“The latest round of the Sober virus, first discovered a week ago, sends out waves of e-mails to addresses found on PCs already infected. A small percentage contained links to Web sites that tried to infect visiting machines with the virus,” Karen Heinselman writes for The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier (Iowa).
“Kris Brunkhorst of Waverly — a Macintosh owner and an apparent victim of Sober spam — said she didn’t attempt to go to any of the links. She uses Netscape, which she said opens e-mail even if she wants to delete it. Brunkhorst was surprised when her Apple G5 froze as it attempted to download 107 messages, some with familiar e-mail tags. She had hoped her Mac was tougher than that,” Heinselman writes.
“‘I don’t have a choice whether to open them up or not,’ Brunkhorst said. ‘Once you (click) down to who it is from in the in box it automatically opened up.’ On Wednesday, her in box continued to field return-to-sender messages with bogus addresses she never sent. One combined her mother-in-law’s name with the tail ‘wartburg.edu.’ Her mother-in-law, who received at least 200 unwanted messages, does not work for the college,” Heinselman writes. “Most viruses take advantage of Microsoft, like operating system vulnerabilities or address book capabilities, said Gary Wipperman, director of Information Technology Services at Wartburg. ‘Since most people use the Windows platform, it is the most bang for the buck (for the virus sender),’ Wipperman said. But other programs are vulnerable, too.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: How is it possible to get so much so thoroughly wrong? What’s an “Apple G5,” exactly? What does she mean by “froze?” Perhaps it was downloading the 107 email messages that took awhile and maybe the “Apple G5” wasn’t “frozen?” She uses “Netscape?” Netscape what? Netscape email? Online or the application? Maybe it was “Netscape” that froze, not the “Apple G5.” Why does the writer use an “Apple G5” owner as an example, when millions of Windows PCs have actually been infected with the Sober virus and Macs cannot be infected?
If she were to write an article about a Mad Cow disease outbreak, for example, would she focus on interviewing a vegan about the impact of rising vegetable prices? We can only assume that back when Firestone tires were shredding off SUVs on the highway, she was off like a shot to Pennsylvania to see what the Amish thought.
Facts: the Sober virus runs on Windows only, not Macs; and it isn’t because fewer people use Macs, it’s because Apple’s Mac OS X is more secure than Windows by design. A Mac’s email Inbox can become clogged with Sober spam, but the payload cannot affect Macs. There are zero viruses for Mac OS X. The writer of this corn-pone article has an email address:
To send a letter to The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier Editor: https://secure.townnews.com/wcfcourier.com/secure/letters/ or
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The ignorance exhibited in this article is astounding, one idiot interviewing another. I have owned my domain name for almost 15 years. Since it’s a simple 5 letter domain name it’s a huge target for spammers. Typically what happens is email addresses at my domain are harvested from infected PCs and used as return addresses on spam emails. When this happens EVERY reply, automated or otherwise, to those spam emails comes back to my domain. I use procmail to filter the bulk of these at the mail server level, and automatically delete them. What little slips through is caught by Mail on my G5 and routed to the Junk folder. Weekly, 800 to 1200 spam messages and replies to spam are deleted at the server level. I have a link on my home page at my domain which takes folks to an explanation of what happened to them, and why they shouldn’t blame anyone at my domain for it, along with some tips on spam reporting and identification. If I were this writer (or someone like sputnik) I’d be very embarrassed at having paraded my total lack of understanding in public, world wide.
Here is what I emailed her:
I stumbled across your article from 05/2005 and found several misleading or inaccurate statements that I would like to call your attention to.
