The Truth about Mac Viruses (Is The Honeymoon Over?)
Flashback Trojan/Virus
UPDATE: April 26, 2012
There are an increasing number of Trojan horses online, and that means it's time for Mac users to saddle up (I couldn't resist) and start becoming
as vigilant as our Windows brethren when it comes to malware. And to be honest, it probably doesn't matter whether what's out there is a Trojan,
a virus, or a worm, if software is getting into your Mac and you didn't want it there, then it's a problem.
Flashback is the latest and most widespread outbreak to affect the Mac community. It's been estimated that 600,000 Macs have been infected to date. While
that's a relatively small number, if your Mac is one of those then it's a big deal.
As with all other Trojans, Flashback at first required that you actively download and install it. But now it's morphed (people have changed it and re-released it)
so it's now possible to become infected with it without actively installing anything.
In other words, it's now a virus, the first Mac OS X virus. So the honeymoon is over and we Mac users need to start getting serious about security.
The sky is not falling, though, so come down off that ledge, OK? And I don't think it's time for us all to rush out and buy antivirus software yet.
Mostly because av software scans for known malware, of which there is now 3, maybe 4. So you'd basically be paying good money for av software to do
almost nothing. That said, if you really would sleep better knowing you have antivirus software on your Mac, I recommend ClamXav, a FREE piece of
antivirus software that I know, trust, and like.
The ClamXav website is here.
Or get it in the App Store.
To learn more about what Apple says about Flashback go here.
To see if you have the Flashback software installed and to remove it:
1) Download FlashbackRemoval.zip to the Mac you want to scan.
2) Double-click the zip package to unzip it in the current folder.
3) Double-click the FlashBack Removal app to run the tool.
4) Follow the instructions to check your system and clean any infections.
And to avoid it and other gremlins out there........just be vigilant. Don't install anything that you're not certain of its legitimacy,
and stay away from any website that wants you to download something to check if you're infected, unless you know and trust the website or the person
who sent you there.
MacDefender Malware
September 8, 2011
There are now, however, a few Mac gremlins popping up online that you should be aware of. The one getting the most
press right now is MacDefender (also known as Mac Guard, Mac Security, and Mac Protector).
All of these, which are variants of MacDefender, are real but they are not viruses. A virus self-replicates, meaning it makes multiple copies of itself
so as to spread to as many other Macs as possible.
These are known as Malware and the difference is slight but important. Malware is malicious software. Meaning any software that has evil intent. Whether simply to vandalize your
Mac or to trick you into paying to remove it. MacDefender is malware, very, very slick and convincing malware.
Click here to see the MacDefender window.
It works like this, you go to a website that has been compromised and the Mac Defender software window pops up and
tells you, in a very official looking window, that you are infected. It then offers to help you remove the bad software.
What it's telling you is a lie. You are NOT infected, it's just saying you are so you will panic and choose to
let it help you remove the infection.
Then it asks you for money. (That's the obvious sign of fraud, that it's asking you for money!)
So, the bottom line is do not believe a random window that tells you you're infected. Only antivirus software
that you previously installed onto your Mac will ever pop up and tell you about an infection. All other such
notifcations are a lie. Simply ignore them and go on your way and no harm will come to you.
Click here to read the entire article about Mac malware and what to do to protect yourself from it.
Read Apple's instructions on removal of the MacDefender app.
If you want to begin using antivirus software I would only ask that you do NOT use Norton. It can slow your Mac to a crawl and doesn't provide any better protection than the others.
I recommend the FREE antivirus software named ClamXav.
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