Antivirus Firm Warns of New Mac OS X Spyware Application

[archipellago]

Just what I expected. You made the claim, now post the facts. If you know them, giving a list of just 10 reasons shouldn't be that difficult.

I suppose you would rather make claims and tell people to "google" them.

Nope...its a forum.

Opinions will differ, if you disagree, then fine. No proving or disproving necessary.

having said that, just browsing the site....

1/ Ultimate display

2/ Every Mac is secure

3/ Astonishing speed

4/ Mac rarely feezes or crashes



I would say are stretching the truth, whilst other claims they make.. eg.

Checks for updates

spend hours setting up peripherals with other OS'


are the same for most modern OS'


funnily enough the key thing they stress is yes you can run Windows... and yes its compatible with windows.

Sorry but I find it amusing and the gullible who swallow it.....distressing.

 

[DrewG5]

But but but 99.99% of the people that post on this forum are immune to viruses.. Not that flash doesn't open the door to tuns of them anyways don't need Windoze for that issue or the large amount of them based off of java. OS X is and never was safe, its just safer.

I am currently a user of VirusBarrier 6X on all my Macs and even scan the iPhone's as well. I installed the software after tracking down a bot-net that was being connected to going over the logs from my DNS server and, the router trace logs to the wife's MacBook Pro. After installing VirusBarrier 6X we found 47 viruses on her system (only 2 that could affect OS X).

It was a nice run for quite some time after Apple introduced OS X, but for the last year or so I would rather be safe than sorry. I personally don't care if some of you disagree with me, its your system so its your risk.

 

[macsmurf]

Just what I expected. You made the claim, now post the facts. If you know them, giving a list of just 10 reasons shouldn't be that difficult.

I suppose you would rather make claims and tell people to "google" them.

Here's 20.

http://blogs.forbes.com/firewall/2010/03/16/researcher-will-expose-20-hackable-apple-flaws/

 

[calderone]

Nope...its a forum.

Opinions will differ, if you disagree, then fine. No proving or disproving necessary.

having said that, just browsing the site....

1/ Ultimate display

2/ Every Mac is secure

3/ Astonishing speed

4/ Mac rarely feezes or crashes



I would say are stretching the truth, whilst other claims they make.. eg.

Checks for updates

spend hours setting up peripherals with other OS'


are the same for most modern OS'


funnily enough the key thing they stress is yes you can run Windows... and yes its compatible with windows.

Sorry but I find it amusing and the gullible who swallow it.....distressing.

So how does any of what you just posted relate to my request for data to back your claim that a modern Windows system is more secure than a modern Mac?

That is all I asked for. You made a claim that should be backed up by facts, not your "hunch" or opinion. If you are going to claim that a modern Windows box is more secure you are making a claim which requires evidence to support it.

This has nothing to do with what others are saying. You made a claim, back it up. You can make a claim and say "nope, opinions differ."

And please don't reply to me with another off topic post that does not address what we are discussing. If you don't have any facts to back up your claim, a claim that cannot be supported by opinion don't even bother responding.

Here's 20.

http://blogs.forbes.com/firewall/2010/03/16/researcher-will-expose-20-hackable-apple-flaws/

All software has potential exploits. That isn't what we are talking about. I am asking for the data to support the claim made by archipellago. The claim that a modern Windows machine is more secure than a modern Mac.

We can play the exploitable bugs game all day. I am asking for the specific features that make a Windows box more secure.

 

[ericinboston]

It was a nice run for quite some time after Apple introduced OS X, but for the last year or so I would rather be safe than sorry. I personally don't care if some of you disagree with me, its your system so its your risk.

Right. What I find amusing is that people pick on Windows because it's "unsecure" and that PC folk need to "buy" security protection because Windows stinks. Well, even if part of the story is true (that Windows is not secure...but again, what is?), I think I can afford my yearly $9 for Norton Internet Security ($28 for a 3-pack license)...or the same price for McAffee...or utilize the free Norton and McAffee products from ISPs like Comcast.

Seriously...anyone who argues against the need for a 3rd party security package (for any personal computer) is only fooling themselves. I'll gladly fork over the $10 a year to keep my system as secure as possible....whether that's viruses or bots or malware or port attacks or whatever other security categories people want to list.

-Eric

 

[Komrad808]

The more people start using Macs. The greater risk of virus's, having more room 2 enter.

 

[Torajima]

As a programmer, I can assure you that Apple (nor anyone else) can make their platform 100% secure without sacrificing functionality. But they've certainly done better than Microsoft.

Now the real question is, how widespread is this spyware, and how can it be detected/removed without blowing $50 on Intego's software. Does it show up in Activity Monitor? What is the process name? What is the name of the installed app and where is it installed? I'm sure Intego won't share those details.

