Has anyone ever gotten a virus?

I suppose it is one of the major debates in the Mac world, "Do macs get viruses?" Now I am not going to debate on such a thing, but has anyone here ever gotten a virus on the Mac OS?

 

Yes, I got a huge one the other day.

It automatically phones home with information about your computer and writes to your hard drive constantly. It starts taking up more and more space on your HDD for no reason as well and takes up a ton of RAM. There is no easy way to remove it, and once it's running on your system, your temperatures will start climbing as well. While it's on your system, it opens multiple security holes for others to exploit as well. It messes up your touchpad and ambient light sensors as well and remaps your Command key to something else entirely. Your F-keys will all be remapped to software implementations instead of hardware. Also, once it gets onto your system, it starts counting down even as it phones home automatically. After a set amount of time, it shuts down your computer for good and you can't run anything at all unless you manage to enter a long 40-digit passcode that probably won't work even if you entered the correct one. If you try this, it'll make you call a 1800 number that'll put you on hold for a few hours.

It's especially insidious because of its means of replication - not only does it move from host to host, but it manages to access your credit card and wallet and steal $400 from each person it replicates to. For the longest time, this was a PC-only virus, but since the past year or so, it's spread even to Macs. No one is safe!

 

whaat? and whats the name of the virus?

 

Dude... you got it right? lol

 

I got a virus a few months ago while browsing in Internet Explorer 6 in Parallels...oh wait. nvm.

 

Cute, taelrak, cute.

And I'm just about to try out Vista too...

 

Quoted for Truth. Hilarity.

 

The July 2007 edition of Macworld had a story about a security researcher who in April managed to hack into a mac with an exploit he sent to a friend who was attending a security conference.

The article went on to say that any piece of code is going to have vulnerabilities and that much of the reason that PCs have been attacked more is that Windows is a more widely used operating system, an attractive target for hackers looking to get the most attention.

In the case in April, the hack was intended to identify weaknesses in the code and the researcher received a $10,000 prize.

 

Well i got flu... does that count? lol

 

hhahaha u guys are awesome and hilarious, makes me drool over MBP even more now!

 

I suppose I could always get a Mac virus scan, just in case...

 

You can try ClamXav, its free and will suffice as a AntiVirus for Mac OS X if you really insist on one.

http://www.clamxav.com/

 

If you are paranoid, you can always walk over to the Linux camp. Linux has even less viruses than even OS X. (Well Macs are based on BSD Unix).

VMware is going to be better than Parallels on OS X. VMware is already dandy on a Windows OS. If you happen to get a virus on a Windows guest, then you can always revert to the previous VMware snapshot.

 

What's with people and reviving old threads lately?

 

no virus here, but then I don't have a program to tell me that I have one either...ignorance is bliss!
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WhAT?!??! u serious? how did you get it? is this a joke?

 

Yes, it is a joke, and it obviously went WAY over a few people's heads.

Seriously.

 

Try using an app called Little Snitch if you are concerned about attacks on your computer. It will alert you when applications are trying to access the internet.

 

Yeah, I have a virus too. It includes a lot of fecal matter, yellow phlegm, and bodily fluids exiting through different orifices.

 

I got a cold after using a mac lab last year.

 

you know.. his question is really valid. why are you making a joke from it?
there are very little mac virus on the wild, but there is no reason for you to feel invincible.

i strongly suggest everyone regularly go to www.securemac.com

and probably it is a good idea to go to http://www.siteadvisor.com/ just to check if the website is completely secure. just to double check.

because if everyone is vigilant the chance of virus spreading is greatly minimised.

oh, and as for me, i haven't got a virus yet. at least i don't think i get one.....

 

i think i might have gotten one. i woke thismorning, turned on my computer, all my songs- GONE, all my settings- GONE. so, i go and re-install all my songs on itunes, and check my disk space, i got around 8 gigs left. that makes me think that maybe my songs didnt get deleted but maybe they just got hidden and i couldnt find em. but im gettin my external drive soon so ill just do a re-install and everything will be fine.

 

It's still a lot better than Windows. I reformatted a HP with the recovery discs, which only had Windows XP SP1, so the built-in firewall was off. Within 2 minutes of getting to the desktop, I got a "Your computer is shutting down because the RPC service died blah blah 30 seconds to save your work.." courtesy of the Blaster worm.

