Apple Pledges to Take Care of Malware for Macs
Apple to fight against a nasty bit of malware.
Earlier this week we learned that malware makers are targeting Macs in an effort to steal the credit card numbers of those less savvy users. Malware removal is hardly ever the responsibility of the vendor; and Apple at the time had a policy even for its AppleCare extended warranty customers that the company couldn't intervene even with an antivirus software recommendation.
In a somewhat surprising move, Apple has decided to tackle the Mac Defender (and its variants) head-on in an upcoming software update. It even published a support document instructing how users may remove the malware if it has already been installed on their systems.
Apple's summary read:
A recent phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender "anti-virus" software to solve the issue.
This “anti-virus” software is malware (i.e. malicious software). Its ultimate goal is to get the user's credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes.
The most common names for this malware are MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity.
In the coming days, Apple will deliver a Mac OS X software update that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants. The update will also help protect users by providing an explicit warning if they download this malware.
In the meantime, the Resolution section below provides step-by-step instructions on how to avoid or manually remove this malware.
Apple's attention to defending its users against this malware is nice, but now the company has set a new precedent. With the growing popularity of Macs, the cases of targeted malware can only increase. Will Apple continue to issue bulletins and updates like this, or is this just a one time thing? It'll be interesting to see what will happen going forward.
- Security,
- Apple,
- malware ,
- macs ,
- macdefender
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apple needs to admit that it's OS is not as secure as people might think and start investing in a top of the line security company to help them develop a powerful anti-malware package
I kept trying to tell people who wanted to buy macs solely on the fact that they "never got viruses" that once enough people bought them, they'd be in the same boat as before. If the viruses get to the point where they are on windows this update method can't work.
if Mac OS X and Windows were a 50/50 split of the market, and coders were working on malware for both OSes, OS X would still be more secure thanks to it's rock solid unix architecture. Windows is just a much easier target.
if Mac OS X and Windows were a 50/50 split of the market, and coders were working on malware for both OSes, OS X would still be more secure thanks to it's rock solid unix architecture. Windows is just a much easier target.
Apple is arrogant (just like your comment), and just like Sony... and we all know how that story goes...
if Mac OS X and Windows were a 50/50 split of the market, and coders were working on malware for both OSes, OS X would still be more secure thanks to it's rock solid unix architecture. Windows is just a much easier target.
And that is why the mac ALWAYS get screwed first in the Pwn2Own events??
"but now the company has set a new precedent"
What? MS has been doing this already.
You mean, a new precedent for Apple? Like providing for the customers beyond milking their money? You got that right.
"those less savvy users"
I'm afraid you got that right, too.
if Mac OS X and Windows were a 50/50 split of the market, and coders were working on malware for both OSes, OS X would still be more secure thanks to it's rock solid unix architecture. Windows is just a much easier target.
Thanks Wiki-drwho1 for sharing this unbiased objective info with us.
Thanks Wiki-drwho1 for sharing this unbiased objective info with us.
I meant rickjamesb1tch.. Sorry for the bashing ;p
This also means Apple finally admits that their OS is not immune. That's why it took them a while to do the right thing... they had to swallow their pride first.
Apple support have always been great, no question.
It's never down to the manufacturer/OS company to get rid of viruses for you, because, lets face it; most viruses are down to the users stupidity or looking at too much pr0n.
So it's nice that Apple have created a fix for this.
Give M$ a call saying "I've got a virus, please create a security fix for it" and they'll laugh in your face.
I love how Apple only provides aid like this to its consumers after there's a leak showing how they're a soulless company who truly doesn't give two ****s about their customers.
Apple support have always been great, no question.It's never down to the manufacturer/OS company to get rid of viruses for you, because, lets face it; most viruses are down to the users stupidity or looking at too much pr0n. So it's nice that Apple have created a fix for this. Give M$ a call saying "I've got a virus, please create a security fix for it" and they'll laugh in your face.
You obviously completely missed the article leading up to this.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/a [...] 12781.html
Well, yes, actually; they do.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972/en-us
1-866-PCSAFETY
1-866-727-2338
These support lines can be used regardless of where the software was purchased / brand of computer / version of windows / etc.
It doesn't matter how rock solid the Unix OS is for OS X, the biggest vulnerability is between the chair and keyboard.
It doesn't matter how rock solid the Unix OS is for OS X, the biggest vulnerability is between the chair and keyboard.
Especially if its a stupid ignorant macsheep sitting in the chair.
My linux mint still no problems and running strong... but then again i only paid half for my cpu compared to what a mac cost
MSFT should run their own mac vs pc commerical making fun of this
Up yours Apples
i bought my girlfriend shiny ipod on sale and she managed to sell it to her less tech savvy friend for more
ata girl !
My linux mint still no problems and running strong... but then again i only paid half for my cpu compared to what a mac costMSFT should run their own mac vs pc commerical making fun of this
Agreed. If he's not under some exclusive deal with Apple, they should hire the same guy. Have him sneezing and coughing and running a fever and the nerdy guy aks whats wrong and he says he caught a virus and he's surprised cause he thought he was immune to that sort of thing. So something like that.
I love how Apple only provides aid like this to its consumers after there's a leak showing how they're a soulless company who truly doesn't give two ****s about their customers.
