Apple silently includes malware prevention update in Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4

“Apple silently updated its Snow Leopard malware protection in this week’s Mac OS X 10.6.4 update, targeting a Trojan that disguises itself as iPhoto,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider.

“Though the new protection wasn’t specifically listed in any of Apple’s documentation accompanying Mac OS X 10.6.4, security firm Sophos discovered the update in the XProtect.plist file, which contains signatures of potential Mac threats,” Marsal reports. “The new threat, dubbed HellRTS by Apple, has been distributed by hackers since April in the form of iPhoto.”

Marsal reports, “Referred to as OSX/Pinhead-B by Sophos, the Trojan monitors browser activity unbeknownst to Mac users. It also makes a machine remotely accessible to the attacker, who can take complete control of the computer.”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Richard V.” for the heads up.]