My Mac Has a Virus!!!

[edgray]

Don't be silly! Of course it doesn't, because Macs don't have viruses*. Enjoy your Windows systems guys












*Nor SpyWare, MalWare or any other security threats.

 

[Codrus]

Don't be silly! Of course it doesn't, because Macs don't have viruses*. Enjoy your Windows systems guys


*Nor SpyWare, MalWare or any other security threats.

On February 16, 2006, SophosLabs announced the detection of the very first virus written for the Mac OS X platform. OSXLeap-A, often referred to as OSX/Oompa-A, is an infection that spreads via the Macintosh iChat instant messaging system. It operates by forwarding itself as a "LATESTPICS.TGZ" file to the contacts on the buddy list of an infected user. When the archived file is opened, its contents are disguised with a graphic icon in JPEG format, which attempts to trick the recipient into believing it is a harmless file. The virus uses the "OOMPA" text as a marker in the forks of the infected program which prevents it from compromising the same files.


BUSTED AGAIN!!!!

 

[dt3]

A woman I work with had one. Mac tech support told her it wasn't possible and wouldn't help. But she definitely had one.

 

[dt3]

On February 16, 2006, SophosLabs announced the detection of the very first virus written for the Mac OS X platform. OSXLeap-A, often referred to as OSX/Oompa-A, is an infection that spreads via the Macintosh iChat instant messaging system. It operates by forwarding itself as a "LATESTPICS.TGZ" file to the contacts on the buddy list of an infected user. When the archived file is opened, its contents are disguised with a graphic icon in JPEG format, which attempts to trick the recipient into believing it is a harmless file. The virus uses the "OOMPA" text as a marker in the forks of the infected program which prevents it from compromising the same files.

In fact, that's the one she had!

 

[Springsteen]

The way to avoid viruses/spyware/malware is to have a good antivirus system, so people who get that sort of thing deserve them because a) They are as thick as shit and shouldn't be anywhere near a computer or b) I told you so. The following things give your PC a virus.

Clicking links in emails
Going on Hungarian midget porn sites
Watching TNA online
Clicking links on MSN
Having Norton (people who have this need to have their PC's took off them)
Watching TNA online - This also gives you aids, malaria and rabies.

 

[Codrus]

as far as i know,..the only "computer" that can't get a virus....is a calculator.

 

[dt3]

I've actually never had a virus on a PC. Ever. Like the Boss said, browse intelligently and its really not much of an issue.

 

[dt3]

as far as i know,..the only "computer" that can't get a virus....is a calculator.

Apple is working on designing a calculator. It doesn't do mathematical functions, and if you hold it improperly it dies, but the browsing experience is incredible!!!1!11!!11!

 

[Codrus]

Apple is working on designing a calculator. It doesn't do mathematical functions, and if you hold it improperly it dies, but the browsing experience is incredible!!!1!11!!11!

:24::24::24:...thats funny...repped

 

[edgray]

Not really a virus though, is it? It required the user to actually open the file......

So, no viruses, no spyware, no malware... I can surf the net and never need a virus or spyware scanner installed, nor care about the dangers of any given page. Nice

 

[Codrus]

Not really a virus though, is it? It required the user to actually open the file......

So, no viruses, no spyware, no malware... I can surf the net and never need a virus or spyware scanner installed, nor care about the dangers of any given page. Nice

Following word of the infection, several members of the Macintosh community stated that Leap was actually a Trojan horse and not a virus. Their reason being was that the infection required user intervention, which is receiving the file in iChat, choosing to manually open it and executing the payload. However, this is not how a Trojan functions. A Trojan is a seemingly useful program purposely designed to damage a computer or install other malicious applications. Additionally, a Trojan does not self replicate and includes no mechanisms that enables it to spread itself. In most cases, it is deliberately incorporated onto a website, accidently distributed by another user or sent via spam email. Aside from that, the malicious code of Trojan contains nothing that will allow it to be automatically distributed to other victims.

OSXLeap-A is specifically designed to use the iChat messaging system to propagate itself to other users. It also requires action by the user in order to be executed and further spread the infection, therefore it is aptly termed as a computer virus.

