Apple to Update Mac OS X to Remove 'Mac Defender' Malware

[Mal]

Apple's just pissed because MacDefender didn't go through the App Store.

🙄 No, and Apple's probably not really pissed at all. It's just another blip on the radar, something they're removing to continue to improve the customer experience, but nothing that's earth-shattering. They wouldn't even have any responsibility to fix it, though I certainly think it's good thing they are taking measures to stop it.

jW

 

[Popeye206]

Well Apple did invent the Internet. Wait.... sorry Mr. Gore. 😛

But I patented the idea of sending written words, images, movies, and music from one electronic device to another via a wide area network. Now I'm just sitting back and waiting to sue everyone for royalties. 😀

Opps... wrong topic! 😛

 

[koruki]

I guess this is something the OSX Appstore is meant to target. Download from there and not worry about granting access to malware?

 

[PurrBall]

Yes, but most people don't know about it and its not automatic. You have to go to MS's website to download it and updates to it are very very slow. (It is VERY useful though for the stuff it does find). I really wish MS would make this part of the OS.

I've always gotten it automatically.

 

[devilstrider]

I have mine ask for my password no matter what. I only have my account on my MBP.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Yesterday:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 0


Today:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 1


(but seriously... this is not even a true virus... it's malware)

 

[GGJstudios]

MacOS Viruses: 1
(but seriously... this is not even a true virus... it's malware)

It's not a virus in any respect. There are zero viruses in the wild that run on Mac OS X, and it's been that way for 10 years.

 

[conch575]

I work for an Apple service centre. You'll be surprised how many people put their credit card details into the program and PAY to download it. It's pretty stupid. I tend to remove the program for people for free, but the policy is to charge the customers $145.. I feel slack doing that..

 

[Žalgiris]

Yesterday:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 0


Today:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 1


(but seriously... this is not even a true virus... it's malware)

Today it's 0 too. Stop misleading people with such posts sating it's not true virus afterwards.

IT'S NOT A VIRUS.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Today it's 0 too. Stop misleading people with such posts sating it's not true virus afterwards.

IT'S NOT A VIRUS.

No crap... that's why I put that last line in there... you even quoted it! Didn't you read it?

I know it's malware.

My point was.... even IF Macs got one... Windows still has 100,000 more of them.

R-E-L-A-X 🙂

 

[Žalgiris]

No crap... that's why I put that last line in there... you even quoted it!

I know it's malware.

Then stop misleading people. because you know some just randomly spot a sentence and think "my God OS X has viruses".

Do you honestly think people read every sentence?

 

[Michael Scrip]

Then stop misleading people. because you know some just randomly spot a sentence and think "my God OS X has viruses".

Do you honestly think people read every sentence?

Misleading people? Are you serious, dude?

1. Don't order me around.

2. Anyone who visits MacRumors probably has a handle on what's going on. My comment isn't gonna makes Macs around the world suddenly melt down.

Anyway... it was a joke to slam Windows... and you totally ruined the joke. (that Windows is full of malware and other junk)

You don't need to reply to me anymore... because you have no sense of humor.

🙂

 

[AidenShaw]

Yesterday:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 0


Today:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 1


(but seriously... this is not even a true virus... it's malware)

What about this Mac OS X: The First Virus, and viruses for classic Mac OS?

 

[chrono1081]

I've always gotten it automatically.

Hm I wonder why I don't. After some research it appears that it comes in Windows update but my machine nor the machines at work automatically receive it. (All of the machines are running 64 bit Windows 7, mixed versions of Vista, and 32 bit XP).

I'm going to have to look into that. It gets deployed separately at work anyway so its no biggie but it would be nice if my home Windows install would get it.

 

[GGJstudios]

What about this Mac OS X: The First Virus, and viruses for classic Mac OS?

OSXLeap-A was not a virus. It was a trojan. Yes, there were viruses that affected Mac OS 9 and earlier, but none of them can affect Mac OS X.

 

[Michael Scrip]

What about this Mac OS X: The First Virus, and viruses for classic Mac OS?

