Reply to bellastrada
bellastrada said:
Is there anyone that know a software (freeware) that will find and delete spywares on a mac?
Thanks
bellastrada,
What are the symptoms you're experiencing? I have a PowerMAC G-5 running OS-X with Safari as default... and have been troubled with spyware. I've been writing articles about this that seem to have sort of... disappeared.
MAC OS-X is NOT- repeat NOT impervious to spyware. OS-X 's Safari uses the same methodology in cookie-handling and DNS resolution that Windows components employ... only difference is that it all threads to the Unix kernel. But Safari CAN be infected by tracking cookies. The latter don't seem to be targeting Safari, however, but are sequestered into a folder in Users\Your Name\Library\ etc. There, thet serve as vector for more serious components, such as key-loggers, etc.
Take my word for this, b., there are mob types working in the multi-billion dollar ad industry who recognize the fact of a growing user pool of Apple/Unix products, and who have been working their poor little fingers to the bone finding ways to write implantable spyware compatible with Unix systems. It all boils down to the quest for market share and the old axiom "where there's a will there's a way."
people like witeshark (sorry, ws, no offense) are seeing the world with rose-colored glasses in re the spyware issue. But take off the blinders and you may find that your MAC is infected. MACs run well with a load of spyware on board. One dead give-away to its presence, however, is slow loading and lots of static coming from the hard drive. Also, if you find yourself running Disk Utility frequently to make corrections to plists... bingo.
Drop another attachment to this thread, b.; I'd like to know how you see the problem you're experiencing and maybe try to help you figure out what to do about it.
At this posting (and it isn't likely to change any time soon) there's only one spyware remover ON EARTH for the Macintosh system- a third-rate software that is being touted as a spyware remover by Aladdin Systems. The remover is included along with a suite of other redundant features that are already available in OS-X.
Recognizing the growing need of a way for MAC people to deal with Spyware, Aladdin Systems has placed our feet in the coals by incorporating its remover tool in with a bunch of unneeded, superfluous junk, for which it charges $29.
Recently I bought the suite just for the remover, but it's never found anything, even when there was no question but that my MAC was infected. I've been very disappointed.
Not to be a spoil-sport... but if your MAC is infected with a Trojan there's only one way to go at the present juncture: Sudden death. Formatting (zeroing-out is best) and reinstalling everything from jump is better than living with spies. If you need help, I am here.
A