Apple Removes Intego's 'VirusBarrier' From iOS App Store, Says It's Misleading

[ulyssesric]

So how is this useful in any way? Surely whoever sent a virus mail to my iOS device can easily send it to someone else? Probably sends it to millions others? And why would I forward this virus mail instead of deleting it immediately?

Because that might be a freaking infected Microsoft Office file that is supposed to deliver to someone else !

You guys have no idea how people here are addicted to Microsoft Office. People just can't do anything, I mean, ANYTHING, without Microsoft Office. Every kind of document you may imagine is .doc or .ppt. They did even put codes, yes, bloody, XML, CODES, in those freaking WORD files!

It's also extremely common to co-work on a same Office file through email too. For countless time we have to wait for documents to be amended and forward to final submission right after we received the email. And unfortunately, most mail servers here has no anti-virus installed. Yes I know there is something called file server from last century. Go telling my boss about that.

The truth is: we're surrounded by idiots. And that's why we need anti-virus to protect THEM, but not ourselves.

 

[asiga]

Quite a few years ago, Apple made one of their most serious mistakes in History when they removed/reworded the page explaining why you'd never need nor want to install an antivirus on a Mac. Such page should have never been reworded to recommend antiviruses, but to even discourage their use more and more with the time.

This is one of Apple's strongest points. Reducing its importance was a very serious mistake.

 

[Keirasplace]

Because that might be a freaking infected Microsoft Office file that is supposed to deliver to someone else !

You guys have no idea how people here are addicted to Microsoft Office. People just can't do anything, I mean, ANYTHING, without Microsoft Office. Every kind of document you may imagine is .doc or .ppt. They did even put codes, yes, bloody, XML, CODES, in those freaking WORD files!

It's also extremely common to co-work on a same Office file through email too. For countless time we have to wait for documents to be amended and forward to final submission right after we received the email. And unfortunately, most mail servers here has no anti-virus installed. Yes I know there is something called file server from last century. Go telling my boss about that.

The truth is: we're surrounded by idiots. And that's why we need anti-virus to protect THEM, but not ourselves.

Considering how unreliable Anti-Virus software is, relying on them makes people idiots.... That you scan something means nothing. That Office shouldn't be configured to execute anything, ever outside the a well patched Office. Put the idiot user in a sandbox if he can't be reigned in or you can' trust him (you can do that now with Windows 8.1).

Configuring a system/network a secure, keeping it updated, or buying stuff that is safe as possible (sandbox everything to death), put decent security policies in place, and finally educate idiot users is the only real good solutions. Assume everyone will let something through eventually and create mitigation strategies.

People inside many supposedly secured location, nuclear sites, have clicked and been infected by damn mallware. That tells you that anti-viruses are not enough.

 

[Max(IT)]

Well this is an instance whereby jailbreaking and cracked ipa's could come in useful for apps that are pulled. Much like getting VLC player when it was taken down for couple years.

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Heh, you're exactly the reason Apple pulled the app. Read the app description. It scans the files to avoid infecting OTHER devices when you forward them, not the iOS device itself.

Apple should not care (and they actually do not care) about jailbroken devices

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Thank god, we don't need that crap on iOS or on Macs. Plain and simple, you don't need antivirus on Apple platforms. Period. I've used Macs since 1990 and not once have I ever conceived of the notion of installing antivirus on my Macs.

Last device where I installed an antivirus was ..... an Android tablet

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You are doing yourself and all Mac users here a disservice by saying stuff like this. It is widely known in the industry, especially with companies like Sophos and Kaspersky, that there are definitely Mac viruses in the wild that can infect Mac computers that do not have antivirus installed.

Just because you have a Mac does NOT mean you are immune to viruses. It is a very dangerous misconception that you are 100% protected because you use a Mac.

Mac Virus & Malware Threats
http://www.kaspersky.com/internet-security-center/threats/mac

Mac Virus Lets Hackers Control Thousands Of Computers, Through Reddit
http://www.ibtimes.com/mac-virus-lets-hackers-control-thousands-computers-through-reddit-1699227

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/mac-virus/

Apple Vows To Fight Flashback Virus, Mac Users Receive Wake-Up Call:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/apple-flashback-virus_n_1417886.html

Apple Stops Boasting That Macs Are Virus Free
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/mac-virus-apple_n_1625110.html

Security Firm: Microsoft Ahead Of Apple
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/microsoft-security-apple_n_1456073.html

Surprising Number Of Macs Infected With Malware
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/mac-malware_n_1448561.html

Be safe out there, everyone. Don't believe the hype that you're protected just because you use Mac. With Apple's growing marketshare comes the greater possibility that Macs will be targeted. Especially when its a common belief amongst Mac users that they're invincible.

