back to article Mac malware tide on the rise

Less than a week after researchers spotted new malware targeting naive Mac users, two additional titles have been spotted. Security mavens at Mac anti-virus provider Intego say Trojan-horse software dubbed OSX.Trojan.iServices.B hitches a ride on pirated copies of Adobe Photoshop CS4 for Mac that are being distributed in warez …

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    It doesn't matter what system it is...

    ...if you execute a program as root / admin / whatever, you're screwed. It's why I prefer personal firewalls with a reporting / logging function to anti-virus.

  2. Doug Glass
    Go

    Uh Oh ..

    .. the worm is in the Apple.

  3. Sooty
    Thumb Up

    definately market share

    just to kick off the arguments :)

    99% of attacks exploit the users gullibility/idiocy rather than actually attacking the operating system's security. it doesn't matter if you're using windows, linux, osx, whatever, if you actually intend to install and run iamavirus.exe that you've been mailed, you will, no matter what credentials it asks for while installing.

    so far linux is generally only used by techies who don't install any old crap they are sent so it's relatively immune until it spreads widely and all the numpties adopt it. OSx has a couple of exploits kicking around, but while it has a minority market share, targeting windows will always be more fun/profitable for the script kiddies.

  4. SkippyBing

    OSX.Trojan.iServices.B hitches

    Am I the only one who read that as Services.Bitches? Because that's a virus I'd like to see...

  5. Sarah Baucom
    Jobs Halo

    Harder to write viruses, not trojans

    I don't think anyone has claimed that it's harder to write Mac Trojans than Windows one. The claim is that it's harder to write Mac viruses. Trojans require the user to install them manually. Viruses can copy themselves to other computers without the knowledge or permission of the user. In both of these recent cases of Mac trojans, the user might not have known they were installing malware, but they did download them from warez sites, and then manually ran the installers.

  6. Murray Pearson

    Low-hanging fruit...

    ....deserve to be picked.

    If you can't be bothered learning a legitimate open source option (which abound on Macs) and you don't want to pay for commercial software, well, then, I guess you're nailed.

    I'm no Mac hater either; I have been using them since before the days of Scores, nVIR and WDEF..........

  7. b166er

    Too funny

    Much hat eating

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Jobs Horns

    Closer and closer....

    I bet the sale of Mac anti-virus products starts creeping up.

  9. kain preacher

    Mac zombie net

    never saw this one coming.

    *giggles*.

  10. Kenny Swan
    Coat

    Good.

    Maybe this will shut up 'holier-then-thou' mac users. I use both, but I'm sick of those idiots popping up everytime anywhere mentions anything going wrong with a Windows machine. A good proportion of Linux users are the same. It's time people realised that OSX is no better than any other OS and with the attention it's now getting, the proof is coming. And the fact that it happens to dirty, theiving pirates is just gravy. There's no need to steal Photoshop when GIMP is out there. There's no need to steal iWork when Open Office is out there. Professionals need the top end stuff. Professionals can afford it. This is thieving gits downloading software they don't need and can't afford therefor shouldn't have. Ironic that malware developers are providing poetic justice.

    Now, is this jacket flame retardant...

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Flame

    Glad I'm a Windows User

    So glad my Windows machines won't be affected by this emerging threat. Expect this to be the beginning of the mactard onslot by the purveyors of malware.

    Anonymous because the Mactard extremist and fanticists, who live in their own wee sheltered and rose tinted spectacle world, hate everyone outside of it... particularly "Windows lusers"!

    Let the flames begin!

  12. Richard Cartledge

    ClamAV

    Maybe Apple should make ClamAV scan the Downloads folder.

    I hope people don't start buying the boxed cobblers, as I suspect these are the people who spread the malware and viruses. I always ask myself "Who's going to benefit the most?"

  13. Maliciously Crafted Packet

    Security threat my arse.

    Self replicating worms, that's what we're after. Not feeble social engineering attacks. Anybody can make one of them.

    Only when we get a proper self replicating worm will we feel equal to our windows owning brethren.

    Must try harder.

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Stealing software

    You reap what you sow. I'll be worried when there is an attack that doesn't require inputting an administrator password while installing stolen software.

  15. Anonymous Coward
    Pirate

    The moral of this story...

    don't download pirated software?

  16. Pierre

    I just thought I'd pass by and smirk

    >smirk<

  17. Brian Mc Nulty
    Boffin

    fasten your seatbelts

    Here we go again kids..

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Flame

    OK...

    Remind me how I am supposed to worry about some scum who downloaded pirated software...

    Dumb #$s

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Pirate

    Warez

    Admittedly every time I have been seriously infected with a trojan was via dodgy warez (hence the AC). Its very much a case of caveat emptor (um, though of course without the buying bit) with these things and the increasing popularity of macs means a less tech savvy section of the population are increasingly owning them and taking their share of ripped software. The golden age of Mac security appears to be at an end, and about time.