1. The German Spam wave that hit this week is the direct result of the sober.q trojan. This virus only affects Microsoft Windows operating systems. More info on this specific virus can be found here:
<http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/trojsoberq.html>
2. The gentleman referenced in your article states that virus writers are attracted to Microsoft because of it’s large number of installed users. While this may be a motivating factor for some virus writers, it is a bit misleading. Allow me to elaborate:
The real reason is that Windows by it’s own design does not have adequate controls in place to keep uninformed users from harming their system. This is one of the real advantages of Linux and Unix Based systems like Mac OS X, it is simply not so easy, because they have a more granular user control system in place. In fact Mac OS X does not have one single virus that effects it going back to it’s earliest versions in 2000. The real truth of the matter is that an overwhelming majority of viruses in the wild today target vulnerabilities in the windows operating systems and Microsoft office products.
3. Your article also infers that a large volume of mail is adequate to “freeze” a high end Macintosh system. Perhaps in Ms. Brunkhorsts’ case there was a problem, but it really could relate to a dozen things and really has no relevance in the article. My assumption is that you were attempting to indicate that this virus was causing problems for non-Microsoft systems, but simply choose a poor example. A better analogy would have been to contact some bandwidth providers or email hosts and discuss the bandwidth and disk usage wasted by this nuisance of a Trojan.
4. Perhaps the most glaring omission in your article was the lack of pointers to where people could go to ensure they have adequate virus protection, or mention of spam filtering software. Both of which can help to mitigate these problems.
As a seasoned IT professional and Consultant let me be the first to offer my assistance in clarifying technical matters for future articles, it may help keep your inbox from filling up with angry messages from disgruntled readers who see this same problems with your reporting as I did.
My IQ dropped 10 points after reading that article.
I went to google as “ron” suggested, and may have found out something even more scary. If it is the same Kris Brunkhorst of Waverly, then she could have asked her husband, State Sen. Bob
Brunkhorst. Listed on his State Sen. webpage…”Occupation: Computer Analyst”!!! I think he should proof read his wife’s articles in the future!!
Quoting the many of you (including MDN) who said that “there’s no such thing as a mac g5” –
Come on-
That’s like saying there’s no such thing as a pentium4. While not very specific, this is certainly a valid way for someone to refer to their computer. Particularly if you are not very familiar with things like model names and features ETC…
The apple online store-
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/70403/wo/Hz1AirQMOzux2or52C22MmdBoNB/0.0.11.1.0.6.23.1.3.1.3.0.0.1.0 –
Even says “Choose your Power Mac G5” indicating that there certainly is a “Mac G5” (and that it has POWER!)
There were many things in that article that were unclear or incorrect, but we could have had a more meaningful discussion about them without bringing up this meaningless (non)point.
Opps, my bad. I forgot that Kris Brunkhorst of Waverly, was the one that was infected, not the writer. Well, she should still consult with her husband.
>>What’s an “Apple G5,” exactly?
Well, let’s see. Perhaps it’s a computer made by Apple with a PowerPC G5 chip in it.
Don’t be so f—ing imbecilic.
>>I emailed her, and told her there’s no such thing as an Apple G5. I was polite, but firm.
Not to mention making yourself out to be a damned moron. And you people wonder why Mac users are thought to be whiny assholes?
Sounds like all her editor did was to remove the word “like” after every few words. What a bunch or worthless drivel. That article doesn’t offer anything to anyone.
Good Point Dennis…
I tell people all the time that I’ve got an Apple (a very familiar brand, that most understand make computers & iPods) G5 (sounds fancy enough for most people to nod in acknowledgment) and if they need more explanation I offer a more thorough description.
Saying I’ve got an Apple Macintosh, Dual 2.0 GHz G5 with 2.5Gb of RAM, Dual Monitors, 180Gb internal storage and an external 80Gb FireWire Drive makes me sound like some pretentious prick boasting about every nut and bolt used to build my Porsche.
Lighten up MDN… I agree with most of your take, but this is not a personal affront to your manhood.