What about this... Windows has a crap-ton more malware than Macs.

That was my whole freakin' point from the start!

 

[johncarync]

Easy there killer, there are posters here that still think Apple invented the zipper 😉

Apple didn't invent the zipper...they stole it from Xerox!🙂

My prediction...this will be a non-issue in less than 2 years when Macs will be sold with a "Download Apps only from App Store" preference turned on by default. The masses will be safe from themselves and those of us who know how to find this preference and turn it off should also be smart enough to not download malware. This will make the Mac market very unappetizing to malware programmers.

 

[s1m]

Yesterday:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 0

Today:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 0

So only about 2500 viruses since 2005 - that's a pretty strong security process that windows now has 😉

http://macdailynews.com/2005/04/05/97467_microsoft_windows_viruses_vs_zero_for_apple_macs_os_x/

 

[weespeed]

Hm I wonder why I don't. After some research it appears that it comes in Windows update but my machine nor the machines at work automatically receive it. (All of the machines are running 64 bit Windows 7, mixed versions of Vista, and 32 bit XP).

I'm going to have to look into that. It gets deployed separately at work anyway so its no biggie but it would be nice if my home Windows install would get it.

It's the IT dept. They like don't like to update ever. Only if they have to. Even our apple machines have to wait for updates. If it ain't broke don't fix it.. that's the motto.

But yeah MS issues the Tuesday updates and it's automatic or it'll ask the user.

 

[CFreymarc]

Works. Now let's have public executions of the people that wrote "MacDefender." A burning at the steak in the center of Infinite Loop in Cupertino is in order. Sell the right to whomever gets to start the witch burning fire on eBay.

 

[JAT]

Xprotect does not act as an active scanner, just a monitor for downloaded content. If anything, Xprotect may possibly be updated to be a full scanner as the update is slated to remove malware already on the drive.

It better not be. I'd like to have access to my cpu and HDDs, thanks.

I use W7 with avg free...never a problem.

W7 is a wonderful OS...that said, it DOES take more care and attention than OSX. Doesnt mean it's worse though IMHO

To someone who works, "worse" is exactly what that would mean.

Works. Now let's have public executions of the people that wrote "MacDefender." A burning at the steak in the center of Infinite Loop in Cupertino is in order. Sell the right to whomever gets to start the witch burning fire on eBay.

I hope you don't want to count anyone spelling stake wrong.

 

[w00t951]

Isn't this the first time that Apple has done something to directly interfere with the consumer's programs and documents? I hope they don't use this to close up the OS X platform.

 

[lilo777]

Yesterday:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 0


Today:

Windows Viruses: 100,000
MacOS Viruses: 1


(but seriously... this is not even a true virus... it's malware)

What's your point? We all know that there is much more software for Windows out there than for Macs. And do I really care that so many "viruses" exist for Windows? I don't. The only thing I care about is how many of them are on my machine. Today this number is 0. Windows 7 solved this problem for Windows users. OS/X? Not so much (as evidenced by the recent developments).

 

[Michael Scrip]

What's your point? We all know that there is much more software for Windows out there than for Macs. And do I really care that so many "viruses" exist for Windows? I don't. The only thing I care about is how many of them are on my machine. Today this number is 0. Windows 7 solved this problem for Windows users. OS/X? Not so much (as evidenced by the recent developments).

You cared enough to comment.

Have a good night. 🙂

 

[AppleScruff1]

AVG Free gives a user a false sense of security. There is a reason why there is a paid version.

Mileage may vary:
Malware problem on Win 7

AVG sucks.

Nope. Apple always releases "security updates" which block such things.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/security/



Um...no. Microsoft needs to take a page out of Apples book, see the link above.



Yes, but most people don't know about it and its not automatic. You have to go to MS's website to download it and updates to it are very very slow. (It is VERY useful though for the stuff it does find). I really wish MS would make this part of the OS.

I get it automatically since I have my Windows machine set to receive automatic updates. I also think that there is a new version of the tool each month, or at least there was for XP.