Official antivirus, malware, and firewall FAQ

McBie · McBie #91 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 02:52 AM

I have always questioned where the number 600000 came from and who would have an interest in understanding the level of success of this flashback thingy ....
Maybe this is an ( early ) indication.

Apple asks to shut domain belonging to Flashback researcher ‘Dr. Web’ – MacDailyNews - Welcome Home

btw..... this works both ways ..... for one company it is about the interest in the success rate, for the other it is about visibility/reputation.

Cheers ... McBie

Chuckoir · Chuckoir #92 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 04:28 AM

Could be a complete coincidence, and I'm probably playing Devil's Advocate, but if you look at the graphic that was included in the Sky News article, there's no mention of Russia (or China for that matter)...

Randy B. Singer · Randy B. Singer #93 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 06:59 AM

Flashback checker (will not remove Flashback if found) (OS X 10.5 or above only)
https://github.com/jils/FlashbackChecker/wiki

Free removal tool
Info:
Press Releases | Kaspersky Lab United States
or
Kaspersky Lab Offers
Download:
http://support.kaspersky.com/downloa...moval_tool.zip

vansmith · vansmith #94 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckoir

Could be a complete coincidence, and I'm probably playing Devil's Advocate, but if you look at the graphic that was included in the Sky News article, there's no mention of Russia (or China for that matter)...

Well, if I did the math correctly, the countries there account for 98.5% of the infections. So, even if you do include China and Russia, they would be responsible for no greater than 1.5% of the infections.

(Go Canada! Silver medal!

)

McBie · McBie #95 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vansmith

... (Go Canada! Silver medal!

)

I was thinking along those lines looking at Belgium.... our neighbors are all on the list, so we are very fortunate to be ringfenced, almost like a wall ..... a f***wall

Sorry ... couldn't resist.

Cheers ... McBie

Mylife · Mylife #96 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vansmith

I wanted to make that a little larger to emphasize it.

The open safe files security hole (I can't call it a feature) was a terrible design decision. If you're using Safari, unchecking it should be the next thing you do.

Thanks just did that. Anything else I need to do in internet preferences or system preferences for that matter?

The paranoia is getting to me and I am looking into getting Intego X6 software.

vansmith · vansmith #97 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 12:59 PM

Don't be paranoid - that's unproductive and will make your experience considerably less enjoyable. Exercise vigilance and heed the advice & warnings that you get from the Mac community as a whole. Combine that with some common sense when browsing the web and you should be fine.

As for anything else to do, you might want to disable Java (unless you need it for something you do on a regular basis). You can do that by going to Safari > Security (don't confuse Java with Javascript - they are two very different things). If you use multiple browsers, you can disable the plugin system wide by going to /Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences.app and unchecking "Enable applet plug-in and Web Start applications."

I suggest this since Java is not only largely irrelevant on the client side these days but Apple seems to care little about Java. In this instance, a patch was released for the exploit used here back in February (source) but Apple only patched it when the trojan started taking advantage of Apple's lack of concern for patching Java with any speed (this goes back to what I was saying earlier in this thread about Apple's sometimes problematic lack of concern for patching products with any speed). I really wish Oracle would speed up the process of regaining control over the Java releases.

Mylife · Mylife #98 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vansmith

As for anything else to do, you might want to disable Java (unless you need it for something you do on a regular basis). You can do that by going to Safari > Security (don't confuse Java with Javascript - they are two very different things). If you use multiple browsers, you can disable the plugin system wide by going to /Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences.app and unchecking "Enable applet plug-in and Web Start applications."

When I click on Java Preferences it says I need a Java runtime, Install now? What is this?

vansmith · vansmith #99 (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 02:11 PM

If it says you don't have a Java runtime installed, you won't have this problem. It's hard for something to affect you if you don't have it.

Mylife · Mylife #**100** (**permalink**)

04-11-2012, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vansmith

If it says you don't have a Java runtime installed, you won't have this problem. It's hard for something to affect you if you don't have it.

Got it... Step away from the install now button haha

ZeroTX · ZeroTX #**101** (**permalink**)

04-12-2012, 12:45 PM

Apple working on software to remove the Flashback trojan | Technology News Blog - Yahoo! News

At some point there has to be recognition that there is no invulnerable operating system and that protection and vigilance has to take place, for all OS users.

Pigstick · Pigstick #**102** (**permalink**)

04-12-2012, 07:13 PM

Apple has released another update - Java for OS X Lion 2012-2013. They say:

This Java security update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware.

This update also configures the Java web plug-in to disable the automatic execution of Java applets. Users may re-enable automatic execution of Java applets using the Java Preferences application. If the Java web plug-in detects that no applets have been run for an extended period of time it will again disable Java applets.

Java for OS X Lion 2012-003 delivers Java SE 6 version 1.6.0_31 and supersedes all previous versions of Java for OS X Lion.

This update is recommended for all Mac users with Java installed.

Guess another update is a good idea...

Randy B. Singer · Randy B. Singer #**103** (**permalink**)

04-13-2012, 11:05 PM

In addition to Apple's most recent Java update which can remove Flashback, Apple has just released a stand-alone Flashback Removal Tool:

Apple Flashback Removal Tool
Flashback malware removal tool

Perranoak · Perranoak #**104** (**permalink**)

04-14-2012, 08:58 AM

... and I was finally about to take the plunge and buy a Mac!

