“The stories have started to emerge and now the battle has begun. After years of being off-limits to hackers, the Apple Macintosh is now subject to the same sort of abuse that the PC has endured and survived over the years: malware,” John C. Dvorak writes for PC Magazine.
MacDailyNews Take: This is not the first trojan for Mac, not by a long-shot, nor is it likely to be the last.
“Apple says it will send out some patches this week, but this just marks the beginning of a long battle. It will be ugly, as the platform is largely like the unprotected, the users are clueless, and there is zero resistance within the platform. The few Mac users who survive the barrage will probably be former PC users who are not so easily fooled by fake websites,” Dvorak writes. “That said, a bunch of websites are now injecting code into the Mac to infect it with new Trojans.”
MacDailyNews Take: This being not the first trojan for Mac, Dvorak’s theory that a “long battle is just beginning” has no basis in fact.
Mac users “been trained since birth not to deal with such issues by hand. It’s beneath them,” Dvorak writes. “I use AVG as my anti-virus/anti-Trojan product, and when I encounter a website trying to pull this sort of thing, I get an immediate error message and the site is blocked. Currently, the Mac has no such software that I know of, and the user has to hope that Google, some other search engine, or the browser itself has some protection. Good luck with that.”
MacDailyNews Take: This trojan was identified by Intego, a company specializing in Internet security and privacy for Apple Macintosh since 1997. There are multiple AV software packages available for Mac OS X.
Dvorak writes, “PC users will be laughing out loud as this continues because this is just the beginning… While the PC users have literally endured decades of this sort of game playing, Mac users have rarely seen any of it. They have no idea what they are in for. This also makes you ask yourself exactly how well protected smartphones are against attacks like this? You can be sure that the iPhone and iPad are going to be next on the hit list.”
MacDailyNews Take: The only thing you can be sure of is that laughing at nothing is a clear sign of mental illness.
“That said, many in the PC world have warned Apple that its OS is not any more secure than a Windows OS,” Dvorak writes. “And because there is no security infrastructure with scads of anti-malware systems available, the systems are actually more vulnerable.”
MacDailyNews Take: Again, multiple AV software packages are available for Mac OS X and have been for years.
“So we’ll see how this situation plays out, but one thing is for certain: the happy-go-lucky Mac owners will end up grumbling about it the same way PC users have done over the years,” Dvorak writes. “And this ‘What? Me worry?’ attitude and smug smile will forever disappear. That’s the good news, as far as I’m concerned.”
Full article – Think Before You Click™ – here.
MacDailyNews Take: This is nothing more than a trojan. There has never been a Mac OS X virus. Dvorak’s attempt to use a Mac trojan to equate with hundreds of thousands of actual self-replicating viruses, worms, trojans, and other malware on the Windows PC platform is pathetic and likely due to fear of the fact that Mac has outgrown the PC market as whole for 20 consecutive quarters, or the last five years straight. When you work for an outfit calling itself “PC Magazine,” it’s understandable that the fear of becoming irrelevant would be quite strong. It’s sad that such fear produces garbage articles such as this.
What’s ironic is that Dvorak is calling Mac users ignorant while assuming his PC-using readers are ignorant enough to not understand the difference between a trojan and a virus, or think that Mac trojans are nothing new, or believe that Macs don’t have AV software available, or that a single Mac trojan equals the abject security debacle that is the Windows PC.
