Computer Attack From ABZ - runoutradio

[jmurphy]

I use a IPad most of time. AZ has recently been locking up or is real slow.

Lately AZ forum is crashing. In the last few days on at least 10 occansions, when I have tried to send a PM my computer thinks about it for a moment and then I get the "Can Not Display Web Page" message

 

[ctyhntr]

Tried to rep you, but I must spread it around first.

Apple has trained their customers to accept a simple but effective security mode; prompt for root password to install or run in admin mode. A mac user doesn't automatically run with full admin rights. This helps cut down alot of possible malware infections. Prior to Windows 7, you can implement the same security model in Windows, but people and unfortunately app are too accustomed to run in admin mode, which is why its disabled or unsuccessful. So, Windows malware could do a silent install because the user had full admin rights.

FWIW, I found Symantec slow (2-3 days) in updating their anti-virus signatures. I had situation where Symantec didn't pick up a variant, but another vendor's scan did. After reporting, at that point, you're left at the mercy of Symantec to update (not just to detect, but remove), and pray for the weekend to come up (weekends are natural firebreaks), so you can fix, re-image the infected machines.

I notice Kaspersky probably catches more, but that's because most of the viruses originate from Russia.

And that is one of the BIGGEST misconceptions that Apple's marketing department (in their "Mac versus PC" commercials) has foisted upon their poor user base. Just because it's a Mac does NOT mean it's "immune" to virii, Trojan Horses, bots, adware, spyware, and other forms of malware. Let's not forget the world's very first computer virus (one that actually spread in the wild, versus written in the lab but never went anywhere) was written for Apple personal computers, not IBM PCs. It was called "Elk Cloner" and was written for the Apple II. It was indeed the world's very first virus that actually spread in the wild.

Just because Apple switched from their spaghetti-code MacOS 9 to the UNIX-kernel-based MacOS X (the "X" means "10", btw, not "exx"), doesn't mean that it's "immune" to mal-intentioned code. A UNIX kernel does not shield it from mal-intentioned software; only from poorly-written software. (And just because something's a virus, doesn't mean it's poorly written -- yes, many of the PC virii are poorly written / kiddie-scripted, but there are also some wickedly genius ones written as well.)

Those that believe things like "nothing needed on the Mac" (antivirus-/antimalware-wise) will have a RUDE awakening very soon, when they do get infected. There are plenty of MacOS X virii out there, and they are quite nasty -- even more nasty than the hastily-written (and kiddie-scripted) PC virii. The fact that the Mac tends to shield its inner workings under a graphic user interface also tends to make hiding mal-written code much easier than on a PC.

So for those that think you don't need an antivirus/antimalware program on your Mac, you better wake up now and install one. Or your "wake up" process in the very near future will be a RUDE one!

Just a cordial FYI from your friendly neighborhood multi-platform information security specialist,
-Sean

 

[JoseV]

Norton is crap. I wouldn't be so quick to jump as to where it came from. Nortons detects plenty that isn't harmful. Save your money and get a free AV you are just as well off. There are a lot of ping viruses out there now. Could have been from anywhere. Thanks for the warning though.

Nortons works well for me i have three laptops two with norton 360 and one with one i wont name. The two with norton stopped it right away the third laptop was not so lucky.

 

[rivercitysledge]

anyone who knows vipre is the tripple nuts