Apple support have always been great, no question.It's never down to the manufacturer/OS company to get rid of viruses for you, because, lets face it; most viruses are down to the users stupidity or looking at too much pr0n. So it's nice that Apple have created a fix for this. Give M$ a call saying "I've got a virus, please create a security fix for it" and they'll laugh in your face.
Uh, MS is constantly sending out free software fixes for vulnerabilities as they are discovered...it's called Windows Update ;-).
And that is why the mac ALWAYS get screwed first in the Pwn2Own events??
Since you mentioned that, I'll go ahead and leave this right here.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=21097
Since you mentioned that, I'll go ahead and leave this right here. http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=21097
The epic-ness of this is too great to describe with words
Apple support have always been great, no question.It's never down to the manufacturer/OS company to get rid of viruses for you, because, lets face it; most viruses are down to the users stupidity or looking at too much pr0n. So it's nice that Apple have created a fix for this. Give M$ a call saying "I've got a virus, please create a security fix for it" and they'll laugh in your face.
Lol. Do you know that Microsoft has a hot line dedicated only to malware?
I have to work with Win and Mac, sometimes at the same time :-) What annoys me the most in Win is the always-on antivirus. It spins the HDD almost always (and creates those annoying chirping sounds), it slows down the whole system, it annoys me with popups, it sometimes deletes legitimate files that I download, I just hate it. I hope that Mac avoids this.
I hope that Apple will say - you want virus-free soft? Get your Mac soft exclusively from Mac App Store.
Marcus and apple fans, you're saying apple is doing something most vendors don't do. You are aware that every month microsoft releases a malware removal kit. They've been doing that since at least xp service pack 2. Since microsoft has ~90% marketshare, that means that roughly 90% of the market has had this for years. But I guess since microsoft isn't apple, and apple is always forward thinking and innovative and they come up with everything, what microsoft has been doing for years doesn't count?
"Mac OS X is like living in a farmhouse in the country with no locks, and Windows is living in a house with bars on the windows in the bad part of town."
I'd rather live out in the country Mr Miller.
I'm in a state of mixed emotions over this whole debacle. I'm cheering inside at the arrogance of apple fanboys getting their comeuppance. I'm sad that this means apple is somehow relevant enough to warrant the attention of virus makers and identity thieves. I'm amused at the antiquated notion of most njoobie users that believe you still only get viruses/malware from "bad sites" or surfing for porno.
It is a brave new world out there with a scary underbelly. I do hope you enjoy being on the radar now and can adapt as well as you believe you can.
Without getting into any of the PC vs. Mac fan boy stuff, I think these security issues will be very interesting to follow.
It will be very interesting to see:
- how Apple addresses what is certainly going to become an ongoing issue.
- how their user base (who are largely new to these things) will react.
- how quickly both Apple and that user base can come up to speed.
In a related story, I think we may very well be looking at a similar situation regarding the Apple AppStore which just hasn't come to fruition, yet.
Consider having the world's largest AppStore. Now consider that Apple already (obviously) cannot even keep up with rolling out the vendor supplied updates for all of the products already in that store.
How long does everyone think it's going to take before some virus writers to decide to target this huge and potentially ill prepared and unsophisticated group of users by going after some known vulnerability in a common Mac iPad or other iDevice app?
If I were a virus writer I know it's where I would be looking. Does anyone else see a potential sh*t storm brewing here?
PS: I agree that the PC vs. Mac ads with the Mac user sneezing would be great (and now are absolutely appropriate!)
by the time they make a fix for this malware, there would be several new malwares.
die mac, die and die now
Especially if its a stupid ignorant macsheep sitting in the chair.
So the same must be true for windows sheep as well. When you consider the thousands of viruses and trojans the window sheep are faced with and the number of self inficting windows users. I would say that is why hackers target windows users....because the pool of gulible, incompetent users is much larger.
I have to work with Win and Mac, sometimes at the same time :-) What annoys me the most in Win is the always-on antivirus. It spins the HDD almost always (and creates those annoying chirping sounds), it slows down the whole system, it annoys me with popups, it sometimes deletes legitimate files that I download, I just hate it. I hope that Mac avoids this.I hope that Apple will say - you want virus-free soft? Get your Mac soft exclusively from Mac App Store.
Yo pass whatever you smoking over-here... I see its some good $hit...
I think you have to be one of those users that gets this crap. hahaha
... Give M$ a call saying "I've got a virus, please create a security fix for it" and they'll laugh in your face.
Ummm. Have you heard of Microsoft Security Essentials? That's Microsoft's free, regularly updated antivirus package.
And then you have the flip side of the coin, where if MS does too much, entities such as the U. S. government and the EU sue them for monopolistic practices.
Maybe this will quiet all those people that ignorantly say "Mac's don't get viruses or Malware".
The only reason that these issues are rare on Macs is because THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE USE PC computers. This makes PCs the main target. However, the makers of these programs and viruses see that Macs are gaining in popularity. If I was to guess, I would bet that they would likely be the easiest targets too.
Why?
1st - because the attitude that Macs don't get malware and viruses means most of them are unprotected. (Easy to infect)
2nd - because I believe the average Mac user to be computer illiterate and not know that they are not buying a program to fix the issue but being scamed into providing thier credit card number.
For those reasons I believe Malware and Virus makers may have a higher success rate trying to infect Mac computers.
If you really want to avoid infections use Linux. At this point you are more likely to get an infection on a Mac than in Linux. Yes, there are viruses for Linux too but they are rare.