Wow that mentality. I have seen it in teenagers who think very highly of themselves. I still try to find the point where insulting a fellow blogger makes for good medicine. I remember you from a couple of years ago and you still haven't changed. Oh and of course you will try to come up with a creative way to insult me. Thats ok I see the weakness in your personality. I forgive you.
Wow that mentality. I have seen it in teenagers who think very highly of themselves. I still try to find the point where insulting a fellow blogger makes for good medicine. I remember you from a few years ago and you still haven't changed. Oh and of course you will try to come up with a creative way to insult me. Thats ok I see the weakness in your personality. I forgive you.
*Stereotypical Australian guidesman accent*
"'Ere, look, see wot 'e's done now! We've provoked the nest by proving wrong oll of their a'guments about the actual topic, an' now we see the ad-'ominem attacks comin' out. Pay attention to the beautiful verb'yage in 'is post. This is a defense mechanism to make the poster 'e's quoted appear incorrect about 'is position, denigrate the person in question, and to establish a paper-thin sense of, quote, 'moral superiority'. Textbook case we've got right 'ere, 'aven't we? She's a beauty."
"'Ere, look, see wot 'e's done now! We've provoked the nest by proving wrong oll of their a'guments about the actual topic, an' now we see the ad-'ominem attacks comin' out. Pay attention to the beautiful verb'yage in 'is post. This is a defense mechanism to make the poster 'e's quoted appear incorrect about 'is position, denigrate the person in question, and to establish a paper-thin sense of, quote, 'moral superiority'. Textbook case we've got right 'ere, 'aven't we? She's a beauty."
"'Ere, look, see wot 'e's done now! We've provoked the nest by proving wrong oll of their a'guments about the actual topic, an' now we see the ad-'ominem attacks comin' out. Pay attention to the beautiful verb'yage in 'is post. This is a defense mechanism to make the poster 'e's quoted appear incorrect about 'is position, denigrate the person in question, and to establish a paper-thin sense of, quote, 'moral superiority'. Textbook case we've got right 'ere, 'aven't we? She's a beauty."
I have to apologize. I finally figured it out. You behavior is actually a sense of humor. I am not joking. Your actually trying to be really funny. Good Job. I am still laughing. That was so funny it have a belly ache. LOLOL
You will see high fan speeds and extra heat on your machine if you are infected as the bitcoin generation function uses the video card constantly all shaders on.
If you are a bitcoin user make sure you are running the latest bitcoin version with encrypted wallet on, otherwise this trojan will steal all of your bitcoins.
Well I payed a lot of money for my MBP and I kind of like it running properly. Apple even has given me a safe a trusted place to download all the apps I know are safe and probably all the apps I want. So I think I am going to d/l a hack from some random torrent I don't see how this could lead to a problem,
A new Trojan horse hidden in a Mac OS X application can steal sensitive user data and take control of the computer?s GPU to generate Bitcoins, a form of currency used online.
In a report released on Saturday, security firm Sophos said that DevilRobber, a Trojan horse that can steal sensitive user data, was found hidden inside copies of Graphic Converter 7.4 downloaded from bit-torrent file-sharing sites.
DevilRobber, also known as "OSX/Miner-D," can steal usernames and passwords and is capable of spying on users by taking screenshots of their activity and sending the images online. In addition, the Trojan is able to run scripts that can copy information ?regarding truecrypt data, Vidalia (TOR plugin for Firefox), your Safari browsing history, and .bash_history? to a dump.txt file.
The malware has also been found to search for ?pthc? files, a term that is used to describe pre-teen hardcore pornography. It is not known at this time whether one of the secondary features of DevilRobber is to find traces of child abuse on affected computers.
Another unusual feature for the new Trojan is its capability of taking over a Mac's GPU in order to generate Bitcoins, a digital currency that can be used to perform online instant payments without the oversight of a banking authority.
Users generate Bitcoins on personal computers after installing Bitcoin Miner, an application that?s compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux systems. Once obtained, Bitcoins are stored in the user?s digital wallet and can be used for future online payments. Bitcoins can also be exchanged for actual currency with the current exchange rate reportedly valuing one Bitcoin at US$3.20.
In addition to harnessing the power of the GPU to generate more Bitcoins, DevilRobber can also steal the user?s existing Bitcoin wallet if it finds the appropriate files.
Sophos suggests users be aware of signs that may expose that a computer has been affected by malware. For example, a malware attack can result in the slowdown of overall computing performance, with affected users reporting sluggishness as the Trojan steals GPU resources for mining purposes.
