Hackers start to target Apple Macs

[BERIGAN]

I know, some mac cultist will come along and say these things don't really exist inthe Mac world, and never will, just a writer trying to write something to get noticed...

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/ne...icle4382998.ece

[7/4]

I've been quite happy with Win XP for years.

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[kh1958]

Someone's on Microsoft's payroll.

[Christiern]

No need to gloat, Conrad. It was inevitable that PC hackers would eventually attack the superior platform. Especially when one considers the fact that Microsoft is doing a splendid job sabotaging its own Mac-emulating Windoze.

The subheading on your linked piece says a lot.

"As more and more PC users switch to Macs, they're bringing viruses and other malicious software with them"

[marcello]

Unless you give permission for a trojan like this (if there really is one) to enter your computer, you have no problem. With Windows, all you don't have this added security:

The "OSX/Hovdy-A Trojan" referred to in the article has never been seen in the wild. In fact, it is not even a proof-of-concept malware.

As reported here on FR, Hovdy-A was merely a discussion in a hackers forum about how malware writers MIGHT exploit a newly found vulnerability in OSX. They postulated that it might be included in an Applescript that someone might download... another suggested that it be put into an Application—he suggested a Poker game. Some even went so far as to write some sample scripts... none of which were actually workable.

The list of things that Hovdy-A "does":

disable system logging and delete system log files

start PHPShell and web server

start ARD, VNC and SSH services

disable system updates

open ports in the firewall

disable third party security software

install LogKext keylogger

steal various password hashes and keys which may be used to compromise other systems

was merely speculation offered by various comments on the thread about the ARDAgent vulnerability. The fact is that it does NONE of those things.

The last comment in the Sophos listing for OSX.Hovdy-A, "OSX/Hovdy-A will also attempt to use the ARDAgent vulnerability to obtain root access," is particularly funny—it is ONLY through exploiting the ARDAgent;s permission to run as ROOT would it be able do ANY of the preceding list items!

If this "trojan" could do all of what was listed, it would have garnered a far higher threat rating than "slightly-higher-than-low."

The vulnerability can be negated by simply moving ARDAgent to another directory, renaming ARDAgent, changing the permissions of ARDAgent, or merely running ARDAgent for yourself.

[catesta]

No need to gloat, Conrad. It was inevitable that PC hackers would eventually attack the superior platform. Especially when one considers the fact that Microsoft is doing a splendid job sabotaging its own Mac-emulating Windoze.

The subheading on your linked piece says a lot.

"As more and more PC users switch to Macs, they're bringing viruses and other malicious software with them"

We added an iMac at home a couple of months ago.

I don't (can't) use it, but my girlfriend loves it and agrees it is superior.

[papsrus]

No need to gloat, Conrad. It was inevitable that PC hackers would eventually attack the superior platform. Especially when one considers the fact that Microsoft is doing a splendid job sabotaging its own Mac-emulating Windoze.

The subheading on your linked piece says a lot.

"As more and more PC users switch to Macs, they're bringing viruses and other malicious software with them"

We added an iMac at home a couple of months ago.

I don't (can't) use it, but my girlfriend loves it and agrees it is superior.

Wait a minute! You can't use it, as in you don't know how it works? ...

I would humbly suggest you get your girlfriend to give you some lessons (heh-hem, rarely a bad idea in general) ... and I think you'd find it easier, faster and more intuitive (at least until the viruses descend) than those clunky old PCs. (I use both -- PC at work, Mac at home and mu-u-u-u-u-ch prefer Macs after having been a PC user for many years.)

Edited July 25, 2008 by papsrus

[catesta]

No need to gloat, Conrad. It was inevitable that PC hackers would eventually attack the superior platform. Especially when one considers the fact that Microsoft is doing a splendid job sabotaging its own Mac-emulating Windoze.

The subheading on your linked piece says a lot.

"As more and more PC users switch to Macs, they're bringing viruses and other malicious software with them"

We added an iMac at home a couple of months ago.

I don't (can't) use it, but my girlfriend loves it and agrees it is superior.

Wait a minute! You can't use it, as in you don't know how it works? ...

