KeRanger Mac Ransomware Based On Linux Forebear, Not Windows

An anonymous reader writes: It appears that the KeRanger ransomware that's been tormenting Mac users for the past days is actually based on a ransomware variant that targets Linux servers, and not on a ransomware family coming from Windows. That particular Linux ransomware is also based on an open-source ransomware called Hidden Tear that was uploaded to GitHub by a Turkish security researcher. So obviously, the conclusion is that GitHub is to blame for the KeRanger Mac ransomware. (Note to readers: That last bit is tongue in anonymous cheek.)

Comments

Re:Note to readers: That last bit is tongue in che

[TheRealHocusLocus]

No it isn't, it's editorialising. And it's inappropriate.

No it isn't, it's a clarification. Wording a bit

"(Note to readers: That last bit is tongue in anonymous cheek.)"
The phrase 'tongue in cheek' is an idiom meaning in (sarcastic or ironic) jest that risks being misunderstood if it is broken up. Could also have been worded,
"(Note to readers: That last bit is anonymous' tongue-in-cheek.)"

The real problem is that anonymous wrote a summary as a series of factual sentences --- but then added a sarcastic comment at the end in the same style, so there is no clear cue that it is a sarcastic comment. I figured it out by what was said and empathizing with the writer, but editors strive for clarity, even if they feel the need to interrupt your flow by adding a comment of their own. Try to make the editor's job easier. Try this, anonymous,

"[...] uploaded to GitHub by a Turkish security researcher. So... obviously, the conclusion is that GitHub is to blame [...]"

You have two tone-changers that set the sarcasm aside, even bring attention to it. "So..." is a pause-for-irony that cues readers that they are now listening to the author's voice, and italics underscore the tone change. You can also add ", right?" to make sarcasm crystal clear. So... now that fucktard blowhard Hocus is giving style advice, right?

what to you think will generate more traffic? being a part of the technology community, or garbage that makes people angry?

What if we're talking about discussion, not website traffic? Isn't that a community? And what if technology itself contains a lot of garbage that makes people angry?

Like dumbfuck LED indicators on modern tech devices that are supposed to indicate network and disc access, but blink late, on simple blink-on-blink-off timers, extended by capacitors until tiny blips disappear, on by default to add useless 'glow' to your room and dim (slowly) to indicate activity (fuck that shit). Or completely software driven so the indication is late or bogus. Like my AT&T Uverse modem which is the stupidest modem in the world with indicators as useless as CSS 'Loading...' animation on web pages, noise and fury signifying nothing. The modem can completely lock up while the front panel still shows the useless thumb-sucking blinky-state the software left it in. Like no one wants to lay down a single PCB trace from controller chip to LED anymore, it's too... fucking... difficult.

That's garbage. And Slashdot is the place to discuss it.