In closing, with smug smiles still firmly affixed to our faces, here’s our usual oft-repeated reminder for Mac users and anyone who’s trying to use any other platform: Do not download and authorize the installation of applications (Trojans) from untrusted sources. No OS can protect users from themselves (or we wouldn’t be able to install any software). Those who grant attackers access to their computers, should not be surprised to find their computers are compromised.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “kevin p.” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
New MACDefender variant, MacGuard, doesn’t require password prior to standard installation – May 25, 2011
Apple: How to avoid or remove MACDefender malware (permanent fix coming in Mac OS X update) – May 24, 2011
MACDefender trojan protection and removal guide – May 20, 2011
Apple investigating ‘MACDefender’ trojan – May 19, 2011
Apple malware: 6 years of crying wolf – May 6, 2011
Is Mac under a virus attack? No. – May 4, 2011
Intego: MACDefender rogue anti-malware program attacks Macs via SEO poisoning – May 2, 2011
Sophos details new Mac OS X Trojan – February 28, 2011
Warning: Mac users beware of yet another trojan masquerading as video codec – June 11, 2009
CNN blows it; gets all worked up about a Mac Trojan that isn’t the first nor is it the last – April 23, 2009
Mac trojan expands to affect pirated versions of Photoshop CS4 – January 26, 2009
Intego: Mac trojan horse found in pirated Apple iWork ‘09 – January 22, 2009
New Mac OS X Trojan horse identified – June 23, 2008
Mac OS X Scareware trojan ‘MacSweep from Imunizator’ tries to scam Mac users – March 29, 2008
Mac trojan makers churn out slightly modified versions to evade anti-malware detection – November 08, 2007
Mac DNS Changer Trojan [OSX/Puper] relatively simple; works like the Windows version – November 01, 2007
New Mac OS X Trojan warning – February 16, 2006
Apple: ‘Opener’ is not a virus, Trojan horse, or worm – November 02, 2004
– – –
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The Microsoft Tax: Windows zero-day flaw exposes users to code execution attack; Mac unaffected – August 09, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: Critical flaw lets hackers take remote control of Windows PCs; Mac unaffected – August 07, 2010
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The Microsoft Tax: DNS Windows PC Trojan poses as iPhone unlock utility; Mac and iPhone unaffected – April 15, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: 1-in-10 Windows PCs still vulnerable to Conficker worm; Macintosh unaffected – April 08, 2010
The Microsoft Tax: 74,000 Windows PCs in 2,500 companies attacked globally; Mac users unaffected – February 18, 2010
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The Microsoft Tax: Windows 7 zero-day flaw enables attackers to cripple PCs; Macintosh unaffected – November 16, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Windows 7 flaw allows attackers to remotely crash PCs; Macintosh unaffected – November 12, 2009
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The Microsoft Tax: Worms infest Windows PCs worldwide; Mac users unaffected – November 02, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Banking Trojan horse steals money from Windows sufferers; Mac users unaffected – September 30, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Serious Windows security flaw lets hackers to take over PCs; Macintosh unaffected – July 07, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Windows Conficker worm hits hospital devices; Macintosh unaffected – April 29, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Conficker virus begins to attack Windows PCs; Macintosh unaffected – April 27, 2009
The Microsoft Tax: Conficker’s estimated economic cost: $9.1 billion – April 24, 2009
Millions of Windows PCs taken over by hackers, including UK and US gov’t machines; Macs unaffected – April 22, 2009
Conficker worm hits University of Utah’s Windows PCs; Apple Macs unaffected – April 13, 2009
Windows Conficker kicks into action, able to steal data from infected PCs; Macintosh unaffected – April 10, 2009
Windows Conficker worm awakens, updates via P2P, begins to drop payload; Macintosh unaffected – April 09, 2009
Millions of infected Windows PCs set to go off on April 1; Macintosh unaffected – March 31, 2009
Millions of infected Microsoft Windows PCs face doomsday on April 1; Macintosh unaffected – March 24, 2009
Windows data-stealing ‘Tigger’ trojan infects stock trading firms; Macintosh users unaffected – March 10, 2009
French navy fighter planes grounded by Windows worm; Mac-based naval systems unaffected – February 25, 2009
Houston courts shut down due to Windows virus; Macs unaffected – February 10, 2009
Windows virus knocks out Vancouver school computers for three weeks and counting; Macs unaffected – January 31, 2009
Massive Windows virus with mystery payload continues to spread rapidly; Macintosh unaffected – January 26, 2009
Massive Windows virus continues rapid spread, also affects Vista, Windows 7; Macintosh unaffected – January 21, 2009
Windows PC worm infection numbers skyrocket; Macintosh unaffected – January 19, 2009
