Where does a spyware/virus installs usually?

[XPcentric]

As the number of mac osx users grows, apple systems may be a future target by malicious users. I'm most concerned by spyware rather than viruses, in the latter case if you have a back up there is nothing to loose.

I want to know the paths where do they install usually ?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Mac Virus/Malware Info

I don't know the path, as it is DEPENDENT on the software you install, but if you don't install any untrusted software, you might be fine.

And about that stupid Marketshare Myth: http://seekingalpha.com/article/52722-the-mac-os-x-malware-myth-continues and https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1087922/

 

[GGJstudios]

As the number of mac osx users grows, apple systems may be a future target by malicious users. I'm most concerned by spyware rather than viruses, in the latter case if you have a back up there is nothing to loose.

I want to know the paths where do they install usually ?

They don't "usually". There are very few malware threats that affect current Mac OS X. There are no viruses and only a handful of trojans, which the user must actively install.

Mac Virus/Malware Info

 

[old-wiz]

I don't know the path, as it is DEPENDENT on the software you install, but if you don't install any untrusted software, you might be fine.

Installing untrusted or torrented software is about the only possible way to get a trojan on any OSx Mac. Safe computing is the best way to prevent issues. Don't download porn "codecs" that you "need" to view the content as they are usually trojans.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Don't download porn "codecs" that you "need" to view the content as they are usually trojans.

But I doubt they offer "codecs" for Mac OS X, as I came upon some TV series watching sites, which also wanted you to install some codec or download Divx from some obscure site, but I never could get those ".exe" files to run. I guess those files are corrupted somehow. Man, it was so much more easier to install this or that codec pack in Windows. Where are the times?

 

[chrono1081]

As the number of mac osx users grows, apple systems may be a future target by malicious users. I'm most concerned by spyware rather than viruses, in the latter case if you have a back up there is nothing to loose.

I want to know the paths where do they install usually ?

Market share has nothing to do with viruses being on one platform or another. Easily exploitable software is another story. Windows is full of holes and is a closed OS so only MS can fix security holes. MS is also the only ones who legally have access to Windows source code.

Mac OS on the other hand is built upon Darwin Unix which is built upon open source unix projects and have had plenty of people working on it to patch holes, etc.

There is much more to what I just stated and I'm sure people will rip it apart with technicalities but for the sake of time thats pretty much the reason why OSX doesn't get viruses and malware.

 

[BugBytes]

But I doubt they offer "codecs" for Mac OS X, as I came upon some TV series watching sites, which also wanted you to install some codec or download Divx from some obscure site, but I never could get those ".exe" files to run. I guess those files are corrupted somehow. Man, it was so much more easier to install this or that codec pack in Windows. Where are the times?

Don't install them, they can be malicious! That is what this thread is all about!
By the way, .EXE files are windows executables- they are unable to be run by a Mac. The EXEs were probably viruses. Download software only from legit sources. Buy the TV show and spare yourself being infected. It's easy once infected with some malware to be robbed of your bank account name and password, social security number, and other sensitive details. Oh, and on average, an identity theft victim can on average lose thousands of dollars.

 

[arkitect]

Don't install them, they can be malicious! That is what this thread is all about!

simsaladimbamba was joking.

 

[BugBytes]

*facepalm
Oops. I think I'll leave my reply there anyway because it might help soimeone who isn't joking down the road.

 

[munkery]

I want to know the paths where do they install usually ?

A payload of a trojan (no Mac viruses) can be written anywhere your user account has write privileges without authentication. But, that does not mean that it has been "installed." Keyloggers and rootkits need to be installed in certain locations and/or with elevated privileges to perform their intended functions. To be "installed," it requires you to authenticate that action when you enter your admin username and password in the authentication prompt.

Spyware/adware is a fairly vague term. Some people refer to browser and Flash cookies as spyware/adware because they can be abused for tracking browser behaviour. Third party browser cookies are usually intended for targeted advertising purposes.

Set Safari to accept cookies "Only from sites I visit" and use "Reset Safari" periodically if you are worried about being tracked. Some users prefer to use Safari Cookies to manage their cookies. Here is a list of other Mac Security Suggestions.

Make the following application in Automator to clean out your Flash cookies periodically:

 

[rpenzinger]

Pc

Usually on a PC

 

[emptyCup]

I'm most concerned by spyware rather than viruses

Take Monkery's suggestion about Safari cookies. However, if you have installed Flash then you have installed spyware yourself. Go here to remove Flash cookies. You can also use Apple's cookie manager.