Researchers discover PDF malware that targets Apple's Mac OS X

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  • Reply 21 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    1) Get a Mac ads ran from 2006 to 2010. We're almost into 2012. Where are these commercials running, to quote, ad nauseum?



    2) Listen to the wording of the Trust Mac ad. They clearly state "I [Mac] don't have to worry about your [Windows PC] spyware and viruses." No where does Apple state that Mac OS X can't ever be infected with spyware or viruses. Do you see what the marketing department did there?



    Those commercials were run ad nauseum during that time. I barely watch TV and saw them a multitude of times, and do you really believe people picked up on that play with words? So either they're conveying that they don't get viruses or by using "your" they're insinuating that there indeed are viruses that can infect a Mac just not the same ones that infect PCs. Which is it? You can't have it both ways.
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  • Reply 22 of 57
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post


    Those commercials were run ad nauseum during that time. I barely watch TV and saw them a multitude of times, and do you really believe people picked up on that play with words?



    1) So something that occurred years prior are to be held accountable today regardless of how relevant the data is? In that case I guess you should include all the viruses that affected Mac OS prior to Mac OS X.



    2) It's marketing. It's their job to make a product look more positive than it is without lying. Apple has never claimed Mac OS X can't get malware. Do you not see the Security pane in System Preferences? Apple has even quarantined potential threats in several version of Mac OS, and now has a preference pane option for auto-updating a safe downloads list. This is Apple dealing with security, not ignoring it.
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  • Reply 23 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    1) So something that occurred years prior are to be held accountable today regardless of how relevant the data is? In that case I guess you should include all the viruses that affected Mac OS prior to Mac OS X.



    2) It's marketing. It's their job to make a product look more positive than it is without lying. Apple has never claimed Mac OS X can't get malware. Do you not see the Security pane in System Preferences? Apple has even quarantined potential threats in several version of Mac OS, and now has a preference pane option for auto-updating a safe downloads list. This is Apple dealing with security, not ignoring it.



    You obviously didn't read my rant on plasma TVs, where people still believe what was told to them 10 yrs ago. How many people believe Colombus discovered America? All I'm saying is that the general consensus out there is that Apple PCs are not susceptible to viruses and such, and Apple has done its fair share of keeping that misinformation alive. The vast majority of people do not read tech blogs or related sites and go on what they were told no matter how long ago it was.
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  • Reply 24 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    You quote it incorrectly twice in the same thread. Who else would do that but a troll?



    ok smarty pants... What is the exact quote?
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  • Reply 25 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    1) So something that occurred years prior are to be held accountable today regardless of how relevant the data is? In that case I guess you should include all the viruses that affected Mac OS prior to Mac OS X.



    2) It's marketing. It's their job to make a product look more positive than it is without lying. Apple has never claimed Mac OS X can't get malware. Do you not see the Security pane in System Preferences? Apple has even quarantined potential threats in several version of Mac OS, and now has a preference pane option for auto-updating a safe downloads list. This is Apple dealing with security, not ignoring it.



    As a matter of fact if you wanna do a lil test, go down to a Apple store or a best buy and act like an uneducated consumer, see what the salesperson says about Macs and viruses.
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  • Reply 26 of 57
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post


    As a matter of fact if you wanna do a lil test, go down to a Apple store or a best buy and act like an uneducated consumer, see what the salesperson says about Macs and viruses.



    I'm curious how that will go. I will do that the next time I'm at an Apple Store.
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  • Reply 27 of 57
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,769member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Groovetube View Post


    is this a malware using a pdf file, or involving an adobe program? I thought it was just a file disguised as a pdf. Personally, I never use acrobat to open anything in the bowser anyway.



    It's malware currently set up to spoof a legitimate looking PDF, but it can just as easily be modified to show as about any other file type. So far no worries, but take the advice not to open any emailed/forwarded attachment file you didn't expect even if you think you may know the sender. Easy to ask a known sender what they attached, and why open something from someone unknown?
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  • Reply 28 of 57
    MacPromacpro Posts: 19,873member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    I'm not even going to bother to get into any PC vs Mac virus debate, but I will say that I am glad that I don't have to run any virus program on my Macs.