I would humbly suggest you get your girlfriend to give you some lessons (heh-hem, rarely a bad idea in general) ... and I think you'd find it easier, faster and more intuitive (at least until the viruses descend) than those clunky old PCs. (I use both -- PC at work, Mac at home) and mu-u-u-u-u-ch prefer Macs after having been a PC user for many years.

She gave me the full lesson on how to use it the day we took it out of the box.

I meant can't, as in she loves it so much I never get a chance to use it. It really was for her though, so no big deal.

edit to delete extra "her" and enter "for"

Edited July 25, 2008 by catesta

[papsrus]

She gave me the full lesson on how to use it the day we took it out of the box.

I meant can't, as in she loves it so much I never get a chance to use it. It really was her her though, so no big deal.

Ah ... you're a softy then. Good for you.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

why "Yippie!" ?

edit: "Yippee!" my first one was so Jerry Rubin

Edited July 25, 2008 by Man with the Golden Arm

[AllenLowe]

MAC users need a prophylactic for that Trojan -

[7/4]

A real computer user doesn't let a winky dink virus ruin his day.

Right Allen?

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[catesta]

She gave me the full lesson on how to use it the day we took it out of the box.

I meant can't, as in she loves it so much I never get a chance to use it. It really was her her though, so no big deal.

Ah ... you're a softy then. Good for you.

I guess you could say that.

In the end I'm still in a different decade than most when it comes to utilizing computers. So a hi-tech machine like the Mac is lost on me.

[7/4]

why "Yippie!" ?

Because the fun begins...

.

[Christiern]

A few years back, I was asked to teach the staff of a small office (20 people) how to use the company's new Macs. It was an interesting experience, because it soon became apparent that the slowest learners were people who had used PCs for some length of time. Macs are, in many ways, easier to use* and PC people always wanted to make it more complicated. So, Chris, it may not be the Mac's sophistication that makes it difficult for you, it may--in fact--be that it is too intuitive!

* Some businesses switched to or chose Macs because the training curve was shorter and, thus, the cost lower.

[7/4]

* Some businesses switched to or chose Macs because the training curve was shorter and, thus, the cost lower.

Aren't the machines and the software expensive because of frequent upgrades in OS specs that quickly make the machines and software obsolete?

What's up with that?

[WorldB3]

The biggest Mac virus so far seems to be the MicroSoft Office Suite 2008. It defaults saved files with a .docx instead of .doc so that it can only be opened with users who have Office 08 and when you run the updates it says in order to install these Microsoft Office Updates you need to quit the Microsoft Office Updater. wtf?

Don't get me started on what a piece of junk Vista is.

Running XP on a Intel Mac is pretty ok though.

[porcy62]

Pretty bored about MAC vs WINDOWS match.

I use both platforms at home and at works. Both has pros and contras, though Mac is overall better then Windows, as Linus is.

Steve Jobs isn't such a great guy compared to Bill Gates, I mean they aren't Albert Schweitzer.

I think all this phoney struggle is only a never ending advertising campaign in order to get new customers aka Conservative/Working Class=Windows VS Liberal/Rich and Snob =Mac. Bullshit.

About virus, get an antivirus.

My two cents.

Edited July 25, 2008 by porcy62

[Christiern]

* Some businesses switched to or chose Macs because the training curve was shorter and, thus, the cost lower.

Aren't the machines and the software expensive because of frequent upgrades in OS specs that quickly make the machines and software obsolete?

What's up with that?

I don't know what you mean. A;though I have a much newer Mac, my main machine is a 5-year-old G4. It runs Leopard (OS X) and works perfectly well. The newer machine, an iMac, will run Windows, but that would be a little bit like having Beluga caviar or a good foie gras on a slice of Wonder bread.

[7/4]

Maybe things have changed, but Mac OS don't have a rep for being backwardly compatible.

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[tkeith]

Used almost exclusively PCs (some UNIX) for 15+ years. Then tried a Mac. I use both, now, but I'll never turn back. Once the PC dies (may have done so this week, I haven't cared enough to reboot it to find out), it'll be replaced with the far superior Mac. The PC is dead, and if you don't believe me, try booting your Mac as a PC and see what a PC is *supposed* to run like.