In order to avoid unwanted DevilRobber installations, Mac users are advised to not download software from untrusted sources, even if they appear to be legitimate. It is not known at this time whether other Mac applications available on torrent sites come bundled with the new Trojan horse.
Apple has yet to acknowledge the new threat, though common anti-virus programs are able to detect DevilRobber.
The new malware is the most recent in a wave of programs targeting an increasing number of Mac owners. Apple recently cleared a threat from a non-functional Chinese Trojan horse that disguised itself as a PDF download.
Recently various instances of a different, more advanced malware program emerged. ?Flashback? posed as an Adobe Flash installer, with a later upgraded version programmed to disable the default OS X anti-malware protection thus leaving systems vulnerable to subsequent attacks.
If you answer your door and let a burglar in to rob you blind, do you blame the landlord for not building a better security system? A fortress cannot protect anyone from stupidity.
On a serious note, it's a bit surprising to me that malware has not popped up with increasing frequency yet. There is no such thing as a bulletproof OS. If malware producers put their minds to it, they can definitely find vulnerabilities in OS X.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
On a serious note, it's a bit surprising to me that malware has not popped up with increasing frequency yet. There is no such thing as a bulletproof OS. If malware producers put their minds to it, they can definitely find vulnerabilities in OS X.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
Except for the fact this is not a virus. It's social engineering.
On a serious note, it's a bit surprising to me that malware has not popped up with increasing frequency yet. There is no such thing as a bulletproof OS. If malware producers put their minds to it, they can definitely find vulnerabilities in OS X.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
You obviously don't work in IT. It is a bi-daily task to remove malware from windows 7 machines. Users are still the weakest link and still click on shit they shouldn't.
Users circumvent antivirus, anti malware, ad blocking, DNS filtering, they are the bane of It support.
On a plus note, windows 7 is definitely easier to clean than XP was, often times the offending software just needs to be deleted in the same way as the mac Trojans.
You're not alone. However, I am still trying to get my brain around the level of stupidity of someone who would actually download a pirated version GraphicConverter. This absolutely wonderful application works without paying the license fee. It is readily downloadable from the Lemkesoft website. What next? Will Sophos find a trojan that demands all of your bank account numbers in a pirated version of iTunes?
Whah, that's BRILLIANT. I would find that so funny...
/me wonders if making a pirated version of iTunes with a trojan sending money to some nice child-protection non-profit would really turn out that bad
A Trojan who's main purpose is to steal a form of money no one uses or cares about is hidden inside a program that no one with any brains has used since 1995. It's like they are deliberately trolling for seniors or fools here.
If you are in that minority of people who actually think Graphic Converter is a useful program and are furthermore in the minority of those folks in that want to steal it instead of pay for it, you richly deserve this Trojan.
so basically, another "threat" giving publicity making the PC users go "lol" cause macs gets "virus" too even though it's another trojan that requires a moron user to install it.
Still waiting on an actual threat that doesn't require a user to be an idiot and install it manually by installing flash (i mean seriously, flash using an apple installer? that'll be the day) or bonus anti virus, or pirated software.
On a serious note, it's a bit surprising to me that malware has not popped up with increasing frequency yet. There is no such thing as a bulletproof OS. If malware producers put their minds to it, they can definitely find vulnerabilities in OS X.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
I don't think this trojan exploits any flaws. Other than human greed and stupidity at least.
In the short term there is nothing Apple can do against this except be vigilant about updating XProtect. In the future they will just have to push harder to get people to use the app store, and eventually when it's feasible only allow apps to be installed from the App store.
The OS has no way to divine if using your GPU to generate bit coins is something you as a user want to be doing, or something some trojan writer wanted (No matter how stupid generating bit coins is in the first place).
Are you truly serious? Graphic Converter, while not a program I have used frequently, does things that are very useful. FFS, it imports something like 200 different file types and it's distributed as a fully functional program prior to being licensed.
Tell me...what lack of mental acuity is required to use this program?
Are you truly serious? Graphic Converter, while not a program I have used frequently, does things that are very useful. FFS, it imports something like 200 different file types and it's distributed as a fully functional program prior to being licensed.
Tell me...what lack of mental acuity is required to use this program?
None, just that the UI has remained stuck in 1995 and there are several other programs in the world now with modern functional UIs that do 90%+ of GC's job.
I'm sure there are some very esoteric conversions GC does that aren't available in other programs, but I haven't needed to touch it to actually use it since 2004. The installs and run to check since then have only shown me that I haven't been missing anything.
Comments
Nope, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Trolls replying to trolls replying to trolls. Ad infinitum.
That's how they get paid.
It's not. Stop being a troll. Stop spreading FUD.
Little Snitch.
Everyone intelligent.