Dangerous new sleeper virus exposes millions of Windows PCs to hijack; Macintosh unaffected – January 16, 2009
Zero-day attack targets all versions of Internet Explorer; Mac users unaffected – December 12, 2008
Windows worm loose on International Space Station; Mac-using astronauts unaffected – August 27, 2008
Microsoft inflicts Internet Explorer 8 Beta; Mac users unaffected – March 05, 2008
Gathering ‘Storm’ superworm poses grave threat to Windows PCs; Apple Macs unaffected – October 19, 2007
Windows virus cripples Florida newspaper; Mac-based publishers unaffected – March 02, 2007
Insidious Windows virus threatens business networks worldwide; Macintosh unaffected – March 01, 2007
Windows ‘Storm Worm’ rages across globe; Apple Macintosh unaffected – January 19, 2007
Sony, Gracenote sound alarm over Microsoft flaw; Macintosh unaffected – September 19, 2006
PowerPoint zero-day attack compromises data in infected Windows PCs; Mac OS X unaffected – July 21, 2006
Windows PC users infected with worm face loss of all Microsoft, Adobe files; Mac users unaffected – January 31, 2006
Microsoft Windows’ Zero-Day WMF flaw threats widespread; Macintosh unaffected – December 29, 2005
Microsoft Windows virus spreads rapidly; Apple Macintosh unaffected – November 28, 2005
Windows users fall victim to huge ID theft ring, 50 banks in danger; Apple Mac users unaffected – August 25, 2005
Quickly spreading Microsoft Windows worm affects CNN, ABC, NY Times; Apple Macintosh unaffected – August 16, 2005
‘Zotob’ worm rapidly infects Microsoft Windows; Macintosh unaffected – August 15, 2005
16-percent of computer users are unaffected by viruses, malware because they use Apple Macs – June 15, 2005
Microsoft warns of critical Windows flaws; unaffected Mac users just continue working – June 15, 2005
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Windows Sober.p poised to attack this Monday; Macintosh unaffected – May 21, 2005
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Windows Mydoom worm variant spreading in the wild; Macintosh unaffected – November 09, 2004
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Windows Sasser worm severely disrupts UK coastguard; Mac users remain unaffected – May 04, 2004
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Destructive MyDoom.F virus deletes Windows users’ files; Macintosh unaffected – March 01, 2004
Netsky-D Windows worm spreading; Macintosh unaffected – March 01, 2004
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New MyDoom Windows worm deletes random files; Macintosh unaffected – February 25, 2004
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Windows virus ‘Bagle.B’ spreading; Macintosh unaffected – February 17, 2004
‘Doomjuice’ worm emerges, targets Microsoft; Macintosh unaffected – February 10, 2004
New version of Mydoom Windows virus appears, attacks Microsoft; Macintosh unaffected – January 28, 2004
Latest Windows virus ‘MyDoom’ sets new infection records worldwide; Macintosh unaffected – January 27, 2004
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Dvorak… You’re a douchebag.
Dvorak is an offensive little shitehawk and an utter disgrace to the journalism profession. He has an ego bigger than Graham’s Number and an intellect barely measurable on the Planck scale.
To employ a bit of Cockney rhyming slang, he’s a right little merchant banker!
=:~)
MDN, there has been an OS X virus in the past (at least one that I remember). Anyone remember all of the fuss over OSX.Leap.A back in 2006? It was a self-replicating virus (worm) that didn’t end up really doing any major damage. The best defense for Mac and PC users alike is some common sense (e.g., not supplying administrator passwords for untrusted/unknown/unrequested software installations). Although I must admit I run antivirus on my PCs; I have to open and execute many EXE files as part of my job.
Just looked it up… some call it a virus, others a trojan.
you had to OPEN and run the file to be infected.
http://guides.macrumors.com/OSX/Leap-A
actually, looks like ONLY Sophos was calling it a virus..
you did have to enter the admin password, just like malware.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_%28computer_worm%29
at top they say Virus, bottom they label it Trojan.
and oh yeah, it can’t transmit anywhere outside local network…. yeah, there is that part.
click on the definition of Trojan horse.
“The software initially appears to perform a desirable function for the user prior to installation and/or execution, but (perhaps in addition to the expected function) steals information or harms the system.”
Exactly how the thing started.
Call it what you want, i’ll stick with Trojan.
Windows users call it a “Feature” 😉
He is off his meds again!
1. The idioit admits that Windows users have had a long and painful life.
2. Admits Mac users have had no such thing.
3. Gloats about how they have endured?!!!
4. Admits Apple is NOW a target! Wow, guest the Mac user is now big enough to draw attention. Doofus, admits Apple is huge!
5. Admits that PC users are moving over to Mac.
What an tool- could not provide better support for Mac sales.