I know, don't be paranoid. It's not paranoia about the malware but about Apple's very slow response.

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #**105** (**permalink**)

04-14-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perranoak

... and I was finally about to take the plunge and buy a Mac!

I know, don't be paranoid. It's not paranoia about the malware but about Apple's very slow response.

I am a PC Tech. Every PC I get in here has more Malware than I can count. Go Linux I guess since you are afraid of Mac.

McBie #91 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 26, 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,836 Mac Specs: 2008 MBP 17" - 10.8.2 & iPad - iOS 5.1	04-11-2012, 02:52 AM I have always questioned where the number 600000 came from and who would have an interest in understanding the level of success of this flashback thingy .... Maybe this is an ( early ) indication. Apple asks to shut domain belonging to Flashback researcher ‘Dr. Web’ – MacDailyNews - Welcome Home btw..... this works both ways ..... for one company it is about the interest in the success rate, for the other it is about visibility/reputation. Cheers ... McBie " Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. " A. Einstein The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem. You understand ?
	QUOTE Thanks

Chuckoir #92 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 21, 2011 Location: London, Londonshire, England. Posts: 721 Mac Specs: 13" Late 2011 MBP,iPad '3' 32gb,iPhone4 32gb	04-11-2012, 04:28 AM Could be a complete coincidence, and I'm probably playing Devil's Advocate, but if you look at the graphic that was included in the Sky News article, there's no mention of Russia (or China for that matter)... Play the guitar?! Check out the [newly created]Mac-Forums guitar thread!
	QUOTE Thanks

Randy B. Singer #93 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 01, 2011 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 478	04-11-2012, 06:59 AM Flashback checker (will not remove Flashback if found) (OS X 10.5 or above only) https://github.com/jils/FlashbackChecker/wiki Free removal tool Info: Press Releases \| Kaspersky Lab United States or Kaspersky Lab Offers Download: http://support.kaspersky.com/downloa...moval_tool.zip Randy B. Singer Mac OS X Routine Maintenance • http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #97 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,295 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	04-11-2012, 12:59 PM Don't be paranoid - that's unproductive and will make your experience considerably less enjoyable. Exercise vigilance and heed the advice & warnings that you get from the Mac community as a whole. Combine that with some common sense when browsing the web and you should be fine. As for anything else to do, you might want to disable Java (unless you need it for something you do on a regular basis). You can do that by going to Safari > Security (don't confuse Java with Javascript - they are two very different things). If you use multiple browsers, you can disable the plugin system wide by going to /Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences.app and unchecking "Enable applet plug-in and Web Start applications." I suggest this since Java is not only largely irrelevant on the client side these days but Apple seems to care little about Java. In this instance, a patch was released for the exploit used here back in February (source) but Apple only patched it when the trojan started taking advantage of Apple's lack of concern for patching Java with any speed (this goes back to what I was saying earlier in this thread about Apple's sometimes problematic lack of concern for patching products with any speed). I really wish Oracle would speed up the process of regaining control over the Java releases. Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST. Last edited by vansmith; 04-11-2012 at 01:05 PM.
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #99 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,295 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	04-11-2012, 02:11 PM If it says you don't have a Java runtime installed, you won't have this problem. It's hard for something to affect you if you don't have it. Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
	QUOTE Thanks

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ZeroTX #101 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 11, 2010 Posts: 29	04-12-2012, 12:45 PM Apple working on software to remove the Flashback trojan \| Technology News Blog - Yahoo! News At some point there has to be recognition that there is no invulnerable operating system and that protection and vigilance has to take place, for all OS users.
	QUOTE Thanks

Pigstick #102 (permalink)
Member Since: May 12, 2011 Location: China Posts: 79 Mac Specs: Mac OSX 10.7.3: MBP 15" Early 2011 2.0GHz i7, 8GB, 500GB 5400RPM	04-12-2012, 07:13 PM Apple has released another update - Java for OS X Lion 2012-2013. They say: This Java security update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware. This update also configures the Java web plug-in to disable the automatic execution of Java applets. Users may re-enable automatic execution of Java applets using the Java Preferences application. If the Java web plug-in detects that no applets have been run for an extended period of time it will again disable Java applets. Java for OS X Lion 2012-003 delivers Java SE 6 version 1.6.0_31 and supersedes all previous versions of Java for OS X Lion. This update is recommended for all Mac users with Java installed. Guess another update is a good idea...
	QUOTE Thanks

Randy B. Singer #103 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 01, 2011 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 478	04-13-2012, 11:05 PM In addition to Apple's most recent Java update which can remove Flashback, Apple has just released a stand-alone Flashback Removal Tool: Apple Flashback Removal Tool Flashback malware removal tool Randy B. Singer Mac OS X Routine Maintenance • http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
	QUOTE Thanks

Perranoak #104 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 09, 2012 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 30 Mac Specs: iPad2, iPhone5	04-14-2012, 08:58 AM ... and I was finally about to take the plunge and buy a Mac! I know, don't be paranoid. It's not paranoia about the malware but about Apple's very slow response. Everybody knows it but everybody doesn't care! RJD
	QUOTE Thanks

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