 

THAT is something else. It's common to loose settings when your "home" folder is accidentally moved or renamed. It can often happen during back-ups. You might think.. nah.. no way it happened to me. But it happened to a friend of mine who swore up and down it wasn't her fault. turned out it was. oops. You can also try repairing permissions and all that b.s. too.

On the virus front, I've never once seen mcaffee come up with anything, but I have seen some freaky stuff happen to a mac before, that only a virus could explain. Fortunately it wasn't mine.

 

This question comes up all of the time. The are zero viruses in the wild for OS X, and the problem with all of the proof of concept viruses that have been written is they can't replicate themselves and get passed on. While it is true that OS X has vulnerabilities like any software, somehow Apple have been able to keep it keep it virus free. As for the marketplace argument, I don't buy it. Someone, somewhere would love to be the first to get a virus to spread on the Mac, the news would be everywhere.

 

Right...

Windows viruses rarely make it to mainstream news, Mac viruses would never make it because no one uses Macs. The only place people would care would be on tech news websites.

 

idk dave, i think if it was widespread enough it would make regular news.

 

Apple knows how to use the media. New gadgets by Apple are frontpage news - considered more important than the latest Iraq violence and just important as the latest kidnapped female!

A Mac virus would be played down by the media because Apple would tell them to.

 

yea, i guess thats true. apple is so bossy sometimes...

 

I kind of doubt that. It definitely would give the virus writer fame in the tech community. It may not make the nightly news, but to be honest I think it would. Apple even has commercials about them not getting viruses. I think it would be a big deal if a real virus got out. Look at all of the fuss made about some of these proof of concepts, or the wireless card thing several months back. Imagine if those could propagate.

 

relax a little cashmonee ever since u've got that MBP you've been defending apple like you're defending your dignity

there are infact some in the wild, but if you're stupid enough to get it. you know mac has security holes, thats why there is security update. so at least be vigilant.

please mr. hacker, if you're reading this thread. please, please, please just leave the mac unharmed... you know, most of us is scare of one day getting virus on our beloved mac. i still use windows most of the time! so just hack that. just let mac be the oasis for us computer user

 

Y'know, I don't really know about that. Having a security hole and getting a virus is different.

Its like saying a thief has entered because the back door was unlocked. Well, yes, leaving the back door unlocked increases the chance of the thief getting in, but the thief hasn't gotten in yet. The security update, in another way, is the process of locking the back door.

So security holes allows hackers to infiltrate OS X, yes, but they haven't yet. And the security updates are the process of securing holes in OS X.

EDIT: My post might sound a bit "confusing", so let's see if I can elaborate on what I meant.

Currently, there are no viruses targeting the Mac in the wild. Yes, the hackers could easily exploit OS X if they wanted, as there are security holes in the system, as with any other OS, but they haven't yet. Of course, there have been exploits of OS X. But they haven't spread to the level that Windows has. The one virus I have known to be written for OS X only infected about 50 Macs, which I don't consider to be a threat considering there are millions and millions of Mac users.

 

Microsoft has a lot of enemies and is one of the most hated companies in the modern world, lets all hope Apple doesn't get to that level.

 

Seriosly though Macs are full of malware, they're just not affected by them, a friend was transferring work to my VAIO and after he plugged in his iPod my Malware Defense System (AVG, Trojan Hunter, Spybot) went to Defcon 3; 4 Trojans(one of them downloads more Trojans), 9 Spyware and a Virus.
I'm never letting a Mac into my LAN, ever.

 

Shh...you are supposed to keep that a secret. Apple made a secret alliance with the hacker community...don't attack Macs and we'll help you spread your stuff to the PCs

 

We're immune carriers of viruses .

 

Click me

Step 1: Ship iPods with malware
Step 2: Ignore the problem
Step 3: Swoop in, save the day, and blame your contractors/ Microsoft
Step 4: ???
Step 5: Profit!

 

Yes, that incident was Apple's fault. I don't think anyone here will deny that.

 

LOL, awesome.

 

Ok, so you can provide links to a description of the viruses that are in the wild? Look, the fact is that there are zero viruses in the wild for OS X. It is true that OS X has vulnerabilities, but they have yet to be exploited and I just doubt that the only reason is because of market share. I am not defending Apple, just stating facts. Similar to the fact that Vista has so far shown a MUCH better security record than XP. In fact, XP SP2 was a great improvement.