    As for this malware mentioned in the article, if it's delivered by an email attachment, then I'd say that the main people who are most at risk of getting it are stupid people. No OS is secure enough to protect morons from their own stupidity.



    I also think that in certain cases, the death penalty would be an appropriate punishment for criminals behind email spam, malware and viruses.



    Death is far too fast!
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  • Reply 29 of 57
    MacPromacpro Posts: 19,873member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post


    You obviously didn't read my rant on plasma TVs, where people still believe what was told to them 10 yrs ago. How many people believe Colombus discovered America? All I'm saying is that the general consensus out there is that Apple PCs are not susceptible to viruses and such, and Apple has done its fair share of keeping that misinformation alive. The vast majority of people do not read tech blogs or related sites and go on what they were told no matter how long ago it was.



    Have you even the slightest concept of the difference in actual successful 'viruses and such' attacks on Windows compared to OS X?



    Anyone referring to 'Apple PCs' is clearly not in the loop. PC was a marketing term coined by IBM decades ago and refers to Wintel Boxes. The term Apple PC reminds of folks in the UK that have Electrolux hoovers (yes I know it's now a noun lol).
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  • Reply 30 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post


    I understand where all of you are coming from but when there's commercials running ad nauseum about how Mac OS does not get viruses (most people DO NOT know the difference between a virus, a Trojan horse or malware), then they are lulled into thinking they're computers are safe and will open whatever from whomever.



    Let me know when the mac gets a virus or spyware. Any moron with half a brain could write a program that deletes a folder, and fool some really naive person into running it. No computer on this earth is safe from that. So I now you think this is one of those "gotcha" moments, but, you fail!
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  • Reply 31 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post


    Wrong on several accounts. nVIR-A dates back to 1987 when System 4.1 was extant. This was something like eight years prior to System 7.5--not MacOS 7.5. However, Mac System Software through MacOS 8 were vulnerable to it. However, It could easily be eradicated by running one of the commercial Mac antivirus utilities like Symantec Antivirus for Macintosh or free Mac antivirus utilities like Disinfectant.



    You attempt to find flaw in my statement leaves your sharp-tongue rebuttal quite incorrect indeed, even embarrassing.



    nVIR was easily modified and re-released over and over, and those mods infected the system file all the way up to 7.5 and more. Running an anti-virus did remove it, however, it left behind a highly-modified system file that often had to be replaced with clean install, a time consuming and frustrating task.



    Sport, before you engage in correcting someone, verify your facts rather than just run-on at the mouth, OK?. Please allow me to point you in the right direction: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NVIR



    Or perhaps you could lighten up a little, there's no need to attack my statement the way you did. What were you trying to prove, anyway?



    Cheers, KOB
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  • Reply 32 of 57
    nasseraenasserae Posts: 3,167member
    I wonder how long before Apple update Mac OS built-in malware/virus/trojan database.
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  • Reply 33 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tribalogical View Post


    I'm sorry but there's a distinct disconnect between the headline and the lead paragraph?



    The headline says "...PDF malware that targets Apple's Mac OS X". (I interpret that to mean, "designed specifically to attack OSX".)



    But then the lead paragraph says:

    "...could give hackers remote access to a computer has been discovered as a potential threat to Mac users."



    "a computer"? a "potential" threat to Mac users (and I think the word "also" might be relevant here)?



    This is not "targeting OSX". Although OSX may be included in the "vulnerable systems" list, there really is a huge difference there.



    Especially when the article goes on to say, basically, how it's really most dangerous for Windows machines?





    Come on. "Malware"?? How about "Virus" or "Trojan"?? Be as specific as the content of the article.



    If it's really "TARGETING OSX", then I'd like to see the article reflect that. Otherwise, tone down the headline? There's enough FUD in the world. I like it that I don't have to deal with it here much at AI? now is not a good time to start.