My wifes uncle called me because Mail was hanging on his iMac. So I go over there and he starts it up and I recognize that it isn’t hung, it’s downloading over dialup. A half an hour later he’s got 5 pictures of the grandkids weighing in at almost 4GB’s. Besides showing what an idiot his daughter is, it demonstrates that things are not always what they appear. 107 e-mail attachments? Expect it to look ‘crashed’ to someone who’s used to instant access to the inbox.
Chris
where can I get dialup that downloads 4GB in half an hour ?
and the camera that makes pictures in such resolution would be great too
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
…
P.S.: I know, I know it was probably supposed to be 4MB
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
..
P.P.S: the rest of my family also has no clue about compression .. and sending large attachements .. LOL
Ah, Sputnik, your ignorance and puerile use of the English language are back again! OK, here we go:
1. “word” should be “world” (If you’re older than 13 and in the real IT world, I’m the King of Siam.)
2. “Apple PC’s” do not and never HAVE existed. “PC” is a Wintel term, or so IBM and Microsoft would have the world believe. Can you spell “Macintosh”?
3. “virus” should be “viruses”
4. “effect” should be “affect” (Any average ninth grader knows THAT!)
5. “Apple’s” should be “Apples”
Do your middle school English teachers teach you NOTHING? Clearly, your computer teachers haven’t!
So, y’all can say “G5”, but if someone says “Apple G5”, they are an idiot? Very logical.
I’m from UNI too! Go Panthers (if anyone really cares about a Division I-AA football team)
-VinitaBoy
“2. “Apple PC’s” do not and never HAVE existed. “PC” is a Wintel term, or so IBM and Microsoft would have the world believe. Can you spell “Macintosh”?”
Apple is credited with having the first commercially successful personal computer. (PC)
PC does not and should not refer specifically to computers running windows.
Furthermore, ‘Wintel’is just as bad of a term. Some machines based on x86 architecture run on:
linux
sun unix
bsd
windows
…..
In addition to that, companies that make x86 processors include:
intel
amd
cyrix
via
…..
“Windows computer” is much more specific and accurate than “wintel” which is sort of meaningless.
PCs were made by apple long before IBM started making them.
If you’re going to correct someone, please be right yourself.
Apple Computer is the company. Macintosh is the computer.
Do you go around calling it a General Motors Corvette or do you call it a Chevrolet Corvette?
If the former, like “Apple G5,” you sound foolish. We are laughing at your ignorance. If the latter, like “iMac G5” or “Power Mac G5,” you are correct and not a moron.
The last “Apple” computer Apple Computer made was the Apple IIgs, introduced in 1986, discontinued in 1992.
Thirteen years after the last “Apple” computer rolled off the assembly line, it is not appropriate to call a “Macintosh” an “Apple,” unless you are a retard, have chromosome damage, write for The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier, are CEO of RealNetworks, or sit on the current Henrico County School Board.
To recap:
Morons and the ignorant:
• Call a Macintosh computer an “Apple.”
• Refer to a Macintosh computer as “MAC” in print.
• Constantly call Apple Computer, “Apple Computers.”
• Use Windows only.
The intelligent and informed:
• Call a Macintosh computer a “Macintosh” or “Mac” for short.
• Understand that Apple Computer, not “Apple Computers,” is a company that makes “Macintosh” personal computers.
• Own a Mac.
Thank you for your time.
Macs are affected by spam because lots of our email addresses are in our PC using acquaintances’ Outlook address book. That’s a fact.
And could 107 spam messages getting dumped all at once into Mail.app freeze the application? You betcha!
BTW, I love Apple’s mail application so much I haven’t even tried any alternatives. But I do have to point out that the article is correct when it says you have to open up the email, that is if you click on it to delete it. There should be another way to delete garbage mail with keyboard shortcuts without having to open the email. Drag and drop into the trash is the only alternative and that gets old after awhile (not to mention the cramps in my mouse-driven hand).
Don’t get too cocky guys… it is much much harder to infect a mac… but that doesn’t make it impossible.
I am in no way saying that this woman was indeed infected, I’m just saying, don’t say its impossible.
