SlipperFan
Addicted
Beat me to it, Ed!
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Beat me to it, Ed!
mormodes
Well-Known Member
Funny. My macbook has a trojan that it refuses to either quarantine or otherwise isolate. So much for the infallability of macs!
I think the common conception about macs doesn't get viruses came from long ago when windows is dominating the market. Now that they are getting more main stream. For sure they will attract those people who are always looking for vulnerabilities. Same with viruses once more and more people uses the Mac OS. They will become a bigger target.
gnathaniel
Lurker
This is a PITA type of malware, I think known as 'scareware' because it masquerades as antivirus software while disabling numerous functions of your computer, including real anti-malware software and web browsers. It tries to get you to pay to unlock the software which will then 'cure' your computer, sort of a high-tech protection scam.
Here's a link to some general directions for getting rid of malware:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407
When I got an infection like this, I rebooted in safe mode, found and deleted the malware executable (by following back to the target of a shortcut it installed on my desktop), then ran malwarebytes anti-malware and the kaspersky rootkit remover for trojan horse-type stuff. I loaded the software on my computer by downloading it elsewhere and transferring over on a flash drive, though you could probably download it directly if you reboot in safe mode with networking. So far so good, though I'm not entirely confident it won't come back...
And Macs definitely aren't immune to malware, there's just less of it out there so far. Neither are cellphones, networked TVs, really any device that has software/firmware and is on a network. I'd wager someone somewhere has figured out how to put trojans on wireless routers so they infect anything connected to them.
--Nat
Here's a link to some general directions for getting rid of malware:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407
When I got an infection like this, I rebooted in safe mode, found and deleted the malware executable (by following back to the target of a shortcut it installed on my desktop), then ran malwarebytes anti-malware and the kaspersky rootkit remover for trojan horse-type stuff. I loaded the software on my computer by downloading it elsewhere and transferring over on a flash drive, though you could probably download it directly if you reboot in safe mode with networking. So far so good, though I'm not entirely confident it won't come back...
And Macs definitely aren't immune to malware, there's just less of it out there so far. Neither are cellphones, networked TVs, really any device that has software/firmware and is on a network. I'd wager someone somewhere has figured out how to put trojans on wireless routers so they infect anything connected to them.
--Nat
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Hera
Guest
Does anyone have any thoughts on Bitdefender?
mormodes
Well-Known Member
Thank You!! I get so sick of Mac users smugly saying they are impervious when they aren't.
likespaphs
some call me brian
my boss actually got the mac virus that was going around last year
d'oh!
d'oh!
if you have a mac, get macscan. also, a free product called clamXav has a 'sentry' that checks everything that comes onto your computer through email or targets whatever folder you put downloads into. it's often finding pc viruses coming through email, though often the emails are pretty easily spotted as junk. so far with macscan i've only had slightly annoying cookies that have come from viewing websites that have ads on them, though once it was bound and determined that one of my raw image files from my camera was a 'snooper' 
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Hera
Guest
Bump, Bitdefender anyone?
K
koshki
Guest
Do you mind telling us how you got this nasty little bug?
SlipperFan
Addicted
True. We need virus protection, also. It's just that it's much less of a worry for us.
Also, Norton has a good anti-virus program, but it's not free.if you have a mac, get macscan. also, a free product called clamXav has a 'sentry' that checks everything that comes onto your computer through email or targets whatever folder you put downloads into. it's often finding pc viruses coming through email, though often the emails are pretty easily spotted as junk. so far with macscan i've only had slightly annoying cookies that have come from viewing websites that have ads on them, though once it was bound and determined that one of my raw image files from my camera was a 'snooper'
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Hera
Guest
I'm willing to pay for good protection, but here's what frosts me. Mcafee was about $60 and I pay for yearly updates. For all that there is no guarantee that it will work and on their website they offer virus removal support for a mere $129. What exactly did I pay for?
I am not a fan of Norton and McAfee. I actually consider them as bloatware as they often comes pre-package with new machines. And in my opinion doesnt do any more than the free antivirus others have stated. Often they are annoying too as there is consistent pop-up when your product is about to expire. They also use huge system resources.
I suggest that you go with Avast as others have stated. It doesnt mean if its free. Its no good. You can always get the paid version if you are happy with their product. That's why I like their free product. Its not crippled. You just get extra features when you get the paid version but the free version gives you the basic. It uses less system resource too.
I suggest that you go with Avast as others have stated. It doesnt mean if its free. Its no good. You can always get the paid version if you are happy with their product. That's why I like their free product. Its not crippled. You just get extra features when you get the paid version but the free version gives you the basic. It uses less system resource too.
Kevin
Well-Known Member
if you have a mac, get macscan. also, a free product called clamXav has a 'sentry' that checks everything that comes onto your computer through email or targets whatever folder you put downloads into. it's often finding pc viruses coming through email, though often the emails are pretty easily spotted as junk. so far with macscan i've only had slightly annoying cookies that have come from viewing websites that have ads on them, though once it was bound and determined that one of my raw image files from my camera was a 'snooper'
This is discouraging, as I am in the market for a Mac. You'd think, though, that Apple would come up with it's own virus program, since it builds everything itself anyway - they would be the best ones to fight it. Maybe they don't want to admit that Macs are vulnerable?
Kevin
Well-Known Member
No clue - never heard of it.
Don't be discourage. If you like the interface and if your programs will work for it. Then go ahead. If you are not in websites that you aren't supposed to be I in the first place and being vigilant about suspicious emails and links. You should be fine. Keep in mind though that some developers of certain programs doesn't develop for macs and vice versa. Like orchidwiz I don't think it has a Mac version not sure though.
Kevin
Well-Known Member
Which are sites 'you aren't supposed to be in the first place'? These things hide everywhere, and the virus programs are supposed to warn you if a site is safe anyway, right?
Yes, there is still the problem that Macs don't have a large enough share of the market yet for all programs to be built for them as well as PCs, but that might change soon, hopefully. I might not have to worry about that for a while, though, since Macs are still super expensive!!
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Hera
Guest
The first time I encountered it, it was on a phal species site attached to a picture that I clicked on. This time my son picked it up on YouTube. He follows certain people that review video games. Honestly I don't thick you can predict where it would be hidden.
kentuckiense
Debaser
Others have posted good info on programs/protection against viruses. However, you also need to have a first line of defense: run Firefox with the "NoScript" add-on installed. Once installed, only allow trusted sites to run content in your browser.
likespaphs
some call me brian
this is one reason to try to always keep your operating system up to date. they find and fix various vulnerabilities. one that was found a year or so ago, i think, allowed people to install malicious software on site running on a computer that didn't have the fixes installed
(but i may have muddled how i described it)
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