His readers see this: Hey, Dovark said Apple had no such problems and PC users notice these tricks?! What, he said we had the best life and he is telling me that Mac users live in peace?
If Dovark says it is that much better on the Apple side, I am going to be so there…..
All I can say is “what a Dbag”..
How can they publish such dribble..?
I’ll keep my smug smile you relic from microcrap world . Keep using that MS junk. Stay where you belong..
yawn.
People are dumb and “you can’t fix stupid.”
The idiots who download and install this are the same idiots who sold all their stuff and spent all their money because of the rapture. I don’t feel bad for any of them either…
Dvorak… I was waiting to see how long it would take for this hit whore to strike. I guess he finished devouring his pizza long enough to write that piece of crap article.
None of this matters anyway. Even if trojans, or viruses for that matter, somehow found their way onto my Mac, the Mac is still a superior platform and I wouldn’t dump it for a PC. That’d be like selling a Porsche for a Ford Fiesta because the Porsche got a scratch.
Perhaps Mr. Dvorak doesn’t realize that a trojan is a self-inflicted wound, much as he has shot himself in the foot…again!
Let’s see. How many viruses affect Windows 7? Is it something around 85,000?
The Mac is not invulnerable. But using a UNIX system as your foundation DOES make it harder to crack…again, something that seems to have happened to Mr. Dvorak.
I remember someone (Steve Jack???) wrote an article that outlined very well why the Mac is superior to Windows when it comes to virus/malware/trojan protection and removal. Can someone provide me a link to that (or a different good article)? I’ve been asked a lot about this recently.
Mac user here. Just checked the mirror and I can confirm that not only am I handsome as always, but my smug smile is very much intact. Carry on gentlemen.
the irony that the ad posted on this page being for “mac antivirus” is not lost…
There’s a flaw in your smugness logic.
Those of us smug enough to believe our Macs are virus immune will not install fake protection against malware that IS malware. So we remain immune.
Why all the hate John, or are you just proving to everyone what a prick you are?
Good news? For whom? He must be stupid saying that making people’s lives miserable is good news.
I know this phrase has been used to describe Dvorak many times before, but it just fits so well. “Hit whore!”
PC users laughing at Mac users over malware is like a quadraplegic laughing at a guy with a sprained wrist…
Gee, I wish Dvorak’s parents weren’t so ‘anti-Trojan’, else this dipsh*t wouldn’t be here.
Even the security software companies who sell a humongous amount of anti-virus software to Windows users (and would love to do the same thing with Mac users) have stated clearly that MacDefender and its variants are NOT a Mac OS X vulnerability!
Here is a quote from Peter James, spokesperson for Intego:
“This is not a Mac OS X vulnerability, but social engineering, taking advantage of users who are unaware of what is happening”
If Dvorak refuses to believe the security experts on this, then it is futile to try to explain this to such an irrational person.
This brainless sack of meat’s argument is about as intelligent as the cement floor he was dropped on at birth. To say that all operating systems are equally as vulnerable simply because they are both operating systems is the same as saying that Ford has had massive amounts of failed fuel pumps, therefore Chevy’s fuel pumps are likely to fail…I mean, they’re both motorized vehicles with fuel pumps, right? (just an analogy, don’t get riled). Am I missing something?
That’s funny… So as Windows users are lying on the ground hemorrhaging blood from multiple stab wounds, they’re going to point and laugh when a Mac user gets a splinter.
good analogy.
“PC users will be laughing out loud…….
Dvorak’s comments for years have resembled the mumblings of an old has-been. He’s the Michael Moore of the computer world, irrelevant to today’s industry. Quoting him and giving his words bandwidth to grab hits makes your site very much like Dvorak.
To say that all operating systems are equally as vulnerable simply because they are both operating systems is the same as saying that Ford has had massive amounts of failed fuel pumps, therefore Chevy’s fuel pumps are likely to fail…I mean, they’re both motorized vehicles with fuel pumps, right? (just an analogy, don’t get riled). Am I missing something?
My biggest concern is that for someone who works in this industry Dvorak is hoping that this will get worse.
You would think that he could focus on decrying the idiots who create these Trojans rather than hoping to see large numbers of computers infected
Unlike MDN staff who gleefully laugh at the PC industry I for one would rather that neither PC’s or Macs get infected. These threats and spam are the scourge of the industry