    /rant



    Darn,



    By grammar, point of topic, and articulation... I thought you were Steve there for a moment! Well stated!
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  • Reply 34 of 57
    Wait... What kind of PDF? Oh... An Adobe PDF... I really do wish I could purge Adobe for my Macs the way I once felt about Microsoft... I can't because I've never found an alternative to creative suite and let's face it there is still a lot of flash (some even for good reason).



    Come to think of it Lightroom is the only Adobe product I'm really happy with...
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  • Reply 35 of 57
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dasanman69

    I understand where all of you are coming from but when there's commercials running ad nauseum about how Mac OS does not get viruses (most people DO NOT know the difference between a virus, a Trojan horse or malware), then they are lulled into thinking they're computers are safe and will open whatever from whomever.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    1) Where are these commercials?



    2) When did haven't yet been subjected to a barrage of viruses mean they can't possibly get viruses?



    Get a Mac campaign is an example straight from Apple, though to date it is technically still true about viruses. There are, however, for Mac a total of around 20 Trojans but only within like the last 2 years.



    Considering you can still get malware on windows 7, despite being a standard user and running full antivirus, by simply visiting the wrong link you are still far safer on OS X. On windows malware can infect a standard user, then when an admin logs in it will infect the entire system. This is simply not possible on OS X.



    No system is safe, even with av or malware software the user is the weakest link. Educate yourself about the dangers of the web or you will get infected no matter what systems or software you use.
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  • Reply 36 of 57
    Obviously users should take care. But what actually happens if you open this trojan? Is there a removal process needed? I know that most users get along without anti-virus or security software with Macs, but would I be better off with commercial software?
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  • Reply 37 of 57
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by King of Beige View Post


    You attempt to find flaw in my statement leaves your sharp-tongue rebuttal quite incorrect indeed, even embarrassing.



    nVIR was easily modified and re-released over and over, and those mods infected the system file all the way up to 7.5 and more. Running an anti-virus did remove it, however, it left behind a highly-modified system file that often had to be replaced with clean install, a time consuming and frustrating task.



    Sport, before you engage in correcting someone, verify your facts rather than just run-on at the mouth, OK?. Please allow me to point you in the right direction: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NVIR



    Or perhaps you could lighten up a little, there's no need to attack my statement the way you did. What were you trying to prove, anyway?



    Cheers, KOB



    The link that you posted clearly states that nVIR-A, the specific variant of the nVIR virus that you mentioned, was released in 1987. In 1987, System 4.1 was the extant version of Macintosh System Software as I said before. You confirmed my statement.



    Thank you ever so much.
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  • Reply 38 of 57
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post


    You obviously didn't read my rant on plasma TVs, where people still believe what was told to them 10 yrs ago. How many people believe Colombus discovered America? All I'm saying is that the general consensus out there is that Apple PCs are not susceptible to viruses and such, and Apple has done its fair share of keeping that misinformation alive. The vast majority of people do not read tech blogs or related sites and go on what they were told no matter how long ago it was.



    You have a valid point that Apple has not expended much effort contradicting the widely held belief that OSX is more secure. On the other hand, at least until very recently, (not sure about W7) that was correct, and was borne out by the almost total lack of Mac viruses, trojans or malware in the wild, so you can't really blame them for taking advantage of that situation. And it worked because there really were almost no negative effects of that, since the incidence of OSX infection with any of the above has been negligible to the point of non-existence.



    Nothing in that observation is meant to imply that OSX could not be targeted successfully in the future, but we've been waiting a long time for the predictions of doom to come true.
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  • Reply 39 of 57
    Thanks, Little Snitch, for making my computer impervious to Mac malware.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jb510 View Post


    I can't because I've never found an alternative to creative suite and let's face it there is still a lot of flash (some even for good reason).



    Coda+Hype for Dreamweaver+Flash. Pixelmator for Photoshop. Final Cut Studio for Adobe's video crap.



    Illustrator? Eh… find an old copy of the software that Illustrator used to be before Adobe bought it. It's supposedly better than Illustrator ever was.
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  • Reply 40 of 57
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post


    ...then they are lulled into thinking they're computers....



    So people are lulled into thinking they are computers?



    By some commercials.



    Crazy.
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