Apple virus in the news

aerodynamic18 · aerodynamic18 #1 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 05:28 AM

Hey guys there is an article in the news about a virus affecting some macs
Flashback Trojan: Apple Mac OS X Computers Infected With Malware, Says Dr Web | Technology | Sky News

What virus software should i get to stop this/check my computer? I think its a touch slower than normal recently could it be a virus or is there something i should be doing like a defrag on windows?

louishen · louishen #2 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 05:46 AM

AS long as you are running Apple's Software update and have the latest Java update installed, then you fine.

You can find out if the trojan is installed here, but I doubt if you have picked it up

Mac Flashback Trojan: Find Out If You're One of the 600,000 Infected

aerodynamic18 · aerodynamic18 #3 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 05:54 AM

checked and i don't have it

is there anything i should be doing monthly or anything to keep the mac in tip top speed /health?
Thanks for ur help

G-Mo · G-Mo #4 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 08:14 AM

A Trojan is malicious software, not a virus.

Flashback trojan reportedly controls half a million Macs and counting

sfam198 · sfam198 #5 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerodynamic18

checked and i don't have it

is there anything i should be doing monthly or anything to keep the mac in tip top speed /health?
Thanks for ur help

If you've checked using the procedure posted above and you don't have it, you're good. Install the update from Apple and you're protected (use Software Update).

As far as protecting yourself from these types of things in the future, it's extremely simple. Don't install software or software updates if you don't know where they came from or didn't initiate them. If you get a prompt to enter your administrator account password in order to install some software, or an update to some software you already have, and you didn't explicitly tell the computer to install it, DON'T DO IT!

Honestly, it's very (and I mean extremely) difficult, if not impossible for a rogue piece of software to "take over" your Mac without the user giving it permission to do so in the first place.

aerodynamic18 · aerodynamic18 #6 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 08:58 AM

what about keeping its speed up?

RavingMac · RavingMac #7 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerodynamic18

what about keeping its speed up?

Download Onyx (free download) and run maintenance. Make sure you keep at least 10 to 15% disk free space. And, stay away from MacKeeper and it's cousins.

RatGrrl · RatGrrl #8 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 12:04 PM

I've had it for a while and it works pretty well but I won't hesitate to dump it if it causes problems.

Doug b · Doug b #9 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RatGrrl

I've had it for a while and it works pretty well but I won't hesitate to dump it if it causes problems.

You really aught to be careful. If your mate sees this, he/she might dump you first! You ARE talking about your boyfriend/girlfriend, right?

Doug

RavingMac · RavingMac #10 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RatGrrl

I've had it for a while and it works pretty well but I won't hesitate to dump it if it causes problems.

Reading material for you
mackeeper?

rhoff37 · rhoff37 #11 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 02:35 PM

It would be smart to at the least check whether or not your device has the malware. By running the commands in this FAQ, you can determine if your device has the malware, and then follow the instructions to take the right precautions to remove the problem.

Mac Flashback malware: What it is and how to get rid of it (FAQ) | Apple Talk - CNET News

Hazoss · Hazoss #12 (**permalink**)

04-07-2012, 03:17 PM

Hi there, am also concerned about this 'malware' thing -
Unfortunately I am not too familiar with working with Terminal either.

I did however check dns details on network in preferences - but this was light grey,
which is also an indicated according to this source
First Look: Trojan Horse warning: What you need to know | Macworld

I also found a 'test' link from https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435

The 'test' link for DNS behaviour [http://www.dns-ok.us/ [/url]
( mine shows green) I assume I'm safe.

Also just updated Onyx, Java and OSX to 10.7.3

Hope its ok to refer other sources - any correction is welcome.
Thanks a lot for all your contribution.

chas_m · chas_m #13 (**permalink**)

04-08-2012, 01:04 AM

People are freaking out over this harmless* malware unnecessarily.

*if you believe the company that claimed that 600,000 Macs had been "infected," you'll also believe their claim that they disabled the botnet somehow.

It's not rocket science:

1. Are you on Lion (10.7) or Snow Leopard (10.6)? If so, run Software Update. IF you see a Java update, update it. There. You are done and now immune to this problem.

2. Are you on an old version of OS X? If so, disable Java in your web browser. There. You are done and now immune to this problem.

As a side note to #2, if your machine is capable of running Snow Leopard, now's the time to update it at least that far.

I don't mean to sound flippant, but as is often the case with these sorts of things, initial reports were wildly exaggerated, just plain wrong or at the very least are now out of date.

The problem was a flaw in Java. Java runs on all platforms, so the problem affected all platforms. Anyone who was on a PC running an outdated Java was just as susceptible as a Mac running an outdated version of Java.

If you are running OS X 10.6 or higher, you already have anti-malware software on board as part of the OS. You do not really need more than that and keeping in the habit of updating your software via Software Update when it asks you to, but IF you want to run an anti-malware third-party program, hey it's your machine. All I'd suggest is that you'd be dumb to pay for it, as the best ones are all free for personal use.

