[NPMUG] Fwd: apple viruses

[Patrick Cranston]

Viruses by definition are computer programs that spread themselves  
unaided (virally ) from computer to computer.  Windows computer have  
this problem because programs can install and replicate themselves  
without a user having to grant permission for the program to do so.

On a Mac computer this is not the case.  Programs have to be installed  
by a user.  The user has to give permission ( ie enter a username and  
password ) for a program to access the core parts of the operating  
system.

The "viruses" mentioned in this post they are really Trojan horses.   
Users are tricked into thinking they are installing one piece of  
software when really they are installing something else.   In this  
case they are downloading and installing a pirated copy of iWork 09.   
The people who posted the software for download have modified the  
download package to install other nasty programs when the user gives  
permission to install the pirated iWork.

The real story is not "Mac Viruses on the rise" but a more basic  
fundamental lesson that should have been learned in kindergarten  
"Don't steal and don't eat candy from strangers"

Imagine if you were walking down the street and there was a shady  
character standing at the street corner handing out free opened  
bottles of Coke.  You take the coke,  drink it and die of cyanide  
poisoning 3 minutes later.   Should the newspaper headline read -  
"Coke now has the potential kill you." or should it read "Stupid idiot  
dies after accepting stolen soft drink from miscreant who laced drink  
with cyanide."

In these cases the problem is not weaknesses in the Mac OS.  The  
problem is weakness in people's character who don't want to pay for  
software, music, videos  etc... because they somehow feel that they  
are owed these things for free.  Bad people exploit these weaknesses  
to then wreak havoc on your computer and steal your identity.

Only download and install programs from trusted sources on the  
internet and you won't find yourself lying on the pavement wishing you  
had just gone into the store to buy the drink.

Patrick Cranston
Cranston Consulting & Media, Inc.
888-813-5558
www.CranstonInc.com
patrick at cranstoninc.com
Skype: phcranston




On Jan 26, 2009, at 11:05 PM, Bruce Wells wrote:

> Got this from my brother.  Anything to be concerned about?  Old news?
>
> CuZinBruce
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> Subject: apple viruses
>
>
> http://www.salon.com/tech/giga_om/mac_love/2009/01/26/more_mac_viruses_similar_sources_time_to_worry
>
> More Mac Viruses, Similar Sources: Time to Worry?
>
> Darrell Etherington
>
> Jan. 26, 2009 |
>
> Depending on how closely you stick to the word of the law, you may  
> or may not be aware of the potentially dangerous trojan called  
> “OSX.Trojan.iServices.A” unleashed on some of the Mac community last  
> week via a pirated copy of iWork ‘09. The trojan, discovered by Mac  
> security software company Intego, allows the distributor of the  
> malicious software to access and modify the affected system  
> remotely, performing actions such as adding files. Such a  
> vulnerability is potentially fatal to an operating system.
>
> According to Intego’s numbers, more than 20,000 people have  
> downloaded the affected file, a number which also says something  
> about Apple’s ability (or desire?) to curb piracy of its proprietary  
> software. Instructions on how to rid your computer of the virus in  
> case you are among that unlucky 20,000 can be found here, but they  
> can’t take away your shame.
>
> This week, another round of infections has appeared, this time  
> targeting a different, but similar group of pirates. The victims are  
> users who downloaded a pirated copy of Adobe’s popular photo editing  
> program, Photoshop CS4. Again, the people responsible for finding  
> and broadcasting the existence of the trojan are Intego. This one is  
> aptly dubbed “OSX.Trojan.iServices.B”, and actually comes from the  
> serial generator that packages with the Photoshop installer, and not  
> the installer itself. The CS4 trojan presents the same risks as the  
> iWork ‘09 version. Intego reports 5,000 downloads to date.
>
> With two such high-profile virus detections coming so closely on  
> each other’s heels, the question inevitably arises: Is Mac’s status  
> as a highly secure option to Windows in danger? Clearly, Mac users  
> are beginning to present a more attractive target to hackers,  
> because the platform itself is becoming more popular. Not only that,  
> but Mac users may be even more susceptible than others, since they  
> traditionally haven’t had to worry much about malicious attacks.
>
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