last time I encountered it was a few years ago back on System 7.
What's with Microsoft using a web-based interface to deliver their patches and stuff, anyway? I mean, wouldn't it make more sense to do something like Apple's Software Update application?
Oh.... wait... sorry.
Seriously, though, the last virus I ever heard that infected the Mac was the MBDF A virus, that caused directory damage or something. The last time I encountered it was a few years ago back on System 7.
What's with Microsoft using a web-based interface to deliver their patches and stuff, anyway? I mean, wouldn't it make more sense to do something like Apple's Software Update application?
Actually its a rather good idea depending on how you look at security vs convince.
The actual update engine is loaded when you go to the site. This allows MS to update the engine whenever. This would suggest bug fixes which is a MS trademark but can also be used to roll out new methods of securing a computer. One example is MS's baseline sec analizer. They could easily roll that into windows update and not only update windows but give a general overview of how tight the system is locked down by default on a person's system. From a security standpoint it sucks massive ***. All a hacker\cracker would need to do is hack the windows update site and infect this engine with a virus. Then whenever someone goes to the windows update site and clicks YES when it prompts for the digital cert a hacker\cracker could infect thousands within minutes. Well before MS gets off their sorry @$$ and does something to fix the problem.
FYI. Its not unprecedented that MS software has been infected with a virus before. (Never mind the fact in some circumstances MS software acts like a virus itself.) The first iteration of the .NET tools that were released to developers had Nimda imbedded in the DVD with the tools. WOO HOO! Added bonus!
Yet another reason why I became a switcher...this is the kind of crap you have to deal with on the Windows side on a daily basis. I remember when I first became a switcher...I was bored out of my mind! I was so used to taking a few hours out of my schedule on a regular basis to "fix" and "maintain" Windows, but after 10 minutes with my Mac I realized I was done maintaining it...so many free summer afternoons!
I remember some years ago I got an email from my college email...."This is the Mac OS 9 virus, please delete your system folder and restart"
I would be willing to bet that if there was in fact a virus that attacked OS X, you'd read about it here quite quickly, especially with the interest some posters have with these boards. At the moment, after a quick search of http://www.symantec.com, there's no listings of viruses for any incantation of OS X. I have no doubt one could be written, but it would take time and probably someone's beer money, so I doubt it will happen anytime soon. Symantec would however really like you to plunk down the money on antivirus software for the Macintosh - I bet the virus definitions file is small
It would be saddistic if they started writing them themselves so they could start selling Norton Anti-virus to OS X users.
I think the only reason Mac OS X virus definition files are as big as they are is that MS Office viruses sometimes work pretty well on the Macintosh version of Office.
The number of native viruses was 38 for many, many years and was updated in recent years to 42. It might be more now, but that pales in comparison with the 51,000+ viruses on DOS and Windows.
The number of native viruses was 38 for many, many years and was updated in recent years to 42. It might be more now, but that pales in comparison with the 51,000+ viruses on DOS and Windows.
I suppose for Microsoft being able to update the engine at any time is nice, but I still think Mac OS X's Software Update is better.
First of all, as you point out, security is a big issue, and it'd be harder to hack the Software Update because it's not immediately obvious to where it's connecting, and all updates are now digitally signed for protection (after that Software Update Security Update brouhaha). Of course, it's definitely not impossible to hack Software Update, but I'd bet it's much harder than Windows Update.
Second of all, the convenience isn't all that great for Microsoft. For Apple, they could just issue a Software Update Update via the control panel, and if the user wants to install any other updates, they first have to install the Software Update Update. There have been a lot of instances of update dependancies through Software Update. So it's not really that big of a deal for the convenience. I think security is a much bigger issue.
So if there are only 42 Mac (0 OX) virii v 51000 Windows viruses are Apple being a bit naughty pushing Virex quite hard as an added advantage for getting .mac? Or should we be grateful for their huge commitment to security.
I don´t know if I have a preference not set up right, but Virex only pops up when I try to open a .exe file. They never open cause I havent anything to open it with. I just dont want to get VPC or even Office vX anywhere near my PB, peace of mind is far more important to me than being in touch with the infected herd.
I don´t know if I have a preference not set up right, but Virex only pops up when I try to open a .exe file. They never open cause I havent anything to open it with. I just dont want to get VPC or even Office vX anywhere near my PB, peace of mind is far more important to me than being in touch with the infected herd.
Gosh, I remember when people were saying that OS X's UNIX "underpinnings" would put Mac users at risk of getting all sorts of viruses (way back when...).
Oh well, I guess our collective paranoia can't be funneled into virus panics...
Oh well, I guess our collective paranoia can't be funneled into virus panics...
Irish/Blonde Virus
This is a virus that works on all platforms. I know the code off by heart, here it is:
This is a virus that works on all platforms. I know the code off by heart, here it is:
I once outlined a way to create an AppleScript-based virus that would eat up any free space on your HD with no way to terminate it once it was launched. Unfortunately for development of that virus, I never quite figured out a way to duplicate files via AppleScript (yes this was a very half-hearted attempt). Best I could do was to eat up all available RAM making the system pretty much unusable, and even that trick no longer works under OS X.
reasons for lack of virus
I came across the following post elsewhere and it seemed to explain a few difficulties hackers face trying to trip OSX up.
http://forums.maccentral.com/wwwthr...ews030821virusphp&Number=521093&view=expanded
I came across the following post elsewhere and it seemed to explain a few difficulties hackers face trying to trip OSX up.
http://forums.maccentral.com/wwwthr...ews030821virusphp&Number=521093&view=expanded