Apple/Mac flashback virus hits big

[masraum]

Well, I guess as apple got bigger and bigger, something like this was bound to happen eventually.

BBC News - Half a million Mac computers 'infected with malware'

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Where were you last week, when this was news?

[nostatic]

Does anyone know anyone who actually has been infected? I don't and none of my machines are.

A lot of these "virus" stories oddly enough come from "researchers" who usually work for an anti-virus company. Go figure...

[Scott R]

I think I had the automatic update thing pop up before I even read the news story.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

Where were you last week, when this was news?

I kept waiting for it to pop up here and forgetting to post about it.

I figured it might wind up one of the PC vs Mac threads that are always so entertaining.

[stomachmonkey]

Perspective.

If the infection rate numbers are accurate we are talking 1% of installed base.

And the problem is not OS X, it's a version of Java that is not even shipped with OS X.

[Paul_Heery]

Mac Flashback malware: What it is and how to get rid of it (FAQ) | Apple Talk - CNET News

[island911]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Does anyone know anyone who actually has been infected? I don't and none of my machines are.

A lot of these "virus" stories oddly enough come from "researchers" who usually work for an anti-virus company. Go figure...

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Perspective.

If the infection rate numbers are accurate we are talking 1% of installed base.

And the problem is not OS X, it's a version of Java that is not even shipped with OS X.

hmmm do you two break out this logic when a single PC user here reports a virus? .. .or is the response more of a smarmy theme of "that's why I bought a Mac.." ?

Personally, I think the proper response for any report of a computer virus should be "we need to hunt down and kill the virus source."

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by island911

..."we need to hunt down and kill the virus source."

I can agree with that.

But in reality the biggest issues with Windows in the past were preventable.

Simple things like not allowing a user to create a root account that has no password would have gone a long way in securing the platform.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by island911

hmmm do you two break out this logic when a single PC user here reports a virus? .. .or is the response more of a smarmy theme of "that's why I bought a Mac.." ?

I've personally seen plenty of PCs with viruses and malware. I've never personally seen a Mac with viruses or malware. That is the difference. Individuals here on PPOT have posted asking about viruses on their PC. I've never seen a Mac or a Mac owner who I knew posting about it - just "security experts" (with a likely financial gain angle) talking about theoreticals or log file entries.

Not that it isn't possible (though technically this is a java issue, not OSX). But that is the difference and explains the "logic" of the response.

[pitargue]

If there's a news story on a computer virus or trojan, it's old news and a solution is already available. Even the CERT alerts have solutions to the security announcements.

[tharbert]

I maybe support about 15 Mac users. Just found two machines with the compromise. The problem is, while these users know there are threats out there, threats are so far and few between that they don't take precautions like running AV or using good passwords.

Flashback Mac Trojan Shakes Apple Rep of Invulnerability - Security - News & Reviews - eWeek.com

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by tharbert

they don't take precautions like running AV or using good passwords.

What's a "good AV" for a platform that has exactly ONE "virus" out in the wild?

[tharbert]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

What's a "good AV" for a platform that has exactly ONE "virus" out in the wild?

There certainly are threats to the Mac OS out there, Tsunami and Revier/Imuler Trojans, and the Mac Defender fake to name a few. This is the first to gain traction on a significant number of boxes, 1% of Macs by some estimates. Folks who treat their Macs as if they are invulnerable become the low hanging fruit. Don't be that fruit!

[slakjaw]

I predict this is the start. Apple only cares about ios these days and the Mac is getting left by the wayside. U heard it here first.

[71 3.0 911]

Those infected had to actually enter the master administrator password to let the virus in. Tells me 1% of the users are functionally retarded....

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 71 3.0 911

Those infected had to actually enter the master administrator password to let the virus in. Tells me 1% of the users are functionally retarded....

Or are recent Windows converts.