Hazoss · Hazoss #14 (**permalink**)

04-08-2012, 02:24 AM

Hi Chas_m

In retrospect, it was a weird co incidence that I had both mouse and trackpad active and
something was accidentally placed on my trackpad, while I was using the mouse.
So the resulting conflicts of commands created my concern.

Thanks for the update.

madwolfe · madwolfe #15 (**permalink**)

04-08-2012, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chas_m

2. Are you on an old version of OS X? If so, disable Java in your web browser. There. You are done and now immune to this problem.

But how will I be able to play Runescape then? :O

I think the most important thing for people to do is what you should always be doing, watching what is being installed on your system and to keep away from the dodgy looking downloads.

louishen #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Location: London Posts: 8,648 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core i7 2012 \| White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz \| 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver	04-07-2012, 05:46 AM AS long as you are running Apple's Software update and have the latest Java update installed, then you fine. You can find out if the trojan is installed here, but I doubt if you have picked it up Mac Flashback Trojan: Find Out If You're One of the 600,000 Infected Member of the Month September 2008 & August 2012 \| Found advice useful? – use the rep system
	QUOTE Thanks

G-Mo #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 11, 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 53 Mac Specs: See signature	04-07-2012, 08:14 AM A Trojan is malicious software, not a virus. Flashback trojan reportedly controls half a million Macs and counting Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) 2.3GHz Core i5, 8GB RAM, Crucial M4 256GB SSD MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010); iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) iPad 2 16GB; iPhone 4S 16GB
	QUOTE Thanks

Hazoss #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 20, 2011 Posts: 28	04-07-2012, 03:17 PM Hi there, am also concerned about this 'malware' thing - Unfortunately I am not too familiar with working with Terminal either. I did however check dns details on network in preferences - but this was light grey, which is also an indicated according to this source First Look: Trojan Horse warning: What you need to know \| Macworld I also found a 'test' link from https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435 The 'test' link for DNS behaviour [http://www.dns-ok.us/ [/url] ( mine shows green) I assume I'm safe. Also just updated Onyx, Java and OSX to 10.7.3 Hope its ok to refer other sources - any correction is welcome. Thanks a lot for all your contribution. Last edited by Hazoss; 04-07-2012 at 03:31 PM.
	QUOTE Thanks

chas_m #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 22, 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 13,696 Mac Specs: 2009 MacBook Pro, Black speakers, Black Benq second monitor, black iPhone 4, Black 2012 iPad, etc.	04-08-2012, 01:04 AM People are freaking out over this harmless* malware unnecessarily. *if you believe the company that claimed that 600,000 Macs had been "infected," you'll also believe their claim that they disabled the botnet somehow. It's not rocket science: 1. Are you on Lion (10.7) or Snow Leopard (10.6)? If so, run Software Update. IF you see a Java update, update it. There. You are done and now immune to this problem. 2. Are you on an old version of OS X? If so, disable Java in your web browser. There. You are done and now immune to this problem. As a side note to #2, if your machine is capable of running Snow Leopard, now's the time to update it at least that far. I don't mean to sound flippant, but as is often the case with these sorts of things, initial reports were wildly exaggerated, just plain wrong or at the very least are now out of date. The problem was a flaw in Java. Java runs on all platforms, so the problem affected all platforms. Anyone who was on a PC running an outdated Java was just as susceptible as a Mac running an outdated version of Java. If you are running OS X 10.6 or higher, you already have anti-malware software on board as part of the OS. You do not really need more than that and keeping in the habit of updating your software via Software Update when it asks you to, but IF you want to run an anti-malware third-party program, hey it's your machine. All I'd suggest is that you'd be dumb to pay for it, as the best ones are all free for personal use. Cheers, chas_m -- My essay for switchers and newbies
	QUOTE Thanks

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aerodynamic18 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 06, 2011 Posts: 16	04-07-2012, 05:28 AM Hey guys there is an article in the news about a virus affecting some macs Flashback Trojan: Apple Mac OS X Computers Infected With Malware, Says Dr Web \| Technology \| Sky News What virus software should i get to stop this/check my computer? I think its a touch slower than normal recently could it be a virus or is there something i should be doing like a defrag on windows?
	QUOTE Thanks

aerodynamic18 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 06, 2011 Posts: 16	04-07-2012, 08:58 AM what about keeping its speed up?
	QUOTE Thanks

RatGrrl #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 05, 2012 Posts: 2	04-07-2012, 12:04 PM I've had it for a while and it works pretty well but I won't hesitate to dump it if it causes problems.
	QUOTE Thanks

rhoff37 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 30, 2010 Posts: 13	04-07-2012, 02:35 PM It would be smart to at the least check whether or not your device has the malware. By running the commands in this FAQ, you can determine if your device has the malware, and then follow the instructions to take the right precautions to remove the problem. Mac Flashback malware: What it is and how to get rid of it (FAQ) \| Apple Talk - CNET News
	QUOTE Thanks

Hazoss #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 20, 2011 Posts: 28	04-08-2012, 02:24 AM Hi Chas_m In retrospect, it was a weird co incidence that I had both mouse and trackpad active and something was accidentally placed on my trackpad, while I was using the mouse. So the resulting conflicts of commands created my concern. Thanks for the update.
	QUOTE Thanks

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