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Unhappy

    Remember...

    Don't steal software, asshats.

  21. Rafael
    Paris Hilton

    here is the title, happy now?

    If the user runs the keygen as a default, non-root user, can it still install the backdoor?

    *NOT a troll*. Really.

  22. Eponymous Howard
    Thumb Down

    Lumey!

    Bootleg software has malware in it you say? I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.

  23. ratfox
    Unhappy

    Great

    Now we get to by antivirus software for mac, and soon linux...

  24. Kanhef

    Intego

    seems to always be the only A/V outfit that publicizes the recent trojans. Perhaps because they give it a risk rating of 'serious', while Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro, and Sophos rate it at 'low'. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Intego is distributing or writing them, but they're definitely trying to scare people into buying their products.

  25. Anonymous Coward
    Boffin

    Security through obscurity....

    This was always a poor defence and the on often clung to by mactards. In more recent times they've clung to the illusion that somehow it was simply invulnerable to virii - probably an even more naïve attitude. Both of these forget the average skills of a user. Mactards following these lines instill overconfidence in none techie users who then do daft things like download and execute Trojans, often without realizing they've done so. The very fact mac Trojans are on the rise means that the misplaced smug attitude needs to be replaced with one of awareness and consideration. Apple need to lead the charge by recommending AV protection now, before a really difficult problem arises.

    Welcome Apple to the real world.

  26. TeeCee Gold badge
    Joke

    @kain preacher

    Yup! I'm looking forward to getting a shitload of beautifully presented, thoughtfully worded, grammatically correct, minimalistic and very stylish spam, replete with glossy illustrations of breathtaking quality.

  27. twunt

    Serves you rigth you theiving morons.

    I think my mac is pretty safe:

    Router firewall, OS X Firewall, Virus Barrer x5, Little Snitch, Firefox with No Script.

    But more importantly I do not download stolen software, use torrents or other illegal file sharing network.

    And do not enter your admin password without thinking you MORONS.

    Anyone who got this trojan deserved it.

  28. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    @ratfox

    there are linux viruses you know, just not that many!

  29. Ascylto

    Steve will save us from Peril and from Woe!

    "OS X users who install pirated software or are otherwise careless do so at their own peril."

    Says it all, really.

    Oh! This couldn't be to increase sales of antivirus software could it?

  30. Anonymous Coward
    Unhappy

    Trojan

    So let's get this right.

    Some clowns have downloaded several gig of data. They're not entirely sure what it is but it claims to be Photoshop. Then they run a little program that came with it to get a key.

    Now, everyone who has half a brain and who deals with warez on their mac will have better ways of getting a key than trusting to some stupid proggy they've downloaded off the net.

    That doesn't eliminate the problem that the actual program which has been downloaded could also be a trojan with several gig of bloating to make it look real...

  31. GreyCells
    Coat

    Ironic

    So, let me get this straight: If you don't install anti virus software on a Mac, you're less ikely to catch a virus? Sounds like the AV industry needs is feeding it's own habit....

    Mine's the one without pirated software in the pocket.

  32. Glen Forde
    Go

    Just checking...

    ... that I don't need to rethink my security options for my MacBook at home.

    Lo and behold, all I have to do is not install pirated software from Warez sites, phew. No need to buy crappy AV software, time to read another article.

    Continue to play nicely with each other now ;o)

  33. Sean Baggaley

    Pah!

    I demand my browser hijacks, viruses and endless, endless bloody "[INSERT SOFTWARE TITLE HERE] wants your attention! DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME? TALK TO ME NOW, SCUM!" notifications interrupting me while I'm working.

    (Guess which of the above actually made me stop using Windows. Hint: it wasn't the malware.)

  34. Psymon
    Coat

    social engineering tactics

    Well, if it's just another trojan that relies on gullible users to execute it, then i'm sure it won't have a massive....

    What? It's targetted at mac users?

    those turtle-neck cuppercino drinking types that fancy themselves as a bit 'arty'?

    As in, the computing platform designed for those without opposable thumbs?

    (the singular mouse-as-a-button designs are clearly to minimise the effect of webbed digits)

    Why have the words barrel, fish and shooting sprung to mind?

    "Feed the trolls, 'tuppence, an bag..."

    Mine's the one with the 15 button 4D Wacom mouse in the pocket

  35. David Simpson
    Heart

    never never never

    The point about trojans is most mactards are much less technically informed than windows users (they have no choice) They buy much more expensive machines and make great targets.

    I work in IT support and the ONLY infections i've seen on customers machines for the past 3 years have been trojans/bribeware/spyware that the user has installed by accident.

