Apple Snubs Security Firm That Spotted Mac Botnet

Sparrowvsrevolution writes "Now that it's being increasingly targeted by botnet herders, Apple has a thing or two to learn about cooperating with friendly security researchers. Boris Sharov, the CEO of Dr. Web, the Russian security company that first reported more than half a million Macs were infected with Flashback malware last week, says when his company alerted Apple to the botnet, it never responded to him. Worse yet, on Monday Apple asked a Russian registrar to take down a domain it said was being used to host a command and control server for Flashback, but in fact was a 'sinkhole' that Dr. Web had set up to observe and analyze the botnet. Sharov describes the lack of communication and cooperation as a symptom of a company that has never before had to work closely with the security industry. 'For Microsoft, we have all the security response team's addresses,' he says. 'We don't know the antivirus group inside Apple.'"

Comments

Mac's don't get malware

[crazyjj]

Why would they communicate with a supposed security researcher who doesn't even know that?

Re:Mac's don't get malware

[fustakrakich]

Yes, but debugging your windshield is still necessary every once in a while

Re:Mac's don't get malware

[Cro Magnon]

I guess you don't use Windows Calculator?

Re:Mac's don't get malware

[spongman]

mac's aren't PCs. they're crystallized mana from heaven.

Re:Mac's don't get malware

[Ihmhi]

Honestly, the best way to debug a windshield is a full wipe.

Safeguard your data. By doing nothing.

[rfioren]

http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-os/#viruses

Re:Safeguard your data. By doing nothing.

[Anonymous Coward]

"It doesn’t get PC viruses."

In other news, my electric car doesn't suffer from problems caused by low quality gasoline.

Re:Safeguard your data. By doing nothing.

[dstyle5]

Innocent-looking files downloaded over the Internet may contain dangerous malware in disguise.

Slashdotter who is Apple customer Testimonial: "I thought it was just an innocent file containing photos of goats..."

there is no Apple AV group

[alen]

Mac's don't get viruses. it used to be magic pixie dust protected all the Mac's but my MacBook Pro and others bought since the death of St. Steve are protected by His Spirit

Re:there is no Apple AV group

[ColdWetDog]

Ah, but you're right. This isn't a virus. It's a trojan. And we all know that Trojan's protect dicks.

(sorry Apple fans, that one hung out there just a wee too much).

Re:there is no Apple AV group

[revelation60]

It's a feature.

Re:there is no Apple AV group

[narcc]

that one hung out there just a wee too much

That's what she said!

To paraphrase Steve J...

[kbob88]

"It's not the job of Russian security firms to know where our security holes are"

And also, Macs only get malware "when you hold it wrong"

Re:Of course not.

[idontgno]

Good point. I bet Apple's response to this trojan is "You're holding it wrong."

Re:"We don't know the antivirus group inside Apple

[ifrag]

OS X has what, TWO viruses now?

Soon my armies shall pour forth from the shattered sandbox, ravaging this OS and all hope of resistance. My minions will find the vulnerability, wherever you choose to hide it. Then, at long last, BSD shall reign as the prime OS.

Re:Why do we support liers?

[amicusNYCL]

It's not their fault if they think different.

misleading summary

[noh8rz3]

Now that it's being increasingly targeted by botnet herders,

newsbreak- mac botnets increase from 0 to 1. increasingly targeted! infinity percent increase!