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Malicious Web Pages Can Install Dashboard Widgets

Posted by timothy on from the not-good dept.

bonch writes "If you're running Safari on OS X Tiger and go to this website, a 'slightly evil' Dashboard widget will be automatically downloaded and installed and can't be removed without manually removing the file from the Library folder and rebooting the computer. The widget is called Zaptastic and is a demonstration by the author of how easy it is to exploit Dashboard for nefarious purposes. The essay, released under the Creative Commons License, goes on to describe the many ways users can be taken advantage of--imagine porn sites auto-installing adware widgets without your knowledge." So if you're on a Mac, it would be smart to view that page with something other than Safari.

7 of 610 comments (clear)

  1. yes but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    magine porn sites auto-installing adware widgets without your knowledge.

    Yes, but do they install porn?
    -SJ53

    1. Re:yes but... by mike518 · · Score: 5, Funny

      "magine porn sites auto-installing adware widgets without your knowledge."

      i dont need to imagine, im running windows xp.

      --
      Mike
      I heart the RIAA & MPAA, im sure its mutual...
  2. In soviet russia by zkn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apple copies Microsoft.....

  3. Re:Thanks Slashdot! by jericho4.0 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Oh. My. God. There's a zip file on your desktop. Holy Shit. A zip file, for Christ's sake! What will your fate be? Long and painful, or medium and painful? How will your family go on?

    --
    "A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming, is not worth knowing" - Alan Perlis
  4. O Great Oracle of Slashdot by Dachannien · · Score: 5, Funny

    If there's anything that Slashdot has taught us, it's that it's never safe to use your computer.

  5. Imagine it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny



    imagine porn sites auto-installing adware widgets without your knowledge

    Imagine it? I'm a Windows/IE user...I live it!

  6. Afraid that won't work cuz... by NoData · · Score: 4, Funny

    IN SOVIET RUSSIA...some guy kicks ass of YOU!

    (Oh christ, why? The karma, it burns like my shame)