“A Windows e-mail virus is trying to ensnare victims by claiming that Michael Jackson has attempted suicide, say computer security firms,” BBC News reports. “The message hopes to catch people’s attention because of the huge interest in the on-going child abuse trial. The fake message contains a web link that supposedly links to Mr Jackson’s suicide note. But anyone clicking on the link will have their PC invaded by a virus that gives others access to that machine.”
Users of Apple Macintosh computers are unaffected.
Full article here.
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LOL! When I first read the title I thought MJ really did kill himself!!
[PowerMac]
And who really gives a shit
Are you sure Macs are not affected MDN?
I just saw an update to Norton Antivirus for Mac on Version Tracker.
This article got it right: “Windows virus”.
I got so used to the press reporting “computer virus” when it was a Windows-only virus.
Maybe the tide is changing…
and I love the smell of iMuff in the morning.
This is no laughing matter! I’m using Winblows! Help, heeelllppp!!! I’m being molested by my computer!
Michael Jackson is a mac user….
he can not kill himself….
and more importantly…
“Michael Jackson suicide spam hides Windows virus; Macintosh unaffected”
Never EVER use all those words in one sentence again!
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Oh hell, that’s better than the ‘Angelina and Brad Sex Tape’ virus I’ve been sending out to Windows users. Foiled again!
MacMania: Norton Antivirus is full of anything BUT Windows virus definitions. Every time a new Windows virus comes out they generate the updates.
Only Mac users using an antivirus are affected by Windows viruses: they are told to install the new update by their corporate IT techies.
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Others could not care less
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Remember: a virus is a program. And it is a Windows .exe file making calls to Windows API. If you cannot run it – and you would not even when you will have an Intel processor: it’s the OS that has to run the program – then you cannot be infected. It is as simple as that.
iPodder,
I believe you meant “nothing BUT Windows virus definitions”… common error
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I have three Macs and also a few XP boxes. Fact is, XP SP2 has much improved halting the proliferation of self-propagating viruses due to port vulnerabilities. Everything downloaded requires a user to click on “Run”, the only difference; Macs will require a password because the user runs at a lower privilege level. But when installing software, most Mac users type in the password and go on from there.
But tell me, what stops the new Mac kiddiez from creating a bogus “installer” for a Mac shareware app that as a side benefit wipes your home directory? I don’t see a security model that makes that scenario any less dangerous on a Mac. It’s simply because we (for now) can “trust” all the Mac installers/applications downloaded. That may not be the case as marketshare expands.
just thinking about mac on intel and the possibility of running windows without emulator….if we will be able to do that then would there also be the possibility while running windows for users to unwittingly install or copy some virus or trojan, etc. to the macosx system folder or somewhere within the macosx space that would run when booting macosx thereby circumventing the normally secure mac environment? any thoughts on this?
thinking too much__hurt head….must …sleep now..
Funny, that. Have not heard of a single user here (all run Windows) being affected.
FUD, feed us more FUD!!