    Obviously this doesn't happen to Register readers but the general public are even emailing and recommending these trojans to their friends.

    A really smart Trojan writer would add a defrag and reg clean to their backdoor so the user actually likes having a virus "it made my machine so fast"

  36. steogede

    RE: closer and closer

    >> I bet the sale of Mac anti-virus products starts creeping up.

    Surely you mean, I bet the number of people pirating Mac anti-virus products starts creeping up.

    >> I work in IT support and the ONLY infections i've seen on customers machines for the past 3 years have been trojans/bribeware/spyware that the user has installed by accident. (Dave Simpson, never, never, never)

    What makes you so sure that these trojans/bribeware/spyware were installed by the user? I can't believe that you haven't seen the likes Antivirus XP (which can drive by install from a legit (but compromised) website) - admittedly if you have never witnessed it install itself, you could be forgiven for believing that the user chose to install it.

  37. Cris Wilson
    Flame

    Windows for the Win

    I run a windows box and I haven't had a virus on my machine since I installed Windows XP on it. I don't even need to run a fire wall on it.

  38. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    warez ?

    Used loads of it on a pc and never had a virus or bug ...

    Just use decent antivirus keep up to date on your updates !!

    meh i am really going to enjoy telling mac users to go feck off when they ask for help !!!

  39. Jon Eiche
    Coat

    @Chris Wilson

    >>I haven't had a virus on my machine since I installed Windows XP on it.

    Funny, Vista's the last virus I installed on my machine.

    Mine's the one with the DOS 6.2 floppies in the pocket.

  40. Psymon
    Pirate

    @ weren't installed by the user

    I'm afraid I'd have to agree with David Simpson there (title: never never never) .

    AV software may not be perfect, but after working with Sophos Enterprise on 3 different networks (and later Symantec enterprise - not my choice!), the only viral infections I have seen even get close to a foothold have always been from user instigated actions.

    The blaster/sasser worm never got through our firewall, and even if it had, the student machines were locked down tight as a drum. I tried deliberately infecting an unpatched machine, and all that happened was the exe crashed as it attempted to access a disabled resource.

    The teachers and admin staff had elevated privileges (never full local admin), but still the only infections were all those bloody browser toolbars which I promptly evicted from their machines using a software restriction policy. (if you're unfamiliar with this group policy element, have play, it's an incredibly powerful security tool)

    The only evidence I saw of the internet nasties was the various "Quarantined" reports that used to occasionally crop up, and required no intervention from myself.

    The only worm that did propogate through our network, AND cause problems was the [MULTIPLE EXPLETIVES DELETED] Windows Desktop Search!

    That was thanks to my assistant getting lazy, and setting auto approval for all critical WSUS updates.

    XP is pretty darn secure if managed correctly. We're seeing an ever greater shift from security exploits to social engineering because of this.

    Windows machines used to ship sans AV software, to ill-informed customers nigh on 10yr ago. Unfortunately, this is precisely where the mac community is right now.

  41. Carrie
    Paris Hilton

    .Services, Bitches!

    @SkippyBing:

    totally.

  42. Matt
    Thumb Down

    Meh

    Once a REAL virus shows up, id est, self replicating then there might be something to worry about. My Windows machines (Windows for Profesionals on up to todays Vista) have never gotten any infection or trojan, EVER, so I don't expect I'll have to worry one bit about my Macs.

    Where I do see this as being a problem though is that with the main OS's out there you're not likely to know you have a trojan since machines are so stable anymore.

    Now, it would be nice if the basic firewall currently on Leopard was more configurable and it would alert you if a service that isn't Apple verified has started. That would be a nice start. But seriously though, I worry about getting compromised on my computers about as much as I worry about getting in a fatal accident in my car.

    Does it cross my mind, yes. but I don't write articles about 'Oh NO, you might get in a fatal crash going to work, STAY HOME FOR THE LOVE OF GHOD'!

    Nope, I don't : )

  43. elder norm

    So funny , so funny

    "The golden age of Mac security appears to be at an end, and about time." I just love seeing all this Apple hate (no doubt sponsored by the Microsoft - pay for stories group).

    MDN sponsors a web page that lists links to all kinds of Apple and MS stories. No firewall or virusware for the last 2-3 years... And no virus problems. Of course there are currently NO viruses in the wild for Apple but why let a small thing like reality stop a writer, writing for anti-virus companies, write a great scare article.

    If you really want background, try roughlydrafted.com for good articles with meat. If you like scary fat floating on top, I hear there are many good sites around. :-)

    Just a thought.

    en

    PS I use both PC and Apple. However, lately, I keep the PC off the internet. Its way to dangerous out there for such an exposed machine.

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