A New Mac Virus!

[Rocksaurus]

I don't normally create threads about news that hasn't been posted, since historically when I have a thread that comes along a few days later gets credit for noticing the news, but I didn't see it posted, and what the hey, I'm bored.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119401479695380513.html

Uh-oh! (if you visit the type of sites mentioned in the article)

PS I know it's technically a trojan and not a "virus". Whatever you want to call it, it's bad news.

 

[Eidorian]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/379303/

 

[cube]

This is not a virus.

 

[mkrishnan]

At least one more other thread about this, besides the one linked above.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/379763/

This is not a virus.

Curious how, in the other threads, it goes straight to fearmongering once someone points out that the exploit is not a virus. This is a trojan the user has to authorize... *I* can write a trojan that destroys your computer in ... what? About ten minutes? That's easy. Call me when it can replicate and transmit.

 

[Rocksaurus]

PS I know it's technically a trojan and not a "virus". Whatever you want to call it, it's bad news.

Thanks for all the useful input... Now I remember why I don't post news topics. When I'm late, everyone blasts me, when I'm early, everyone ignores me.

 

[mkrishnan]

Well, now that you're here, can you at least say what's "bad" about this? Unless you (a) visit lots of porn sites and (b) are an idiot, how are you going to fall for this?

 

[Macmadant]

i like it how people say as macs get more popular they won't get more malicious software, when this is blatant proof of what we are going to see in the future, more people will want to target the mac as it gets more popular,

 

[Lancetx]

Is it malicious software? Yes. Is it a virus? Most definitely not. Whether Mac OS X is considered to be a popular target or not by hackers, the fact still remains that it hasn't had a single virus yet in over 6 years on the market. That should speak enough for itself.

 

[Wayfarer]

This is not a virus.

My first reaction as well.

 

[theman]

Is it malicious software? Yes. Is it a virus? Most definitely not. Whether Mac OS X is considered to be a popular target or not by hackers, the fact still remains that it hasn't had a single virus yet in over 6 years on the market. That should speak enough for itself.

That's because virus is a Windows word. On Macs, it's called an iDisease. You have to get your terms straight. It's like Widgets/Gadgets.