All it takes is one smart hacker to get really pissed at Apple and he will program untill he dies inorder to infact the mac….
It was “Netscape” mail that was the problem in the article.
As for Mail 2.0 in Mac OS X Tiger, Control-Click (or Right-Click) on any single message and choose delete without opening the message. Shift-Click or Command-Click to choose any number of messages and then Control-Click (Right-Click) on the selections to delete without opening or simply select what you want to chuck and then hit Command-Delete.
Fork Ball,
why is it called “Apple Talk” then and not “Mac Talk”?
Obnoxious Troll,
It’s called “AppleTalk” (no space) because that’s what Apple named it. Just like they named the “Macintosh” personal computer “Macintosh” and not “Apple.”
Did you think your question was witty when you wrote it?
A Mac “IS” a pc. In fact, if it wasn’t the first; it was very nearly the first, personal computer. ie. pc!
Since I am from Iowa originally I would tend to want to give her a break. I don’t think there was any malicious intent on the writer’s part, just sloppy journalism that normally she might have been able to get away with but not when it comes to Macs. I think this will be a major wake up call for her that when you report on the Mac you had better have your facts straight.
The Mac Community is pretty tight and being a part of it has a lot of benefits because I think Mac Users will tend to go the extra mile to help out another Mac user. They will also go about five extra miles to correct misconceptions about the Mac platform expressed by uninformed PC users. It is this sense of community among Mac Users that also contributes a lot to the security and superiority of the Mac Platform. A lot of times you will see a fix for a new-found vulnerability put out by the Mac community even before Apple has a chance to react.
This is a truly dumb article. Better would have been to talk about the lack of backward compatability and constant need to spend $130 every year to stay “current”.
I started posting on this page years ago because I thought mac owners generally had over invested in the apple brand and needed to justify that, were possibly too dumb to operate computers that aren’t kid toy simple, or cultlike, if not slavish. That made them enormously entertaining to argue with, since my being right struck a nerve that was usually not dinged on such a homogeneous site.
Windows serves the needs of the 95% because it works well enough, and is dirt cheap, still. The revolution in OS has nothing to do with 99% of users, who easily manage to run businesses of all types, as well as websurf, email, and catalog basic info for themselves.
As one who overinvested slightly, for kicks, and is very capable of deducing the cause of problems on both platforms, and who is neither in the mac cult nor demonstrating the mental illness that causes one to defend windows without reason, I have to say that my original bent is the same. While anyone who denies the contribution of Apple must be daft, anyone who denies the overall contribution of wintel to our world, and its evident superiority, both in gross numbers, initial cost, AND cost of ownership, must be either stupid with money and hoping to gloss it over, dumb, or koolaid drinkers.
The comparison of wintel escort to mac bmw has always been somewhat valid. Now, I would think, the comparison could be more Taurus/Ferrari. Thing is, we get to drive on the same roads, and the Mt. Dew can you find in your lap, Mr. Tiger owner, might have been mine, flung as I zipped by in the car pool lane, rubber doll at my side.
Mac Smiley,
You shouldn’t have your preview pane up on Mail, so when you do click on the email to delete it, it’s not automatically opened. In many instances, previewing an email is enough to let the spammer know that your email is a live one.
Joe how is Windows “dirt cheap”?
I don’t want to get into a spec war on the Dell site but a cheap “current” Windows PC and a cheap “current” Mac are within about $100-200 of each other. The Pro version of XP (how do you have a pro version of an OS, an app i can sort of understand .. but a whole OS?) costs $300 from Microsoft ($200 upgrade) versus $130 for Tiger (Pro?).
Again i ask: how is Windows “dirt cheap” in a way that Macs are not?
If you have time i’d also love an analysis of the TCO claim. I just installed Tiger on a 6 year old iMac and it “works well enough.” What version of Windows are you running on your 6 year old PC?
/off to sip some more gin and kool-aid