 

[edgray]

Apple is working on designing a calculator. It doesn't do mathematical functions, and if you hold it improperly it dies, but the browsing experience is incredible!!!1!11!!11!

you can mock Apple all you want, but remember that Windows nor PCs would exist had they not copied Apple.

 

[edgray]

Following word of the infection, several members of the Macintosh community stated that Leap was actually a Trojan horse and not a virus. Their reason being was that the infection required user intervention, which is receiving the file in iChat, choosing to manually open it and executing the payload. However, this is not how a Trojan functions. A Trojan is a seemingly useful program purposely designed to damage a computer or install other malicious applications. Additionally, a Trojan does not self replicate and includes no mechanisms that enables it to spread itself. In most cases, it is deliberately incorporated onto a website, accidently distributed by another user or sent via spam email. Aside from that, the malicious code of Trojan contains nothing that will allow it to be automatically distributed to other victims.

OSXLeap-A is specifically designed to use the iChat messaging system to propagate itself to other users. It also requires action by the user in order to be executed and further spread the infection, therefore it is aptly termed as a computer virus.

Sure, if you say so.

So hang on, ONE security threat in 2006? Damn, I'd better switch to Windows!!

 

[Codrus]

Sure, if you say so.

So hang on, ONE security threat in 2006? Damn, I'd better switch to Windows!!

Let's take a look at a few of the different Mac viruses out there.

In 1994, the INIT-29-B virus was born. This was a virus that could alter applications and system files. It would cause programs to crash at random though there was no specific control over the programs it would affect. Though it was limited, it could certainly be very annoying.

July of 1995 saw a virus that would affect HyperCard stacks. While it would not affect your system files, it would spread to other HyperCard stacks on the system making them virtually unusable. This could cause your machine to freeze up and mention "pickle." No real damage, but a bit irritating.

November 2006 saw the introduction of OSX.Macarena. This wasn't a virus that caused any harm, but it did infect files on the computer. Power-PC's had nothing to fear because it could not affect them. Clearly the majority of Mac viruses were intended for fun rather than harm.

in 1998. It was called the Hong Kong virus and all it would do was simply overwrite files with random characters on Power-PC systems. If you found yourself infected with this virus, all you needed to do was disable autorun in QuickTime. This was not largely inconvenient as you could manually select the CD-ROM device.

Within pirated copies of iWork 09 and Adobe Photoshop for Mac OS, a virus was embedded, capable of stealing the owner's password and launching denial of service attacks. This virus was called the OSX.Iservice or iBotNet.

others include:

Adware.OSX.Cosmac

Application.OSX.BackTrack

Application.OSX.EasyCrack

Application.OSX.eWatch

Application.OSX.KeyboardSpy

Application.OSX.KeyloggerX

...you get the idea...there are quite a few more.

ed,..i dont dislike macs..im just more comfortable with my pc. but i couldn't help pointing out that macs are not virus proof

(look for yourself http://www.iantivirus.com/threats/)

 

[edgray]

none of those actually existed though. they're simply applications written by the makers of the virus software. When Mac moved to OSX, all of the virus company's went spare because they lost all of their Mac business.

I've worked as a Mac technician for several years and never, ever, EVER seen a virus on Mac OS X. And that's servicing thousands of macs from people of all backgrounds, and of all knowledge levels, using pretty much every internet service you can imagine.

I have, however, seen anti-virus software destroy Mac OSX installs.

You need to understand, it's not Mac OS X that's so good, it's UNIX.

 

[Codrus]

none of those actually existed though. they're simply applications written by the makers of the virus software. When Mac moved to OSX, all of the virus company's went spare because they lost all of their Mac business.

I've worked as a Mac technician for several years and never, ever, EVER seen a virus on Mac OS X. And that's servicing thousands of macs from people of all backgrounds, and of all knowledge levels, using pretty much every internet service you can imagine.

I have, however, seen anti-virus software destroy Mac OSX installs.

