Computers Apple gets viruses too!

ArrowheadHawk · 04-05-2012, 01:55 PM

More than 600,000 Macs infected with Flashback botnet
Russian antivirus company says half the computers infected with malware designed to steal personal information are in the U.S. -- with 274 located in Cupertino.

by Steven Musil April 4, 2012 6:25 PM PDT

More than half a million Macs are infected with the Flashback Trojan, a malware package designed to steal personal information, according to a Russian antivirus company.

The company -- Dr. Web -- originally reported today that 550,000 Macintosh computers were infected by the growing Mac botnet. But later in the day, Dr. Web malware analyst Sorokin Ivan announced on Twitter that the number of Macs infected with Flashback had increased to 600,000, with 274 of those based in Cupertino, Calif.

Mikko Hypponen@mikko 4 Apr 12
Dr. Web estimates that half a million Macs were infected by the Flashback trojan. averysawaba.blogspot.com/2012/04/over-h… We can't confirm or deny the figure.

Sorokin Ivan@hexminer
@mikko, at this moment botnet Flashback over 600k, include 274 bots from Cupertino and special for you Mikko - 285 from Finland
4 Apr 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite

More than half of the Macs infected are in the United States (57 percent), while another 20 percent are in Canada, Dr. Web said.

The malware was initially found in September 2011 masquerading as a fake Adobe Flash Player plug-in installer, but in the past few months it has evolved to exploiting Java vulnerabilities to target Mac systems. A new variant that surfaced over the weekend appears to be taking advantage of Java vulnerability for which Apple released a patch yesterday.

As CNET blogger Topher Kessler explains, simply visiting a malicious Web site containing Flashback on an OS X system with Java installed will result in one of two installation routes. The malware will request an administrator password, and if one is supplied, it will install its package of code into the Applications folder. If a password is not offered, the malware will install to the user accounts where it can run in a more global manner.
Once installed, the Flashback will inject code into Web browsers and other applications like Skype to harvest passwords and other information from those program's users.
Security company F-Secure has published instructions on how to determine whether a Mac is infected with Flashback.
Updated at 6:45 p.m. to correct that a patch is available.

**loochy** · 04-05-2012, 01:56 PM

NO THAT CANT HAPPEN APPEL CANOT GET VIRUS
IT IS AWESOME AND IT EVEN MAKES ME TOAST IN THE MORNING
/Appleheads

Micjones · 04-05-2012, 02:20 PM

Oops...

Sofa King · 04-05-2012, 02:23 PM

WhiteWhale · 04-05-2012, 02:25 PM

It's almost funny that Apple fanboys seemed to think they were immune to this rather than simply not being targeted.

With the growing popularity of Apple, this is going to become something they'll have to tackle.

**loochy** · 04-05-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

It's almost funny that Apple fanboys seemed to think they were immune to this rather than simply not being targeted.

With the growing popularity of Apple, this is going to become something they'll have to tackle.

It actually IS funny to me.

Hammock Parties · 04-05-2012, 02:33 PM

It gets better:

Quote:

There's a NASTY trojan virus going around for mac. Apparently it's semi intelligent, and can mutate to avoid detection and deletion. Windows patched it out ages ago, but no security measures have been made by Apple yet.

Best part? It won't install itself to your mac if it has microsoft software on it, because MS Word etc has built-in safeguards that would alert the user to the presence of the virus. That's right, MS Word has better built-in security than your whole damn OS. SUCK IT JOBS oh wait....awwww too soon???? xD

DMAC · 04-05-2012, 02:35 PM

People are weird with this shit.

**QuikSsurfer** · 04-05-2012, 02:49 PM

Hammock Parties · 04-05-2012, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

People are weird with this shit.

You know what's weird? Someone asked me if I use a Mac to do my job the other day. I just laughed, and sent him an email detailing all the hardware and software I use that's not available for Macs.

**loochy** · 04-05-2012, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satanic Goat

You know what's weird? Someone asked me if I use a Mac to do my job the other day. I just laughed, and sent him an email detailing all the hardware and software I use that's not available for Macs.

You know what else is weird? Paying double for something that does the same damn thing that an item that is half the price could do.

