Apple Quietly Goes After Mac Trojan With Update 321
Th'Inquisitor was one of several readers to point out coverage of Apple's stealth security fix, included along with the recent Snow Leopard 10.6.4 update. Graham Cluley of Sophos first noticed the update to protect Mac computers from a Trojan, and the fact that Apple didn't mention it in the release notes. The malware opens a back door to a Mac that can allow attackers to gain control of the machine and snoop about on it or turn it into a zombie. "You have to wonder," writes Cluley, "whether their keeping quiet about an anti-malware security update like this was for marketing reasons." While he certainly has a point that Apple benefits by its users' belief that the platform is secure, you also have to wonder whether any such publicity from a security company has a marketing subtext, as well.
Re:Let's get this out of the way, shall we? (Score:5, Funny)
Anyways even if there was mac malware, They would be forthcoming, and quit claiming to be malware free... I mean they would never lie or mislead us right.. RIGHT!?!?
Disclaimer to the mac fanbois, if you cant take a joke, don't bother replying.
Re:You have to wonder? (Score:5, Funny)
Sometimes a trojan prevents a virus.
Re:If they're trying to keep it secret (Score:5, Funny)
many people go their whole lives without visiting tech sites
They don't? What an unintresting life they must lead with their travels and friends and social life. Repulsive.
Well, you see... (Score:1, Funny)
We PCs like to hear about updates about malware, trjoans or some new exploit in the system was found, and when a fix is available, because then we are then warned about the dangers of it, and ways to avoid it until we get the fix.
With Macs, it seems they aren't getting a warning at all, and thus, could get into trouble before a fix arrives.
It's good to be a PC.
Re:You have to wonder? (Score:1, Funny)
>And before you go back to licking Steve Ballmer's asshole
Apple zealot detected.
Re:If they're trying to keep it secret (Score:3, Funny)
Ahem...
Re:Trojan for Mac had to appear some day... (Score:4, Funny)
> I think you don't know what a trojan is....
I think you do not know who you are talking to ;-)
More seriously, I agree with what you say although. The best way that I know of to protect against trojans is to verify digital signature as I posted here:
http://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1691914&cid=32627744 [slashdot.org]
Then again, the line is slim between installing a trojan because you think it is iPhoto and installing a program because you are misguided into clicking onto something while browsing the web.
In modern times, the distinction between trojan, virus and spywarre and what not is harder to make. The iPhoto trojan is basically a rootkit. It doesn't matter if you get that rootkit installed by making the user believing he is installing iPhoto or by exploiting something else in the OS, you still end up with a rootkit installed on a remote machine.
As a matter of fact, the hackers will probably find another way to install their rootkit if they haven't already found one. Security is a global topic, punctually plugins holes isn't the way to go although it is required sometimes. Punctually plugging holes is part of a good security policy but it is no policy in itself.
Re:You have to wonder? (Score:4, Funny)
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts! And in all seriousness, using the proper term might cause a few more users to think twice about clicking "Ok" and instead thinking about ancient stories and their modern parallels.
Re:You have to wonder? (Score:1, Funny)
Trojans aren't viruses.
Please list off all the viruses that will run on Snow Leopard.
Well, via Parallels or VirtualBox, one can run the following viruses on Snow Leapard: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000... and I am sure others. ;-)
Re:Let's get this out of the way, shall we? (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, it's like coppery.
Re:Trojan for Mac had to appear some day... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Trojan for Mac had to appear some day... (Score:3, Funny)
I also lack time to discuss every time I cannot come up with good arguments for my position :)
Re:Trojan for Mac had to appear some day... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Trojan for Mac had to appear some day... (Score:5, Funny)
Wearing condoms won't protect you against water-related diseases.
That depends on where you wear the condom.
Re:Trojan for Mac had to appear some day... (Score:3, Funny)
You might even say backronym