 

[calderone]

As a programmer, I can assure you that Apple (nor anyone else) can make their platform 100% secure without sacrificing functionality. But they've certainly done better than Microsoft.

Now the real question is, how widespread is this spyware, and how can it be detected/removed without blowing $50 on Intego's software. Does it show up in Activity Monitor? What is the process name? What is the name of the installed app and where is it installed? I'm sure Intego won't share those details.

Apple put quarantine and malware detection in 10.5. Although, they will have to update it.

I may pop the software into a VM and analyze it myself.

 

[Torajima]

The more people start using Macs. The greater risk of virus's, having more room 2 enter.

It's a silly argument, often made by people that don't understand Mac history.

There once was Mac viruses. Even when it's market share was lower than now. Then Apple released OSX, with a much more secure UNIX core, and hasn't had a single virus since. Spyware? Yes. Trojans? Yes. But an actual, honest to goodness virus in the wild? No.

 

[Torajima]

I may pop the software into a VM and analyze it myself.

If you do, please report your findings!

 

[thecartoonguy]

Didn't we already go through this drama with the cracked version of iWork?

I forgot all about that.

 

[HLdan]

Hints for newbies:

1. There is no virus problem for OS X

2. Still

3. Despite this hyped story

4. Even when OS X is used by billions

Most of us hear you loud and clear but no matter how big your font is that troll from Massachusetts will either ignore you or try and argue your point because he wants Macs to be attacked just to fulfill his fetish.

 

[macsmurf]

All software has potential exploits. That isn't what we are talking about. I am asking for the data to support the claim made by archipellago. The claim that a modern Windows machine is more secure than a modern Mac.

That is not really the point. The point is that Apple in particular don't do enough penetration testing. Either that, or they really suck at it. None of the other products even come close to the amount of bugs found in Preview.

Anyway, here are some more material:

http://www.blackhat.com/presentatio...ller/BlackHat-Japan-08-Miller-Hacking-OSX.pdf

In practice, OS X is probably more secure than windows, mainly because of the small market penetration. However, Microsoft just takes security more seriously than Apple these days for obvious reasons.

 

[koruki]

If this is considered Malware then so is my freakin Adobe software updater that asks me to install updates cause they were both installed with my permission.

This story should be summed up as

New software that users authorize will send information back to a server, but that wouldnt be news would it.

Touch wood but I've never had a virus on my Mac OR PC ever. The other reason why PC's have more issues is that most users have pirated software galore in their systems running pirated windows (this means that these users aren't will to part with even $1 for software, hence install a lot of free BS full of spyware)

 

[antgly]

Sorry but I find it amusing and the gullible who swallow it.....distressing.

That's what she said...

 

[marksman]

But but but 99.99% of the people that post on this forum are immune to viruses.. Not that flash doesn't open the door to tuns of them anyways don't need Windoze for that issue or the large amount of them based off of java. OS X is and never was safe, its just safer.

I am currently a user of VirusBarrier 6X on all my Macs and even scan the iPhone's as well. I installed the software after tracking down a bot-net that was being connected to going over the logs from my DNS server and, the router trace logs to the wife's MacBook Pro. After installing VirusBarrier 6X we found 47 viruses on her system (only 2 that could affect OS X).

It was a nice run for quite some time after Apple introduced OS X, but for the last year or so I would rather be safe than sorry. I personally don't care if some of you disagree with me, its your system so its your risk.

What are you talking about.

Please list the two active viruses you found on your wife's macbook pro running on OS X.

 

[marksman]

Love your thoroughness. Should I even ask you to elaborate and, oh, um, maybe make a few points per quotation rather than quoting the entire post and retorting with a run-on sentence?

I was planning on it, but it seemed entirely pointless given your ignorance on the issues being discussed.

I even started to elaborate, but then stopped myself halfway through the first sentence. Seemed unnecessary.

 

[archipellago]

So how does any of what you just posted relate to my request for data to back your claim that a modern Windows system is more secure than a modern Mac?

That is all I asked for. You made a claim that should be backed up by facts, not your "hunch" or opinion. If you are going to claim that a modern Windows box is more secure you are making a claim which requires evidence to support it.

This has nothing to do with what others are saying. You made a claim, back it up. You can make a claim and say "nope, opinions differ."

And please don't reply to me with another off topic post that does not address what we are discussing. If you don't have any facts to back up your claim, a claim that cannot be supported by opinion don't even bother responding.



All software has potential exploits. That isn't what we are talking about. I am asking for the data to support the claim made by archipellago. The claim that a modern Windows machine is more secure than a modern Mac.

