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VIRUS, Trojan or something on my macbook! Can someone recommend a free virus scanner?

steve111 said:
perian,
three documents on making money,
something titled 'christmas'-don't know what that is...
limewire osx...tried downloading something off limewire-IT STOPPED due to possible virus. I assumed it done this before damaging my computer. I don't think this is what asked for my admin password.
Templates for website

That's the last things I have downloaded. But it might have been going on for longer than I realize.
Click to expand...

1. Perian - is fine, it's in the Apple Downloads page
2. Three Documents - What format are they? .doc? .exe? .dmg? very essential to know
3. Something tittled "Christmas..." - Again, the file extension, .ppt? .doc? I need to know that.
4. Limewire - Ok, here is a source for many viruses/malwares and stuff for PC. I am going to tell you the same thing I tell others who have this. Get rid of it. Not worth the risk. Also, self downloading? Unless you have it to download automatically, it shouldn't do that. Like I said, get rid of Limewire.
5. Templates for website - Did they open correctly with your designated program? If they didn't what happened?
 
jav6454 said:
1. Perian - is fine, it's in the Apple Downloads page
2. Three Documents - What format are they? .doc? .exe? .dmg? very essential to know
3. Something tittled "Christmas..." - Again, the file extension, .ppt? .doc? I need to know that.
4. Limewire - Ok, here is a source for many viruses/malwares and stuff for PC. I am going to tell you the same thing I tell others who have this. Get rid of it. Not worth the risk. Also, self downloading? Unless you have it to download automatically, it shouldn't do that. Like I said, get rid of Limewire.
5. Templates for website - Did they open correctly with your designated program? If they didn't what happened?
Click to expand...

The three documents end in .doc
'christmas is .zip (i only download useful things-I can't think of what this is)
limewire= .dmg

Should I use addzapper or keep things simple and just drag and drop to 'trash?'

What extensions should I look for? I will go through all my recent downloads.
 
steve111 said:
The three documents end in .doc
'christmas is .zip (i only download useful things-I can't think of what this is)
limewire= .dmg

Should I use addzapper or keep things simple and just drag and drop to 'trash?'

What extensions should I look for? I will go through all my recent downloads.
Click to expand...

Is there more to that .zip file?
 
thegoldenmackid said:
Use Appzapper to fully remove all of Limewire, it is the most obvious source of your problems.
Click to expand...

I downloaded appzapper, dragged it to my applications folder, opened appzapper and it tells me to drag appzapper to applications. What am I doing wrong?
 
jav6454 said:
Is there more to that .zip file?
Click to expand...

inside the folder there are five folders...

all are between 130 and 200 bytes. The info just says 'zip archive'

1.zip
2.zip
3.zip
4.zip
5.zip


Thanks for your time
 
steve111 said:
I downloaded appzapper, dragged it to my applications folder, opened appzapper and it tells me to drag appzapper to applications. What am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...
You need to mount the disk image (.dmg) for AppZapper first, then drag the the app itself to the Applications folder only when asked to. It sounds like you may have just dragged the .dmg itself into the Applications folder.
 
steve111 said:
I downloaded appzapper, dragged it to my applications folder, opened appzapper and it tells me to drag appzapper to applications. What am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...

You probably opened the dmg again. Open the app not the dmg file. You don't have a virus, very unlikely that you have a trojan.
 
steve111 said:
inside the folder there are five folders...

all are between 130 and 200 bytes. The info just says 'zip archive'

1.zip
2.zip
3.zip
4.zip
5.zip


Thanks for your time
Click to expand...

I have a feeling that Christmas.zip file is the one causing your problems. Best bet is deleting it. No zip file should have more zip files inside. Also, small payloads.... means it can be mini programs
 
Sky Blue said:
You probably opened the dmg again. Open the app not the dmg file. You don't have a virus, very unlikely that you have a trojan.
Click to expand...


Thanks you, that's better.

Probably another stupid question but here goes, appzapper is asking for a code and name, is it my name or email address? + where can I find the code?

Thanks again

jav6454 said:
I have a feeling that Christmas.zip file is the one causing your problems. Best bet is deleting it. No zip file should have more zip files inside. Also, small payloads.... means it can be mini programs
Click to expand...

I hope so, will find out soon:rolleyes:
 
Thanks, I get 5 free zaps.

However, I didn't realize that it wouldn't 'zap' folders. The zip files are in a folder, can I drag that to the trash.


Thanks

Hopefully I'm nearly there

I sent 'christmas' to trash. Still got the same problem.

So I'm running macscan, fingers crossed.
 
Also, change all of your banking passwords. Type the bank's URL into your browser manually. Its possible that your bank account has been compromised through other means (i.e. that it has nothing to do with your Mac.)
 
steve111 said:
I sent 'christmas' to trash. Still got the same problem.
Click to expand...

One day, when you can be bothered to post what the problem is, people here will able to give some useful advice rather than have you chasing your tail pointlessly.

So far, nothing you have said has helped even outline vaguely what the problem is let alone diagnose it. 'money coming out of my business' doesn't cut it.

I can only conclude it's really not that serious since its not costing enough for you to think its worthwhile paying for a program to fix it, let alone an expert, and I doubt the people who told you to run trend micro know what they are doing, since the odds of it picking something up that is compromising your Mac is close to zero. (you may trust them, but then again, look at the junk you have downloaded on your Mac, so your level of ability on who or what to trust is provably poor and it seems their well meaning but useless advice hasn't helped has it?

Just to repeat, if you actually want to be helped, post what the problem is.
 
jav6454 said:
At this point I am convinced it's not your Mac, it was the fact that you phished in a scam. I recommend changing passwords of every website you access on your Mac.
Click to expand...


Really?

'Head in hands' if that's what I have to do.

Thank you for your time, help and patience.

As long as I know what I have to do...I have a solution. (hopefully!)

Thanks again,

Steven
 
steve111 said:
Really?

'Head in hands' if that's what I have to do.

Thank you for your time, help and patience.

As long as I know what I have to do...I have a solution. (hopefully!)

Thanks again,

Steven
Click to expand...

Even if the problem originated from your computer, it is likely that whatever program you installed sent your banking information to a third party. If this is the case, uninstalling the offending software after the fact will do nothing for you. However, as a couple of people have mentioned, it is more likely that you are the victim of a phishing scam.

Either way, the appropriate solution is to change all of your passwords immediately.

Limewire is not the source of your problems. You may have downloaded something over Limewire that compromised your system, but it is not possible for someone to gain access to your private information using Limewire itself.


I don't often recommend a clean install as there is no technical need to do so on a Mac, but it might be something to consider in your case. It sounds like you have been downloading and installing a fair bit of questionable material, and it would be good to be safe given what you're dealing with. In the future, only download and install what you need from sources you trust.
 
If you haven't emptied the trash, I suggest you try and upload that christmas file here:

www.virustotal.com

and if nothing is detected, send it so some antivirus company as a sample (I suggest Sophos).

That's because if it actually is a trojan, changing the password won't be of much help. It may be not, but as they say, better safe then sorry
 
Mac hacked/malware/virus-can I keep any files if reinstalling os x or not?

I am 90% sure my mac has been hacked or got a virus or something.
I'm going to reinstall os x. Should I keep anything (such as mp3s in itunes) or shouldn't I risk it?

Thank you

Steve

Oh, and can anyone point to a god source of info on how to completely uninstall and reinstall os x
 
Let's back up a little.

What kind of problem are you experiencing with your Mac?

Also, what kind of Mac is it and what version of the Mac OS are you running?
 
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