DMAC · 04-05-2012, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satanic Goat

You know what's weird? Someone asked me if I use a Mac to do my job the other day. I just laughed, and sent him an email detailing all the hardware and software I use that's not available for Macs.

Yes, that is weird. I'm sure he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "My God, MAN!!".

**loochy** · 04-05-2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

Yes, that is weird. I'm sure he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "My God, MAN!!".

The guy was probably extremely puzzled as to why GoChiefs went into that long explanation when a simple "no" would suffice.

headsnap · 04-05-2012, 03:07 PM

Windoze fanboys... the new hipsters!

awww, aren't they cute...

Hammock Parties · 04-05-2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

Yes, that is weird. I'm sure he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "My God, MAN!!".

I explained to him that I like to work in a fast and efficient manner, and Mac just doesn't provide the tools to do that.

04-05-2012, 01:55 PM
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $8004961	Apple gets viruses too! More than 600,000 Macs infected with Flashback botnet Russian antivirus company says half the computers infected with malware designed to steal personal information are in the U.S. -- with 274 located in Cupertino. by Steven Musil April 4, 2012 6:25 PM PDT More than half a million Macs are infected with the Flashback Trojan, a malware package designed to steal personal information, according to a Russian antivirus company. The company -- Dr. Web -- originally reported today that 550,000 Macintosh computers were infected by the growing Mac botnet. But later in the day, Dr. Web malware analyst Sorokin Ivan announced on Twitter that the number of Macs infected with Flashback had increased to 600,000, with 274 of those based in Cupertino, Calif. Mikko Hypponen@mikko 4 Apr 12 Dr. Web estimates that half a million Macs were infected by the Flashback trojan. averysawaba.blogspot.com/2012/04/over-h… We can't confirm or deny the figure. Sorokin Ivan@hexminer @mikko, at this moment botnet Flashback over 600k, include 274 bots from Cupertino and special for you Mikko - 285 from Finland 4 Apr 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite More than half of the Macs infected are in the United States (57 percent), while another 20 percent are in Canada, Dr. Web said. The malware was initially found in September 2011 masquerading as a fake Adobe Flash Player plug-in installer, but in the past few months it has evolved to exploiting Java vulnerabilities to target Mac systems. A new variant that surfaced over the weekend appears to be taking advantage of Java vulnerability for which Apple released a patch yesterday. As CNET blogger Topher Kessler explains, simply visiting a malicious Web site containing Flashback on an OS X system with Java installed will result in one of two installation routes. The malware will request an administrator password, and if one is supplied, it will install its package of code into the Applications folder. If a password is not offered, the malware will install to the user accounts where it can run in a more global manner. Once installed, the Flashback will inject code into Web browsers and other applications like Skype to harvest passwords and other information from those program's users. Security company F-Secure has published instructions on how to determine whether a Mac is infected with Flashback. Updated at 6:45 p.m. to correct that a patch is available.
Posts: 15,672

04-05-2012, 01:56 PM	#2
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $2180752	NO THAT CANT HAPPEN APPEL CANOT GET VIRUS IT IS AWESOME AND IT EVEN MAKES ME TOAST IN THE MORNING /Appleheads __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
Posts: 40,446

04-05-2012, 02:20 PM	#3
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	Oops... __________________ It's like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I could been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong.
Posts: 15,344

04-05-2012, 02:23 PM	#4
Sofa King Hello Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Dakota Casino cash: $1112096 VARSITY
Posts: 23,206

04-05-2012, 02:25 PM	#5
WhiteWhale Bring it on Ahab! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Doo-Dah Casino cash: $10015152	It's almost funny that Apple fanboys seemed to think they were immune to this rather than simply not being targeted. With the growing popularity of Apple, this is going to become something they'll have to tackle.
Posts: 14,861

04-05-2012, 02:35 PM	#8
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	People are weird with this shit.
Posts: 11,651

04-05-2012, 02:49 PM	#9
QuikSsurfer Got swag? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madison, MS Casino cash: $10008287	__________________
Posts: 11,847

04-05-2012, 03:07 PM	#14
headsnap "Think ZOOM!" Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Space Station #5 Casino cash: $1967236	Windoze fanboys... the new hipsters! awww, aren't they cute...
Posts: 18,392