We can play the exploitable bugs game all day. I am asking for the specific features that make a Windows box more secure.

sorry, my earlier post was in response to 'Apple's marketing' which I thought was what you were asking about. Maybe we both should have been clearer.

Windows box more secure?

How about ASLR? Windows has it, OSX doesn't.

General security code quality? Independent testers say Windows is better coded.


look, you have your view...and I have mine. We aren't ever going to agree so can't you just carry on being wrong alone..?

 

[INeedAMacBook]

fix it fix it fix it...... fix it

 

[Torajima]

Odd that folks are still denying that Macs are more secure than Windows, on the same day that Google announces they are switching from Microsoft due to security concerns.

 

[DeepIn2U]

From the Article:
"it requests an administrator’s password on installation"

This is the definition of a Trojan, a Virus infects without user intervention.

Ergo, still no Viruses for Mac OS X.

Im wondering if I have such a trojan.
Every reboot I have screen sharing launched, EVEN though its my Mac Mini that has it, only my MB is set to connect so I'm unsure what's going on.

 

[lilo777]

As a programmer, I can assure you that Apple (nor anyone else) can make their platform 100% secure without sacrificing functionality. But they've certainly done better than Microsoft.

Now the real question is, how widespread is this spyware, and how can it be detected/removed without blowing $50 on Intego's software. Does it show up in Activity Monitor? What is the process name? What is the name of the installed app and where is it installed? I'm sure Intego won't share those details.

As a programmer you should know better. Have you heard about such thing as software bug? Nothing is 100% secure.

 

[charlituna]

Where are all the people on this forum that for years proclaimed that Mac OS was virus/spyware free and there would NEVER be viruses/spyware due to OSX being built on Linux.

i wonder that also. I have corrected a number of people on the issue. Because to say 'free' means they can't ever get a virus etc. But that's not true. there are fewer Mac viruses etc being written, yes. THey are harder to write, yes. They are harder to get installed because you have to put in your password and most folks know better yes. but it doesn't mean it can't happen.

Obviously as Macs become more prevalent, virus writers, phishers, and scammers will get around to writing stuff that attacks OSX. But clearly OSX is more secure than windows.

i once heard an IT guy said that it was due to Mac OSX being based on open source code that anyone can look up. Geek folks love to pour over the code and look for potential flaws. and then announce them to everyone. So the holes get fixed before they get bigger.

And viruses target the least experienced users anyway.

very true. In fact some of the best viruses don't actually install anything. And yet they F-up tons of systems and spread like crazy.

How? by scaring the ***** out of some newbie that doesn't know any better.

I remember maybe 4 years ago getting an email from a friend that forgot that I use Macs about a virus that would utterly destroy your computer. It copied all sorts of files all over your computer that would steal your credit card numbers, send itself out to everyone you ever emailed, wipe the hard drive. You name it this bad boy did it. One of the signs of infection was the presence of a particular file in your system. Folks were told to erase that file and then restart the system.

trouble was that the file was one of the key files for Windows. Deleting it would mean the computer wouldn't find the OS at all.

After verifying the info with a Windows IT guy, I emailed my friend that in fact she was already infected and had already infected tons of folks. Because the email was the virus and she forwarded it to at least 50 folks from the stack of names on the message she sent me. She felt really stupid.

 

[russellb]

Gee I am terrified

So let me get this straight ...

Yet again this is simply the case where a Mac user has to choose to actively download some software, has to choose to authorise this software and install it on their computer ... Gee it's not rocket science , we dont need anti virus companies to protect use , we just need common sense .. DONT DOWNLOAD and install unknown, free useless possible dodgy software...

But they will all beat this up and make out there is some deadly virus or trojan that we need to pay them so their software can protect users from being stupid.

 

[tkingart]

I still feel far more secure in OS X than in Windows. I have had far fewer problems in OS X. I've only run into an kernel panic once, and was able to fix it fairly easily.

It seems like you can get a virus in Windows just sneezing on your computer. I booted up in bootcamp one time, and left it running all night in Windows while connected to the internet. That's when I had the kernel panic, not sure if it's related though. Other than that, I haven't had any noteworthy problems in OS X, other than when GoogleUpdate installed itself and keep connecting to the internet.

I do firmly believe OS X is a safer OS to be in, I can attest to it personally. OS X will always be my "choice" OS. I boot into Windows because I have to, to do my work. Bring 3dmax to OS X, and I'll hardly ever boot into windows, except maybe to play an occasional game.

Say what you will about OS X, but I went from an average loss of work of up to 5 hours per week to around 5 minutes going from Windows to OS X for all of my "non-3dmax" tasks. For me OS X is a major productivity booster.