Half of your links are literally trash.
If you can't see the difference between malware and a virus, that's your problem.
There are no viruses on iOS nor on OS X

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Head in the sand or facing reality, up to you really. I know what my preference is.

With the introduction of Apple pay, it might now become profitable for criminals to target iOS.

IOS is by far the most profitable operative system, and it's been a while.
Still no viruses.

 

[Max(IT)]

If you say so.

I'm saying that too....

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The banks wouldn't be the ones doing the leak if it ever occurred, it would be an external contractor at many banks that has operational information from all of them. Considering how unlikely someone like that would even exist; I'd going to call this weekly sourced story fabrication, or third hand "knowledge".

Also,
This isn't cracking at all.
They isn't social engineering unless the definition changed completely.

They've used a card that's seen as valid by the bank.

They could have obtained that card info in countless ways; one way would be a large scale breach like the target one.

The user or bank didn't cancel their cards after a breach, a theft and the bank didn't verify the card belonged to the person who registers it before adding it.

Where does social engineering fit here? The end user is not involved at all once the crooks have their cards and that doesn't involve Apple at all.

So, total straw man. I'm sure you know it which makes you desingenious about this.

Totally correct, but don't you know? If you don't put Apple on a bad light you're not cool enough

 

[continuity]

There are no known viruses for the mac in the wild. Malwares and Trojans, sure. No viruses. All of the links you posted come from huffingtonpost, a website known for clickbait titles. And apparently, they don't seem to know the difference between viruses and malware either. The kapersky website on the otherhand lists malware, no viruses.



Easily avoided with common sense.

Handy link to read from GGStudios: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/9400648/

Interesting how Mac users are clinging to pedantry to keep propagating the "Macs don't get viruses" myth. Trojans and many other forms of malware aren't viruses in the strictest sense of the word but they can do as much damage as true viruses and thus are considered as such.

So in short, Macs do get viruses. The average layman using a Mac whose been infected with a Trojan or a worm won't feel comforted by the fact that it wasn't "really" a virus. If it behaves like one, it is one.

 

[djtech42]

You are doing yourself and all Mac users here a disservice by saying stuff like this. It is widely known in the industry, especially with companies like Sophos and Kaspersky, that there are definitely Mac viruses in the wild that can infect Mac computers that do not have antivirus installed.

Just because you have a Mac does NOT mean you are immune to viruses. It is a very dangerous misconception that you are 100% protected because you use a Mac.

Mac Virus & Malware Threats
http://www.kaspersky.com/internet-security-center/threats/mac

Mac Virus Lets Hackers Control Thousands Of Computers, Through Reddit
http://www.ibtimes.com/mac-virus-lets-hackers-control-thousands-computers-through-reddit-1699227

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/mac-virus/

Apple Vows To Fight Flashback Virus, Mac Users Receive Wake-Up Call:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/apple-flashback-virus_n_1417886.html

Apple Stops Boasting That Macs Are Virus Free
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/mac-virus-apple_n_1625110.html

Security Firm: Microsoft Ahead Of Apple
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/microsoft-security-apple_n_1456073.html

Surprising Number Of Macs Infected With Malware
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/mac-malware_n_1448561.html

Be safe out there, everyone. Don't believe the hype that you're protected just because you use Mac. With Apple's growing marketshare comes the greater possibility that Macs will be targeted. Especially when its a common belief amongst Mac users that they're invincible.

Due to the fact that the only "viruses" we really need to worry about on the Mac are trojans, I would rather just be smart about how I use my computer than install anti-virus software that will probably cause more harm than good.

 

[Keirasplace]

Interesting how Mac users are clinging to pedantry to keep propagating the "Macs don't get viruses" myth. Trojans and many other forms of malware aren't viruses in the strictest sense of the word but they can do as much damage as true viruses and thus are considered as such.

So in short, Macs do get viruses. The average layman using a Mac whose been infected with a Trojan or a worm won't feel comforted by the fact that
it wasn't "really" a virus. If it behaves like one, it is one.

So, how many of those average layman are there? How much money is spent on Anti-viruses on Macs vs Android and Windows? How prevalent is this? Saying there are boogeyman out there just helps anti-virus peddlers to sell their wares and rarely protects anyone, no matter the platform.

