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Malware Attacks on Macs Up 744% in 2016, Mostly Due to Adware
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The number were presented.
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From 50,000 to 460,000.
What I have seen last year is a dramatic increase in RansomWare, FakeFlash, Phishing email, etc. Most of this Malware does come from an Ad Banner. Their purpose is to confuse and get the user to enter his password so the malware can install itself.
In many cases, an antivirus may not protect the user against these threats, so being an educated user is the best protection.
In many cases, an antivirus may not protect the user against these threats, so being an educated user is the best protection.
But Macs don't get viruses!
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I haven't had a virus on a PC in over 10 years.
The only people that do are doing one of the following: installing things from unknown email attachments, installing 'cracked' software they don't want to pay for, or installing things that promise free porn.
Not the only people. I used software required by my university at the time that contained a virus. Opening chain emails before the days that we knew doing so could get you in trouble was another cause. I purchased a video game back in the day that was actually sold with a virus. Thanks for playing.
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Yeah you are right, I'd assume people knew the difference between malware and adware, in which case you could view this as a click bait article , sure to drive debate.
Truth be told, most people interpret adware as a virus. Be it malware, adware or virus, most people view it as the same. Simple fact is that once Macs got popular, they became a target. Who cares if they don't get viruses.... it's all malware / adware these days even on PCs.
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I failed at a poor attempt at sarcasm/humour ..... my bad
What kind of problems? I take it different ones from Mac app installers installing something else and the like.
No app name to warn others?
It was M Player. Very strange as it was downloaded from the App Store ages ago, and I hadn't even used it for years.
Malware Bytes seemed to identify it as the problem, and once I deleted it - yes, the problem went away.
Well done, Team MacRumors Police Task Force - the day is saved once again with your wonderful combined wit.
To protect and to serve
On a more serious note, you mean this one? https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mplayerx/id421131143
To protect and to serve
On a more serious note, you mean this one? https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mplayerx/id421131143
Yeah that's the one! Crikey, had no idea it hadn't been updated since 2012.
I went back to VLC a few years ago and forgot all about M Player. It must have been an easy target.
(I should probably write a review).
After the attack, I went through my entire Mac went a fine toothcomb.
It's interesting that so many people are so dismissive in this thread - that kind of pride usually comes before a fall. It's a computer, and all computers are susceptible to malware of some nature.
The safest way to run a Unix computer is to always use a Standard account. I don't do this, neither do most of you, but we should.
What App? No name - no game
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What "Ad Banner"? No name - no game
Neither wit nor malice here; simply attempting to ascertain the situation.
Either way, glad you got it sorted.
I blame that on Apple for its ridiculous spelling variants.so they take all this time to research malware, but they can't spell Apple's operating system correctly? Really tired of seeing Mac OS or MacOS, it's macOS
There's a reason why they are so dismissive, OS X/ MacOs until now didn't get lots of Malware/Adware and it's still rare to get infected as long as you know what you are doing.
I have been using OS X/MacOs since the beginning (10.0b) and never got Malware/Adware on my Mac.
Even if you don't know much about it you still are fairly safe.
What didn't happen? If a user chooses to install a nefarious program and gives it permission to do anything, of course it can harm the system.
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A merchant needs to peddle his wares.
And the scare tactics been used since time immemorial.
Truth be told, I'm not sure I know the difference, and nobody, not McAfee, not MR, nor any of the posters in this thread, seem to be either willing or able to explain it either.
