'MACDefender' on Apple's radar as OS X malware spreads - report

1235»

Comments

  • Reply 81 of 94
    firefly7475firefly7475 Posts: 1,502member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    The bloody Winblows mindf*ck has infected (pun intended) new Mac users so corrupted by years of using PCs.



    And at the same time Microsoft has implemented measures in IE to prevent most of these socially engineered attacks. The irony is so thick it's almost palpable.
  • Reply 82 of 94
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Firefly7475 View Post


    And at the same time Microsoft has implemented measures in IE to prevent most of these socially engineered attacks. The irony is so thick it's almost palpable.



    Do elaborate. What significant measures in IE have been implemented? Click on the yellow bar to Allow, then "OK or Cancel"? Which version of IE? Most people are probably running IE7, with a significant number of people still on IE6.
  • Reply 83 of 94
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JeffDM View Post


    I understand that they don't provide support for something that's not their problem, but to order them to not say they have malware is baffling. That's information the customer needs to know. If it means they shouldn't check for it, OK, fine, but if they know what the problem is, then why not say?





    They don't support 3rd party software of any kind.



    As for the whole 'not telling folks they have malware' it is not something you can do over the phone. You might tell someone yes they do but in fact they don't or you say they don't when they do. You need to see the machine and thoroughly go over it to have any reliable answers on that matter. Best guessing puts Apple in a position of liability with the customer if the guess is wrong.
  • Reply 84 of 94
    firefly7475firefly7475 Posts: 1,502member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    Do elaborate. What significant measures in IE have been implemented? Click on the yellow bar to Allow, then "OK or Cancel"? Which version of IE? Most people are probably running IE7, with a significant number of people still on IE6.



    SmartScreen Filter.



    Browser market share April 2011.
  • Reply 85 of 94
    gary54gary54 Posts: 169member
    Per usual, the drama queens trying to make something out of nothing.
  • Reply 86 of 94
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Firefly7475 View Post


    SmartScreen Filter.

    Browser market share April 2011.



    Fair enough.
  • Reply 87 of 94
    lilgto64lilgto64 Posts: 1,147member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bitzandbitez View Post


    i'm surprised NOT ONE PERSON here even mentioned this: APPLE IS REMOVING JAVA from the OS when LION is released in the WILD!!! so these types of Java Runtime apps will not get installed on to your MAC ANYMORE!! see the link at the bottom of this post:



    No Java runtime



    Also missing from Lion is a preinstalled Java runtime capable of executing "100% pure" Java apps. There are few examples of Java desktop apps in the wild, so most users won't notice. Not bundling the runtime will erase a large number of security vulnerabilities from the reported list of issues related to Mac OS X going forward however, as Java exists as a parallel platform to Apple's native Cocoa.



    When users attempt to run a Java app, Lion offers to look online for a version it can install, and will download and install a slightly newer version than is currently available for Snow Leopard today (1.6.0_24-b07-329, rather than 1.6.0_22-b04-307).



    Apple announced earlier that it would be working with Oracle to divest itself of maintenance of the Java platform on Macs, setting up a new OpenJDK Project for Java on Mac OS X going forward, starting with the release of Java SE 7.



    Apple noted that the Java runtime may be removed from future versions of its operating system, and it appears that will be the case with Lion, albeit with a rather painless install option for users who need it.



    http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...e_rosetta.html



    just my 2 cents.. BITZANDBITEZ @ your service... ; )



    I realized this was posted on a Saturday so maybe most of you were out for the weekend and didn't see this..



    (this includes the TROLLS up in here and U know who U R...)



    I believe all that is about Apple not developing their own customized version and bundling it and offering updates from Apple. Which is not the same thing as its dead and gone and you cant have it and it wont work - just that they will depend on Oracle to develop and update etc.
  • Reply 88 of 94
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,953member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lilgto64 View Post


    I believe all that is about Apple not developing their own customized version and bundling it and offering updates from Apple. Which is not the same thing as its dead and gone and you cant have it and it wont work - just that they will depend on Oracle to develop and update etc.



    Java is an issue unrelated to this story...



    But that situation is probably better that way. The development schedules for Java and the OS don't coincide. When it was included with the OS, it was often a major release behind.
  • Reply 89 of 94
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Object-X View Post


    So the one thing missing in this story is what MACDefender actually does once it's installed. Anyone know?



    It may not do anything. The point of the malware is to get your credit card number. Which you did when you bought the software.



    As I explained to my mother, the popup claims that some online system detected a virus. Did she set up such a service no. Did she go in and change the security system to allow some random online computer access to her computer. No (I would take away her computer if she did). So how did this other computers scan herstuffto know she has a virus. Until she can answer that should she install anything they send her. Or give them money. No.



    My mother is 70 and she got the game after that.
  • Reply 90 of 94
    See this video on MacMost. He shows what happens when you download. Watch step-by-step how to remove it.



    MacMost Now 555: Mac Defender Trojan
  • Reply 91 of 94
    enjournienjourni Posts: 254member
    This is horrendous customer service. Killing MacDefender involves a single step: trashing the application and restarting. Apple can't tell people how to trash a program?





    That's a great idea apple, bury your head in the sand. Meanwhile:



    1) People wonder why apple doesn't care about protecting them

    2) People start to doubt the fact that macs can't get viruses

    3) People stop buying macs



    No, they don't need to support 3rd party software with applecare. But this is such a big issue, don't you think apple should be on top of it? Putting out a free tool to remove it, and advising mac users of what to do if they get the problem? Even Microsoft puts out advisories of new threats!



    Pretending the macdefender thing doesn't exist is NOT going to make it go away.
  • Reply 92 of 94
    enjournienjourni Posts: 254member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    Here we go. Due to sheer consumer idiocy the days of people not running any antivirus programs on the Mac is at an end. The bloody Winblows mindf*ck has infected (pun intended) new Mac users so corrupted by years of using PCs.



    Thank you. And this is so stupid: macdefender is malware, not a virus or whatever. Apple should be educating users that they aren't really in danger, that their mac is safe they just have to remove the program. Instead, they are going to tell people that "yes, macs get malware and you now need anti-malware." .... that's a GREAT idea apple, just KILL the idea that macs are secure why don't you!
  • Reply 93 of 94
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by enjourni View Post


    Thank you. And this is so stupid: macdefender is malware, not a virus or whatever. Apple should be educating users that they aren't really in danger, that their mac is safe they just have to remove the program. Instead, they are going to tell people that "yes, macs get malware and you now need anti-malware." .... that's a GREAT idea apple, just KILL the idea that macs are secure why don't you!



    I can see a way they can use the MACdefender malware as a way of both educating their consumers and promoting Mac App Store.



    1) They inform user that they have to make the conscious choice to install software whose source they are unfamiliar with.



    2) They can point users to the Mac App Store and inform them that if they want to be safe they should only install software via the App Store.





    PS: What about an option in Lion in the User Settings to prevent running 3rd-party apps that weren?t had through the App Store. They could offer a password protected exclusion list for apps like the Office or Photoshop suites thus making it even harder for consumers to run rogue apps. The pop-up the first time you run a new app doesn?t seem to do the trick.
Sign In or Register to comment.