The best thing you can do is prevention/mitigation (Macs are good at that) and education (the naive user sadly doesn't do much of that by himself and and anti-virus won't help him much either). Education would address the rare case of users aiding in the installation of a trojan/mallware on Macs.

As for that average layman; he's the same guy who would be routinely sideloading something dangerous on Android from the web/sms/email. That "little guy" tm who clicks yes, giving away privacy, security, if some random prompt ask him too, will do much better on a Mac than on anything else. But, you are right, he needs to be educated.

Though, asking everyone by default be "educated" is unrealistic, and if he's not, steering him away from a Mac (or even worse IOS) for the minute chance an issue is pure FUD. IOS for example is much safer than its alternative Android (especially older 400M+ ones that are unpatched exploits) and even Windows (though it has improved a lot lately).

BTW, my main computer is a Windows 8.1 machine and its also now much better at preventing viruses/malware/trojans whatever if you don't do something stupid and install/run/authorize some random app picked off. XP and before machines were abysmal though, a bit on par with how terrible Android is with "security" right now. Despite XP's horrible security, I haven't had a virus/trojan whatever since the first year of Windows 1995 (that boot sector virus, Monkey, was horrible).

 

[GGJstudios]

Interesting how Mac users are clinging to pedantry to keep propagating the "Macs don't get viruses" myth.

It's not a myth. Name one instance of a Mac in the wild being infected by a true virus. Just one.

Trojans and many other forms of malware aren't viruses in the strictest sense of the word but they can do as much damage as true viruses and thus are considered as such.

No, Trojans are not considered viruses by anyone except those who are uninformed. Trojans are malware. Viruses are malware. Trojans are not viruses. How much potential damage can be caused does not change the definition of malware types. Read the links in post #64 to learn the difference.

So in short, Macs do get viruses.

That is false.

The average layman using a Mac whose been infected with a Trojan or a worm won't feel comforted by the fact that it wasn't "really" a virus. If it behaves like one, it is one.

That's exactly the point. A Trojan does not behave the same as a virus. The difference is important, because it determines the type of defense required. A Trojan can be avoided by practicing safe computing. A virus can infect even if the user is acting responsibly, so an antivirus app would be needed for defense. If a Mac is infected by a Trojan, the user is at fault. That wouldn't necessarily be true with a virus.

If the "average layman" is intelligent enough to learn how to use a computer, they're intelligent enough to learn the difference between malware types and what they can do to avoid infection. It's really not that difficult.

 

[Toltepeceno]

I ran windows from the start, had dos before that, up until last year and have never had a virus. Malware, yes but never a virus. Why bother with antivirus on windows?

I have been driving since I was a kid, 12 or so, and am over 60 now and have never had an accident. I see no reason for air bags or insurance.

That being said I do not run an antivirus on osx, I run adwaremedic ever so often, but I really don't care if anyone else runs it. I don't see why some people's blood pressure skyrockets when someone else mentions running an antivirus. It's like their own security is somehow lessened by a stranger running an antivirus.

 

[Max(IT)]

I ran windows from the start, had dos before that, up until last year and have never had a virus. Malware, yes but never a virus. Why bother with antivirus on windows?

I have been driving since I was a kid, 12 or so, and am over 60 now and have never had an accident. I see no reason for air bags or insurance.

That being said I do not run an antivirus on osx, I run adwaremedic ever so often, but I really don't care if anyone else runs it. I don't see why some people's blood pressure skyrockets when someone else mentions running an antivirus. It's like their own security is somehow lessened by a stranger running an antivirus.

Anecdotal evidence much ?
Despite your personal experience, Windows badly needed an antivirus installed. Today maybe it doesn't need it anymore, but I wouldn't bet on that.

OS X didn't and doesn't need it.

Btw we are speaking about iOS, and surely iOS doesn't need an antivirus installed.

 

[Lictor]

These apps prey on people's fear of "virus" despite the fact that for a rather closed and sandboxed-app system like iOS, it's extremely difficult to be infected by a 'virus' or malware

And that same sandboxed-app system is why this "antivirus" is just snake oil... It's impossible for an antivirus to do anything worthwhile when it's running in a sandbox!

 

[roadbloc]

These apps prey on people's fear of "virus" despite the fact that for a rather closed and sandboxed-app system like iOS, it's extremely difficult to be infected by a 'virus' or malware unless there is a security hole in the OS - which Apple will be fixing it quickly by system update.

People are just paying these "Antivirus" software money without the desired protection.

You clearly didn't read the app description. It's people like you that's the reason the app was pulled.