Can I reinstall MacOS?Macscan shows I have spyware...Avast for MacBook shows Virus

[bobtomay]

You don't need to have windows on your machine to pick up a windows virus, either fed to you by clicking the wrong place on the web or by people sending you viruses in their e-mails. Just because a virus will only work in windows, does not prevent the file from being downloaded to your computer. It would however, sit there non-functioning until you passed it on to a windows user.

After reading this, decided to give Avast a shot on my Mac.
And after running it - I would highly advise against running this app on any Mac, much less allowing it to do anything to your system.

Among the files it finds are:
1. fseventsd - a system file that is used by OS X in the indexing process of Spotlight
2. hotfiles.btree - a system file that automatically defrags files under 20MB in size, moving them into contiguous space and freeing up the previously used area available for writing
3. Spotlight-V100 - this is the root directory where Spotlight saves all of it's indexing related files
4. .Trashes - your Trash can, mine happens to be empty at the moment
5. Users - Yes the Users folder
6. com.Apple.Spotlight.plist - the preferences file
7. A half dozen other preference files
8. Activity Monitor - yep, it's a virus too
9. Quicktime741_Leopard.pkg - yep, this Quicktime update is a virus also.
10. It even reported one of it's own loaders in this report.


Decided that was enough playing with what at this time are Windows toys.
Bye bye Avast.....

 

[sereneaspiratio]

Very informative and makes complete sense! I understand now and it is much like the Mac Representative I spoke with when making the Macbook purchase. He explained to me that a virus getting on Mac would be like one who can only speak one language receiving a postcard/letter in the mail from someone who wrote in another language...you would have the postcard/letter but not have a clue what it says.

Being a newbie and having dealt with Windows crap for so long, it was only natural for a bit of panic come. You folks here at Mac Forums have been a tremendous help in bringing back some peace over my way.

 

[Brown Study]

And after running it - I would highly advise against running this app on any Mac, much less allowing it to do anything to your system.

Among the files it finds are: . . .

Sounds like Avast is a Mac worm.

 

[bobtomay]

Sounds like Avast is a Mac worm.

I'm just hoping I got all of that app off my machine!!!

Someone remind to experiment with stuff like that on my wife's Mac next time instead of mine.

 

[Brown Study]

OK. Experiment with stuff like that on your wife's Mac next time instead of yours.

 

[Sherman Homan]

I experimented with mine, and yes indeed, Avast claims that my User folder, Trash and others are viruses. I am willing to believe that Avast is a legit company, they may make a legit PC product, but I also believe that their Mac version is a scam.

 

[chscag]

I experimented with mine, and yes indeed, Avast claims that my User folder, Trash and others are viruses. I am willing to believe that Avast is a legit company, they may make a legit PC product, but I also believe that their Mac version is a scam.

While Avast may be a legit company, their product (at least their free version) along with several other free Win AV scanners are not that effective even when run in Windows. Avast and AVG are both usually on the bottom of the test list.

 

[zongamin]

While Avast may be a legit company, their product (at least their free version) along with several other free Win AV scanners are not that effective even when run in Windows. Avast and AVG are both usually on the bottom of the test list.

I disagree- Avast and AVG usually top user and magazine lists for PC users, they are both effective, easy to use and of course free. I would always recommend one or the other to a PC user.

The fact remains that there are still no OS X viruses, but many people share files with Windows Users. Your best protection is of course never to download anything from Limewire, torrent sites or any other P2P. Don't forward 'interesting' emails - it really isn't worth the risk to other users.
Turn on the firewall, install little snitch and do the occasional scan with ClamXav.

 

[shahvikram123]

AVG and Avast normally have very poor resutls when it comes to detection rates.

 

[skaheadpunk]

I currently have a Windows virus on my mac. Unfortunately it seems to be attached to my CV - I was sending it out to people and not getting any replies until someone asked me to come to interview but never email again because it attacked their system!

 

[dtravis7]

I currently have a Windows virus on my mac. Unfortunately it seems to be attached to my CV - I was sending it out to people and not getting any replies until someone asked me to come to interview but never email again because it attacked their system!

Opps!!

I hope that did not get you in too much trouble!

If you do anything with Windows users, it might be a good idea to get a free Virus scanner and run it once in a while so you will not hurt your windows friends and even a possible Job!

I use ClamAVx. Does what I need and it's free.

 

[skaheadpunk]

Yep, have now installed ClamAVx and am back to job hunting!

 

[Noels]

bobtomay,

To get rid of all that detritus that came with Avast for you, download AppTrap at http://konstochvanligasaker.se/apptrap/

It is supposed to rid your Mac of all that extra stuff when you uninstall something. You might have to re-install and re-uninstall Avast to get rid of those files with AppTrap, though to clean your machine. Kind of a Catch 22...

Noel

 

[Noels]

skaheadpunk,

That must have been scary, especially losing possible interviews. Glad you're back in the hunt and hope you find just what you're looking for, soon...

Noel

 

[zongamin]

So after reading this I downloaded and ran MacScan.

It found 3 'tracking cookies' - although to be honest I don't think they were anything to worry about, deleted them anyway.

Certainly didn't seem to be a scam - there's a 30 day free trial so it didn't cost anything - Most likely I will appzap it and maybe 'try it' again in 6 months.

 

[skaheadpunk]

skaheadpunk,

That must have been scary, especially losing possible interviews. Glad you're back in the hunt and hope you find just what you're looking for, soon...

Noel

Got a job this afternoon!!! Applied for that one in person

 

[louishen]

copy the text out of your CV and paste it in to pages, that way you will have a fresh virus free CV