It is. Stop being a troll. Stop spreading FUD.
The trolls should Shut Up.
Wow that mentality. I have seen it in teenagers who think very highly of themselves. I still try to find the point where insulting a fellow blogger makes for good medicine. I remember you from a couple of years ago and you still haven't changed. Oh and of course you will try to come up with a creative way to insult me. Thats ok I see the weakness in your personality. I forgive you.
Wow that mentality. I have seen it in teenagers who think very highly of themselves. I still try to find the point where insulting a fellow blogger makes for good medicine. I remember you from a few years ago and you still haven't changed. Oh and of course you will try to come up with a creative way to insult me. Thats ok I see the weakness in your personality. I forgive you.
*Stereotypical Australian guidesman accent*
"'Ere, look, see wot 'e's done now! We've provoked the nest by proving wrong oll of their a'guments about the actual topic, an' now we see the ad-'ominem attacks comin' out. Pay attention to the beautiful verb'yage in 'is post. This is a defense mechanism to make the poster 'e's quoted appear incorrect about 'is position, denigrate the person in question, and to establish a paper-thin sense of, quote, 'moral superiority'. Textbook case we've got right 'ere, 'aven't we? She's a beauty."
*Stereotypical Australian guidesman accent*
"'Ere, look, see wot 'e's done now! We've provoked the nest by proving wrong oll of their a'guments about the actual topic, an' now we see the ad-'ominem attacks comin' out. Pay attention to the beautiful verb'yage in 'is post. This is a defense mechanism to make the poster 'e's quoted appear incorrect about 'is position, denigrate the person in question, and to establish a paper-thin sense of, quote, 'moral superiority'. Textbook case we've got right 'ere, 'aven't we? She's a beauty."
Your rally funny. ROFL. Aye.
*Stereotypical Australian guidesman accent*
"'Ere, look, see wot 'e's done now! We've provoked the nest by proving wrong oll of their a'guments about the actual topic, an' now we see the ad-'ominem attacks comin' out. Pay attention to the beautiful verb'yage in 'is post. This is a defense mechanism to make the poster 'e's quoted appear incorrect about 'is position, denigrate the person in question, and to establish a paper-thin sense of, quote, 'moral superiority'. Textbook case we've got right 'ere, 'aven't we? She's a beauty."
I have to apologize. I finally figured it out. You behavior is actually a sense of humor. I am not joking. Your actually trying to be really funny. Good Job. I am still laughing. That was so funny it have a belly ache. LOLOL
If you are a bitcoin user make sure you are running the latest bitcoin version with encrypted wallet on, otherwise this trojan will steal all of your bitcoins.
A new Trojan horse hidden in a Mac OS X application can steal sensitive user data and take control of the computer?s GPU to generate Bitcoins, a form of currency used online.
In a report released on Saturday, security firm Sophos said that DevilRobber, a Trojan horse that can steal sensitive user data, was found hidden inside copies of Graphic Converter 7.4 downloaded from bit-torrent file-sharing sites.
DevilRobber, also known as "OSX/Miner-D," can steal usernames and passwords and is capable of spying on users by taking screenshots of their activity and sending the images online. In addition, the Trojan is able to run scripts that can copy information ?regarding truecrypt data, Vidalia (TOR plugin for Firefox), your Safari browsing history, and .bash_history? to a dump.txt file.
The malware has also been found to search for ?pthc? files, a term that is used to describe pre-teen hardcore pornography. It is not known at this time whether one of the secondary features of DevilRobber is to find traces of child abuse on affected computers.
Another unusual feature for the new Trojan is its capability of taking over a Mac's GPU in order to generate Bitcoins, a digital currency that can be used to perform online instant payments without the oversight of a banking authority.
Users generate Bitcoins on personal computers after installing Bitcoin Miner, an application that?s compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux systems. Once obtained, Bitcoins are stored in the user?s digital wallet and can be used for future online payments. Bitcoins can also be exchanged for actual currency with the current exchange rate reportedly valuing one Bitcoin at US$3.20.
In addition to harnessing the power of the GPU to generate more Bitcoins, DevilRobber can also steal the user?s existing Bitcoin wallet if it finds the appropriate files.
Sophos suggests users be aware of signs that may expose that a computer has been affected by malware. For example, a malware attack can result in the slowdown of overall computing performance, with affected users reporting sluggishness as the Trojan steals GPU resources for mining purposes.
In order to avoid unwanted DevilRobber installations, Mac users are advised to not download software from untrusted sources, even if they appear to be legitimate. It is not known at this time whether other Mac applications available on torrent sites come bundled with the new Trojan horse.
