[Merged] Zombie Mac "Botnet" is Active

[63dot]

Because they released such a buggy and inferior product that's been responsible for millions of computers becoming infested worldwide.

...... oh, that's right, they haven't. A few thousand people picked up some malware when installing bootleg software and suddenly the sky is falling.

For the sky to fall, Apple would have to be Microsoft. So we Mac users have viruses and trojans to worry about, but in the context of that compared to Windows, our problems are low on the radar right now.

There really is nothing terrible about buying Symantec software. In older Macs, I noticed it slowing down my system, but now the faster processors, RAM, and hard drives make me not notice any drawbacks of some security software. There will be those who insist Symantec "planted" this into the Mac world to boost sales, but what is far more likely is that there are people out there who finally decided we are a good enough target to shoot for.

I think over the past few years, iPod and iPhone has made Apple more visible in popular culture, and thus OS X. In a way, we have hit the big time and are a player in the computer market, and the bad guys will want to take us down putting us in the same league as a Microsoft.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Because these security threats can be easily avoided by not downloading pirated software. Yes, it's still a threat because people will continue to do that, but no one else has to worry just yet. If trojans start making their way into more legitimate file downloads, then there will be something to talk about (and I've personally never encountered anything like that even in Windows).

People keeping saying that but I might like to point at that a vast majority of windows security threats are easy to avoid with out using AV software.

over 75% of all the "virus" for windows are Trojans so those are all easy to advoid and pure user stupidity. Next almost all the big worms out there for windows where patch by MS months before the worm was ever made. People where looking at the updates to figure out what it fix then exploit an unpatch computer.

That covers most 99% of windows problem right there. KEEP YOU COMPUTER UPDATED AND DO NOT INSTALL UNKNOWN SOFTWARE.

Wow. that where all the problems security wise lie.....

This is no different. Please get you head out of the sand or at least release microsoft is doing better. A better case is look at zero day exploits or exploits that have not been patch. If I remember some stuff correctly OSX is worse than windows in that department.

 

[Goona]

I guess Windows users need to find some comfort in their virus infected land.

 

[*LTD*]

There is currently no Mac botnet.

 

[Eric S.]

Kind of jumping on at the end of this thread, but...

When installing a new program, I'm used to "blindly typing" my password. Seems like standard installer behavior, and something I would expect to do when installing iWork. I doubt there is any clear sign of something different when installing one of these trojan-infested apps. I don't think it's fair to call people dumb when they are used to typing in an admin password to install a program.

Except that in this case these people were not using an installer they got from Apple; they got it from a BitTorrent site where they didn't have to spend $79 for the software. So I do think it's fair to call these people dumb, and to have no sympathy for any negative consequences they experienced.

 

[stainlessliquid]

Everyone gets viruses by installing something stupid, I dont see how this is any different than on Windows. Im sure the only reason it was limited to a torrent is because they couldnt find any buyers to run it on porn and game sites. Its ironic that people blame Windows for viruses but then dismiss it on OS X as user error when they all get installed the same way.

 

[Eric S.]

Everyone gets viruses by installing something stupid, I dont see how this is any different than on Windows. Im sure the only reason it was limited to a torrent is because they couldnt find any buyers to run it on porn and game sites. Its ironic that people blame Windows for viruses but then dismiss it on OS X as user error when they all get installed the same way.

It doesn't matter if it's Windows or OS X (because it's a trojan, not a virus - once again, no viruses on OS X). In either case, if I buy iWork for $79 from Apple I don't expect it to contain a trojan. If I get it free from some other site, obviously pirated, there is no one to blame but myself if it does bad things to my system.

 

[Phil A.]

When Mac's get infected via drive-by downloads from infected websites.... then you can gloat. In the meantime you can ponder this. Any system where the user can install software can be infected with a bot, that does not make it "insecure".

Unfortunately, it looks as if this may now be possible, due to an exploitable root access bug in DiskImageMounter. See here and this thread

 

[clevin]

It doesn't matter if it's Windows or OS X (because it's a trojan, not a virus - once again, no viruses on OS X). In either case, if I buy iWork for $79 from Apple I don't expect it to contain a trojan. If I get it free from some other site, obviously pirated, there is no one to blame but myself if it does bad things to my system.

trojan is not viruses? why? apple itself claims malwares (trojans, worms) are viruses, why you want to use double standard? when bashing windows, everything is viruses, when comes down to OSX, you want to slice and dice and throw out whatever you can?

and blaming stupid users again!

Finger pointing game can cure the thousands of zombie macs out there that are attacking the internet servers which affect all of us?

How?

Fingering pointing is such an ancient game, I now understand that could be the first reaction from a over protective fan, but after that, settle down and push for a solution!

Pirate downloading again to be blamed! Now Snow Leopard build is on torrent again, lets see how many copies can be abused and carry something you dont like again.

This is a security threat, and what it need is a SOLUTION, not fingering pointing, at least not in this stage, weeks after the problem surfaced.

 

[Eric S.]

trojan is not viruses?

No, they is not.

and blaming stupid users again!

Yup. In this case, it was absolutely, 100% the users' fault.

Finger pointing game can cure the thousands of zombie macs out there that are attacking the internet servers which affect all of us?

Oh! Help! I'm under attack from thousands of zombie Macs! Whatever am I to do?

 

[Goona]

No, they is not.



Yup. In this case, it was absolutely, 100% the users' fault.



Oh! Help! I'm under attack from thousands of zombie Macs! Whatever am I to do?

Hehehehehe...

 

[liptonlover]

This does not mean in any way that OS X is insecure and a hole is being taken advantage of. The pirated versions of iwork that let this bug in ARE MODIFIED. Apple's software is still virtually virus-proof. This virus is only infecting people because they not only downloaded a modified version of iwork, but gave the hackers their admin password. So this is purely the users' fault.

 

[dejo]

Here's an interesting take on the matter:

Five Tips for Reading Mac Security Stories

 

[nutritious]

Most - means over half. So, over half of Mac users have a false sense of security. Not true.

"only a few thousand Macs are thought to be infected to date".

No, I meant it in a general way. Most mac users really believe they'll never get viruses...

 

[agl82]

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