You need to understand, it's not Mac OS X that's so good, it's UNIX.

you just refuse to believe the proof i bring?

Application.OSX.LogKext is a powerful freeware kernel base keylogger in Mac OS X. It has a full stealth capability, where its user can controll its functionality by a command-line client called logKextClient. This keylogger is capable to log every single keystrokes of the user.

KeyloggerX is freeware keylogger program designed to work in OS X. This application usually arrives as KeyloggerX.dmg.sit (768,805 bytes) which contains the KeyloggerX executable, Disclaimer.rtf and Read Me.rtf. The document explains that this application will create log files in the User Preference folder. However, upon execution this program stays in the background and fails to create the said folder and files.

HellRaiser is a backdoor trojan. This tool employs standard backdoor client-server techniques. The server is usually installed on the victim's computer while the client controls the server. The installation package also contains a configuration plugin where the remote controller can specify initial server parameters such as port number, password, smtp settings and other behaviour. The server component runs in background and it is hidden from the dock.

 

[Minor Axis]

A woman I work with had one. Mac tech support told her it wasn't possible and wouldn't help. But she definitely had one.

That sounds like a real good story for PC lovers. There are a variety of virus software programs made for Mac so Mac viruses are possible and you really don't think Apple knows this? Now for her specific case, if she had taken it into a genius bar, she could have told them the symptoms and they would have investigated and try to duplicate the problem.

I challenge any PC lover here to show me a verified quote from Apple saying Mac viruses are not possible.

I've only had one virus on any Mac I've owned since 1993. It was a Windows based virus found in an email attachment that did not run on the MacOS. So viruses are definitely possible.

 

[edgray]

you just refuse to believe the proof i bring?

Application.OSX.LogKext is a powerful freeware kernel base keylogger in Mac OS X. It has a full stealth capability, where its user can controll its functionality by a command-line client called logKextClient. This keylogger is capable to log every single keystrokes of the user.

KeyloggerX is freeware keylogger program designed to work in OS X. This application usually arrives as KeyloggerX.dmg.sit (768,805 bytes) which contains the KeyloggerX executable, Disclaimer.rtf and Read Me.rtf. The document explains that this application will create log files in the User Preference folder. However, upon execution this program stays in the background and fails to create the said folder and files.

HellRaiser is a backdoor trojan. This tool employs standard backdoor client-server techniques. The server is usually installed on the victim's computer while the client controls the server. The installation package also contains a configuration plugin where the remote controller can specify initial server parameters such as port number, password, smtp settings and other behaviour. The server component runs in background and it is hidden from the dock.

Application.OSX.LogKext is a keylogger App.
KeyloggerX is a keylogger App.

You have to install these onto a Mac - to do so, you need the Username and password. These cannot be bypassed. There are dozens of keyloggers available for the Mac, they are legitimate applications and they are not viruses, trojans or anything else.

To install HellRaiser, you need to do the same.

So no, basically these are just normal Apps that require the normal installation procedure.

Let me repeat: THERE ARE NO VIRUSES ON MACS. There may be a malicious application or two, but they have to be installed onto the mac by the user. There is no back door.

 

[dt3]

That sounds like a real good story for PC lovers. There are a variety of virus software programs made for Mac so Mac viruses are possible and you really don't think Apple knows this? Now for her specific case, if she had taken it into a genius bar, she could have told them the symptoms and they would have investigated and try to duplicate the problem.

I challenge any PC lover here to show me a verified quote from Apple saying Mac viruses are not possible.

I've only had one virus on any Mac I've owned since 1993. It was a Windows based virus found in an email attachment that did not run on the MacOS. So viruses are definitely possible.

I'm not a PC lover, in fact I prefer Mac, especially at work. My only problem with Macs, and Apple in general, is the people who take it to the level of obsession and refuse to admit that PCs and Macs both have downsides. Neither is perfect, and the Mac fanboy craze is ridiculous. To say that one is categorically better in every aspect is asinine and dishonest, and 9 times out of 10 its the Mac side making the absurd claims.

 

[edgray]

http://www.apple.com/macosx/security/