DevilRobber (OSX/Miner-D) Trojan horse | Source: Sophos
Apple has yet to acknowledge the new threat, though common anti-virus programs are able to detect DevilRobber.
The new malware is the most recent in a wave of programs targeting an increasing number of Mac owners. Apple recently cleared a threat from a non-functional Chinese Trojan horse that disguised itself as a PDF download.
Recently various instances of a different, more advanced malware program emerged. ?Flashback? posed as an Adobe Flash installer, with a later upgraded version programmed to disable the default OS X anti-malware protection thus leaving systems vulnerable to subsequent attacks.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
If you answer your door and let a burglar in to rob you blind, do you blame the landlord for not building a better security system? A fortress cannot protect anyone from stupidity.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
This sounds serious.
I too am very concerned. I've heard this trojan can actually cause the sky to fall! Everyone should panic immediately!
On a serious note, it's a bit surprising to me that malware has not popped up with increasing frequency yet. There is no such thing as a bulletproof OS. If malware producers put their minds to it, they can definitely find vulnerabilities in OS X.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
Except for the fact this is not a virus. It's social engineering.
On a serious note, it's a bit surprising to me that malware has not popped up with increasing frequency yet. There is no such thing as a bulletproof OS. If malware producers put their minds to it, they can definitely find vulnerabilities in OS X.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
You obviously don't work in IT. It is a bi-daily task to remove malware from windows 7 machines. Users are still the weakest link and still click on shit they shouldn't.
Users circumvent antivirus, anti malware, ad blocking, DNS filtering, they are the bane of It support.
On a plus note, windows 7 is definitely easier to clean than XP was, often times the offending software just needs to be deleted in the same way as the mac Trojans.
You're not alone. However, I am still trying to get my brain around the level of stupidity of someone who would actually download a pirated version GraphicConverter. This absolutely wonderful application works without paying the license fee. It is readily downloadable from the Lemkesoft website. What next? Will Sophos find a trojan that demands all of your bank account numbers in a pirated version of iTunes?
Whah, that's BRILLIANT. I would find that so funny...
/me wonders if making a pirated version of iTunes with a trojan sending money to some nice child-protection non-profit would really turn out that bad
This is hilarious.
A Trojan who's main purpose is to steal a form of money no one uses or cares about is hidden inside a program that no one with any brains has used since 1995. It's like they are deliberately trolling for seniors or fools here.
If you are in that minority of people who actually think Graphic Converter is a useful program and are furthermore in the minority of those folks in that want to steal it instead of pay for it, you richly deserve this Trojan.
^ This.
so basically, another "threat" giving publicity making the PC users go "lol" cause macs gets "virus" too even though it's another trojan that requires a moron user to install it.
Still waiting on an actual threat that doesn't require a user to be an idiot and install it manually by installing flash (i mean seriously, flash using an apple installer? that'll be the day) or bonus anti virus, or pirated software.
Took the words from my mouth.
Thumbs up and hats off to you.
On a serious note, it's a bit surprising to me that malware has not popped up with increasing frequency yet. There is no such thing as a bulletproof OS. If malware producers put their minds to it, they can definitely find vulnerabilities in OS X.
In fact, it's not just OS X that has seen very few malwares. Windows 7 is seeing relatively fewer infections compared to the *halcyon* days of XP viruses. I wonder if we are reaching a period (even if temporary) when OS makers and security experts have jumped one step ahead of the malware producers.
I don't think this trojan exploits any flaws. Other than human greed and stupidity at least.
In the short term there is nothing Apple can do against this except be vigilant about updating XProtect. In the future they will just have to push harder to get people to use the app store, and eventually when it's feasible only allow apps to be installed from the App store.
The OS has no way to divine if using your GPU to generate bit coins is something you as a user want to be doing, or something some trojan writer wanted (No matter how stupid generating bit coins is in the first place).
And yes its true most anti viris software creators publish these kind of scare ware apps.
And yes its true most anti viris software creators publish these kind of scare ware apps.
Oh, gosh. That thought hadn't even crossed my mind?
Do I have too much faith in humanity to do the right thing?
Tell me...what lack of mental acuity is required to use this program?
Are you truly serious? Graphic Converter, while not a program I have used frequently, does things that are very useful. FFS, it imports something like 200 different file types and it's distributed as a fully functional program prior to being licensed.
Tell me...what lack of mental acuity is required to use this program?
None, just that the UI has remained stuck in 1995 and there are several other programs in the world now with modern functional UIs that do 90%+ of GC's job.
I'm sure there are some very esoteric conversions GC does that aren't available in other programs, but I haven't needed to touch it to actually use it since 2004. The installs and run to check since then have only shown me that I haven't been missing anything.