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desmond



Reged: 10/01/06
Posts: 7903
Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware
      08/04/12 06:48 PM
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Quote ConcertinaChap:

Some time back as a Mac (as well as PC) user I advocated installing anti-virus software on Macs and got roundly and loudly told off by those that believe that Macs are charmed and cannot ever be infected by anything. So, I'm going to join you: ha ha ha ha ha!



Well, I'm going to take this one a little personally, not as someone who has ever had the attitude you describe but as someone who *has* posted on the pointlessness (imo) up to now on installing Mac AV software, but also as someone who is very interested in security issues and not blind to anything - responsible computer use is *always* the first step to keeping a system secure.

*But* - I still stand by my opinions. Without doing extensive research, what I've read suggests that *none* of the currently available Mac AV software would have protected any machine against this exploit/trojan. None. What am I paying for if I'm buying protective software that doesn't protect me from the very things I'm buying it for?

I've always said I don't see the point of running AV software when there are no viruses to protect - not only are they not protecting you, but they are actually instilling a false sense of confidence in your system, making it potentially *more* likely to get something bad.

Macs were *always* going to start getting targeted by virus writers at some point, *especially* as they get more popular and more aspirational to own. At some point protecting from viruses etc *will* become a necessity. I'm not convinced we are there yet.

And while the Mac AV software people are scrambling to get their software to protect against this vulnerability, we can see that the Mac virus world isn't yet mature enough to develop tools to solidly protect our systems. Responsible computer use, software updates and following the security advice in news articles is generally good practice.

Was I infected? No. And one of the interesting things about this particular exploit is that is wouldn't install if the user runs Little Snitch, which I do, because it is an excellent way to keep an eye on what your computer is doing regarding network activity. And I run it as part of keeping good practice with knowing what my machine is doing.

So - I'm not laughing at anybody. Macs will get viruses, and at some point no doubt my advice will change to recommend running Mac AV software. But it hasn't yet.

This is a nice summary of Flashback:
http://www.macworld.com/article/1166254/what_you_need_to_know_about_the_fl ashback_trojan.html


Edited by desmond (08/04/12 07:09 PM)

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* Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DragonLogos 05/04/12 08:56 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Folderol   17/04/12 10:30 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware desmond   18/04/12 10:32 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Richie Royale   18/04/12 09:15 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Tui   18/04/12 10:47 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware chris...   17/04/12 10:43 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Will_m   17/04/12 06:25 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   17/04/12 08:18 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware narcoman   17/04/12 08:23 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   18/04/12 10:37 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DragonLogos   16/04/12 08:20 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Exalted Wombat   17/04/12 09:37 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware johnny h   17/04/12 10:23 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Exalted Wombat   17/04/12 10:32 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware johnny h   17/04/12 11:13 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Exalted Wombat   17/04/12 12:39 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware johnny h   17/04/12 02:35 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DragonLogos   14/04/12 11:33 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware SecretSam   13/04/12 08:01 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware SecretSam   12/04/12 01:29 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Richie Royale   12/04/12 02:08 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Exalted Wombat   12/04/12 05:48 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Tui   10/04/12 08:43 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DAGGILARR   11/04/12 09:20 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Bob Bickerton   12/04/12 01:37 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Guy Johnson   12/04/12 09:30 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware jj pep   10/04/12 05:59 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Guy Johnson   10/04/12 04:54 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Phil Aitman   10/04/12 03:09 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware FYUnited   10/04/12 12:24 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Tui   10/04/12 09:07 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Exalted Wombat   15/04/12 11:32 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware wschwanke   10/04/12 02:02 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware johnny h   10/04/12 04:31 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   10/04/12 05:04 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Bob Bickerton   10/04/12 11:51 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   10/04/12 02:34 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Tui   09/04/12 01:07 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Exalted Wombat   09/04/12 10:58 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Dishpan   10/04/12 11:34 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware onesecondglance   10/04/12 07:54 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Bob Bickerton   09/04/12 11:55 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DAGGILARR   09/04/12 06:36 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DAGGILARR   07/04/12 07:52 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware JPHogg   06/04/12 12:41 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Bob Bickerton   06/04/12 02:03 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware * User requested deletion *   06/04/12 08:12 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Scope   06/04/12 09:20 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Scope   06/04/12 09:37 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Richie Royale   06/04/12 11:31 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Howdy Doody Time   06/04/12 09:17 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hamund   06/04/12 02:08 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware mmm   06/04/12 08:40 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DAGGILARR   05/04/12 09:59 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware fletcher   05/04/12 10:27 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware twotoedsloth   05/04/12 09:35 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware * User requested deletion *   05/04/12 08:51 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware arkieboy   05/04/12 08:14 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Tui   05/04/12 08:05 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Folderol   05/04/12 06:42 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware fletcher   05/04/12 04:06 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   05/04/12 08:00 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   05/04/12 04:12 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   05/04/12 02:16 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Exalted Wombat   06/04/12 02:41 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   05/04/12 09:10 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Dishpan   05/04/12 09:24 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware DragonLogos   05/04/12 09:44 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   05/04/12 09:53 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware FreQnic   07/04/12 11:31 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Scope   07/04/12 09:08 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   07/04/12 09:59 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware arkieboy   07/04/12 10:50 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Bob Bickerton   07/04/12 10:21 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   07/04/12 10:39 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Bob Bickerton   07/04/12 11:29 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ~Paul   05/04/12 02:39 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Howdy Doody Time   06/04/12 06:05 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Kwackman   05/04/12 03:44 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   05/04/12 03:03 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ~Paul   05/04/12 06:08 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Dmac   05/04/12 07:45 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   05/04/12 08:00 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Dmac   05/04/12 09:01 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   05/04/12 09:10 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Dmac   05/04/12 09:25 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   05/04/12 07:26 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware BJG145   05/04/12 06:36 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Mixedup   05/04/12 06:28 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Mixedup   05/04/12 06:30 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Dave B   05/04/12 01:10 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   05/04/12 10:16 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware desmond   08/04/12 06:48 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   09/04/12 12:16 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware fletcher   05/04/12 10:25 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Hugh RobjohnsAdministrator   05/04/12 01:09 PM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware Pete Kaine   05/04/12 10:51 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware fletcher   05/04/12 11:35 AM
. * Re: Over 600 000 MACs infected with Flashback Malware ConcertinaChap   05/04/12 10:49 AM

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