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Apple Acknowledges MacDefender

Posted by Unknown on from the but-macs-don't-get-viruses dept.

Trailrunner7 writes with an article in threatpost "Apple is planning to release an update specifically designed to protect users against the MacDefender malware that has been circulating for the last couple of weeks. The update for Mac OS X will automatically find and remove the malware on an infected machine and also will warn users if another infection attempt is detected.

6 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Kudos to Apple by royallthefourth · · Score: 3, Informative

    Kudos to Apple for doing what Microsoft has been doing for many years: the monthly updated malicious software removal tool included in Windows Update.

    If they still do that. I haven't run Windows in a couple years...

  2. Apple and its fanboys helped make this happen by MikeRT · · Score: 3, Informative

    My wife supports a lot of Mac users who literally say stuff like "I don't have to worry about security because I have a Mac." In their minds, they can literally just wash their hands of all security considerations because Apple will do everything for them like a bodyguard from Blackwater. Apple has ridden a wave of anti-Microsoft sentiment in no small part by creating or at least encouraging the impression that if you buy a Mac, you'll never have to think again about taking care of your computer except maybe once a blue moon.

    1. Re:Apple and its fanboys helped make this happen by King_TJ · · Score: 4, Informative

      Honestly, as another commenter already said, the Mac users like the ones your wife supports are by and large correct in that statement....

      The truth is, your typical computer user who believes they're "aware of computer security issues" will tell you he/she takes steps to avoid getting virus infections. They'll tell you they do such things as "never opening emails when I don't know who they're from", and "not giving out my credit card over the Internet". Sometimes, they'll even brag about going to their favorite local computer store and asking someone what the "best antivirus software is" and buying / installing a copy of it.

      Guess what? I get paid by the hour to clean nasty virus and malware problems off such peoples' Windows machines ALL the time!

      On the flip-side? In the 5+ years I've had my business doing on-site computer service (not to mention years doing it for other people in the past), I've still NEVER had a SINGLE call from a Mac user needing such services! Not ONCE - despite clearly displaying the Apple logo on my business cards and mentioning in all of my advertising that I take care of both Mac and PC issues!

      I'd go so far as to say that if you use a Mac, you should TRY to infect yourself sometime. Visit all the "bad" web sites you can think of to click on.... Follow the links on those sites that promise they'll locate the latest pirated software or key codes for you, or all the oddball porn sites you can locate... whatever. Watch how often something tries to send you a self-extracting .EXE file or download a script (.scr extension) file to your browser to run, or tries to give you some Active-X plug-in that's not compatible with your Mac's browser in the first place..... It's somewhat enlightening actually.

  3. Re:Kudos to Apple by tgd · · Score: 3, Informative

    Windows Security Essentials covers both virus and spyware scanning, and is free. And as you said, Microsoft pushes out updates fairly regularly to their malware removal tools.

    As long as you're on an up-to-date validly-licensed copy of Windows 7, and you don't do some asshat thing like shut off automatic updates, Win7 is pretty solid out of the box. MSE isn't there by default, but I believe if Windows detects you don't have some other virus scanner installed, it will list it as an important update in Windows Update.

  4. Re:Kudos to Apple by benjymouse · · Score: 5, Informative

    Windows Defender is add-on software because the OS itself doesn't provide enough defense.

    No. It is add-on because MS cannot bundle such application for anti-trust concerns. Same with security essentials.

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  5. Mod Parent Down, uninformed and wrong. by mosb1000 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Unless and until Apple disables the setting on Safari that causes the MacDefender Trojan to be automatically downloaded and executed just by visiting a malicious web page, Apple has not done a good job, in my opinion.

    Apple does not have a setting that automatically downloads files when visiting a website. There is a setting that automatically opens downloaded files, but it's debatable whether they should turn it off or not, since you usually want to open something once you've downloaded it. As others have said before, installing software (any software) on a mac requires your administrator password. You discription can't get much farther from the truth than that You are pretty much completely wrong about everything you've said.