I am curious what you are talking about. Did the iPod have viruses on it or the Mac? I suspect there is something else going on. Tell me, how does a file, in this case a virus, transfer itself when it has not infected the computer it is coming from? I don't understand the 'Macs can carry viruses' argument. Sure if you forward an email that has a malicious file then it is possible, but without user intervention how does it happen?

 

lol.......

 

Erm - may I ask which viruses and where? All the ones I know of are of the "heehee, this is a Mac virus" type that don't really do anything.

Making a real "Virus" is as simple as writing a program that sends itself to all your email contacts. Now all the people receiving the program who are stupid enough to run the program you sent will be "infected". Mass media will jump on it and CNN will do a breathless special report live from a Russian hacker-hideout.

However there are no viruses that make your machine a drone that joins a botnet, or steal your cc data, or do anything else that might be bad. It still remains to be seen if such a virus could be written. And I think it's probably possible but probably also way more difficult that on Windows where toolkits that do most of this automatically are readily available.

A final point I want to make: We can endlessly debate the reasons for why there are no Mac viruses, with everyone presenting their pet theory. But in the end no one could be proved right or wrong so it would be somewhat pointless. What we can state for a fact is that there are no Mac viruses out in the wild. Proofs of concept don't count.

 

Who's worse, Apple zealots or Apple haters?

I think this post really takes the cake, 1:0 haters!

I recommend leaving the dungeon every once in a while and getting some fresh air. It might help!

 

None so far!

 

I am with Dave as in if Macs where more mainstream they would be attacked more....
I do believe that Macs have viruses but are simply not effected the same way PCs are ..... A friend of mine regularly transfers files to one of my PCs and once in awhile her files set of my AVG with trogan warnings ....

Virus makers want fame and or data so since PCs will give them the most of that the PC is the biggest target.

 

I've had macs for about 5 years now and don't have anti-virus software or think about viruses. I think any mac user who does is usually a poor paranoid noob user coming from Windows. It's only natural. No brag, just fact. Let's get serious. Stop the spoof if you have no proof. If it doesn't fit you must aquit. Even if it passes Windows viruses to Windows machines; the OSX system remains untouched.

 

http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/osxleapa.html

if i remember correctly there's a few more.. but i think they are just an engineering sample.

so just be vigilant just in case. there is nothing wrong for being safe. if you see any suspicious files/attachments/website/links don't click it. and i strongly recommend that you visit a website like securemac.com and/or siteadvisor.com at least once in a while. so when there is a virus break at least it will be contained and wont spread as much.

oh and there is really no need to get an anti virus as of now.

and i just recently remembered that if you use microsoft office for mac there is around 500+ macro viruses. so yes... enjoy your mac. but just don't be stupid.

edit: for the record i don't have an antivirus software installed. as i think right now its is just a hassle and a waste of money. and for the known fact they are just too intrusive and something like norton (or mcafee i can't remember) for macs known to actually break the OS it self. so, that defeat its purpose.

 

If you have a Mac, never install Norton Anti-Virus. Heck, if you have Windows, never install Norton Anti-Virus. Norton is a virus if you ask some people.

Macs, Linux, etc., probably don't need an anti-virus program since they do not have rampant virus problems. Just because you have a Mac does not mean you do dumb crap. Linux is probably just as secure as Macs, but they are not invincible. There can be holes that have not been exploited yet (or at least not publicly known). Linux and Macs are both somewhat based off of Unix, and there have been holes in Unix.

Mac users can still be vulnerable to phishing attacks if the user is careless. You would not want to give away your social security and credit card numbers to a fake website.

 

I know you are going to say I am defending Apple again, but I just want to clarify the scope of that worm. It required the user to download, execute and give an admin password to install itself. Hardly the type of malware common on Windows, especially pre-SP2 that required no user intervention. Also, if I remember correctly it infected fewer than 100 machines.

However, Leap/A was a very good thing for OS X users. Mac users are used to being cavalier with their machines, clicking and downloading, and installing without thinking of the consequences. OS X is not immune to viruses. Just because there are none actively infecting machines right now, does not mean you should not practice good habits. Don't download attachments, don't click links in email, don't go to nefarious web sites, etc. OS X users should still be vigilant.

 

I do agree in the point that the Mac wouldn't be as immune to viruses as it is currently, if it had Windows market share. However, I would say as much as there would be more viruses targeting the Mac, it would not be as many as the current amount targeting Windows. This has to do with the way Mac OS X was written, as well as the way it approaches security.

Vista incorporated a lot of the security features that OS X had. But its a little too late, in my opinion. XP should have had these features.