quote:Half a million Mac computers 'infected with malware'
An investigation by Dr Web suggests that about 600,000 Macs have installed the malware - potentially allowing them to be hijacked and used as a "botnet".
It says that more than half that number are based in the US.
Apple has released a security update, but users who have not installed the patch remain exposed.
posted
I still say they ought to place the people responsible, in front of a firing squad- I would gladly volunteer to pull the trigger... maybe even multiple times..
I believe it is the "virus protection" software people who are ultimately behind most of the viruses and malware- they are creating the need for their product, so they make tons of money-- and I really don't believe anyone is out there making virus protection for FREE out of the goodness of their hearts.
I was always suspicious about virus stuff on my PCs- and I bought a reputable one... but when the subscription ran out, all of the sudden, I had all kinds of problems that were not there before I installed their crap...
I want a machine to work- work well- every time I turn it on... I don't have time to play around with virus updates, patches, software updates, etc...
BTW- just so all the Mac haters can feel good- I recently updated my OS on 2 machines- a few weeks later, started having all kinds of issues with the harddrives- ended up having to replace both harddrives because of failure... this kind of stuff is the reason I went over to the fruit based side in the first place...
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1735 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
was bush capable of using a computer??? hahahahahaha
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm no geek but as I understand it all the Mac user has to do is disable Java in his browser.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
That may work dennis but then alot of sites viewed just won't load into the browser,...there are several perfectly good anti virus and malware programs written for macs that are free. if they can step down from their attitude and join the rest of us in the real world and prevent the problem before it occurs and possibly prevent it from spreading by not allowing the software(virus and malware are programs which usually self propagate) to be installed on their machine in the first place,...
edited to add,...if half of the affected mac users had installed and used anti virus and malware protection three fourths of their numbers would not have eventually been affected due to the fact it would have prevented the infections in the first place,.... because most infections occur from one user to the other thru communications from user to user when the problems procreate themselves from already infected machines,...the stuxnet virus shows that just staying off the internet will not provide protection either as long as files are transferred from one machine to another there is a chance of some sort of infection,...the best way to prevent the problem is to use the virus protection written by pro's who spend their time and research money searching and dealing with the problem on a daily basis,...if you need heart surgery are you going to go to another source of treatment because the only people benefiting financially from heart surgery are heart surgeons? just because they can fix it and they are quite learned about the process does not mean they are spending research time to create heart problems that require their efforts,...odds are they are too busy dealing with the persistence of the problems to devote time to anything but dealing with them and most would find it highly impractical to try and aggravate an already overburdened system of response,....
[ April 05, 2012, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
All of us have seen frequent examples of people deliberately sabotaging things so they can make money fixing the problems -- car mechanics that sneak some oil into your brake fluid, cab companies that withhold service to create the illusion that the city needs to issue more medallions, cities that let a neighborhood deteriorate so that the developers can come in, buy cheap, and rebuild, Presidents that invent fairy tales so they'll have an excuse to invade a country, doctors who prescribe expensive procedures they know are unnecessary, etc., etc. Why would anyone expect the anti-virus people to all be sincere and honest?
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
Todd, it may not be funny, but I laughed. Dangit!!! yer right ... that ain't funny!!! hahahahaha
I aspire to perceive it's all a conspiracy in the land of make-believe ....
[ April 06, 2012, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: Michael Gene Adkins ]
-------------------- Michael Gene Adkins The Fontry 1576 S Hwy 59 Watts OK 74964 Posts: 845 | From: Watts, OK USA | Registered: Jun 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
It sure would be nice if we could look for solutions to these kind of issues instead of going off to relig-O-political Land where nothing ever gets solved and only serves to **** people off. (thanks Tim, for a serious response)
About ready to go back to the chisel and hammer myself.
posted
I dont think you're going to find a solution for the proliferation of malware without touching politics.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
it was really bad in the PC world- you had to be very careful, because there was so much bad crap out there, you couldn't get any work done without having to deal with the bad stuff-- now it's frustrating because the Mac world seems to be having the same bad crap ooze over so it is getting harder and harder to get any work done... grrr
my limited experience involved going many years with absolutely no problems, then paying for reputable virus protection on my PCs, after a while, having them try to extort more money- when I refused to keep paying, all of the sudden my computers are loaded down with all sorts of stuff... so I am very cinical when it comes to that type of stuff-- - after 6 years of no problems, now I'm starting to get similar ads to "protect my macs"--it seems to be deja vu...
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1735 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Update to above news,....apple has issued a second update to address the flashback virus discussed,... mac users need to update again if they haven't already updated twice to be sure the patch addresses a previous unknown flaw in the first patch,...most reliable sources suggest use of anti malware and anti virus software by mac users to address the inability of apple's built in program features to protect their operating systems,.....
posted
"Sorry, Dennis, you call the childish political jabs unavoidable? Really?" Where did I say or imply that childish political jabs were unavoidable?
(Edit): OK, I see what you must have meant. I wasnt referring to political zingers, I was talking about the fact that politics is often a big factor in any sort of problem. It pervades almost everything.
[ April 07, 2012, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: Dennis Kiernan ]
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
don: you need to back up to POST #2: Hmmm...trouble in paradise?
Must be Bush's fault - everything else is (according to some). I ANSWERED IT ONLY..........nothing more and it was in HUMOR!!!! i could really give poops in a pan about MACS!! you need to learn to seperate HUMOR..... from serious slam on your macs)))))
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think that it is very funny that the Mac people ... who always jump in and make fun of PCs and their viruses ... now are so ****ed that PC users are hitting back at all the previous insults!
Mac users ... brace yourselves! Now that iPads, iPhones and all the other Mac stuff has become so popular ... now the virus, trojans , and other malware, the a-holes that write this stuff are looking at Macs as now worthy of their time to cause mayhem.
There will be a lot more of this!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8827 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
well- I use both and I have never thought it was funny for anybody to have to deal with that kinda stuff- I still say, hunt 'em down and shoot them... then people can go on about their lives...
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1735 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I use both too... although I prefer PC's.... but I agree with Michael.... either platform/either way... the people that have the time to think of ways to screw people over are no better than the burgler that snatches an old lady's purse.
Put them in jail.... and let them find out first hand what REAL unwanted intrusive behavior is all about.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I wonder why this mac Pc thing always seems to stir such strong emotions? No one seems to care what cars we drive, what size of house we live in, yet any mention of the age old mac Pc thing and all the old stuff is resurrected. I don't understand why. Who cares what tv, Hoover or hair dryer you all use. I don't pretend to know which is better. Once it does it's job and you're happy with your choice, that's all that matters
-------------------- Kevin Gaffney Artistik Signs Kinnegad County Westmeath Ireland 044-75187 kevingaffney@eircom.net Posts: 628 | From: Ireland | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Kevin, if you scroll all the way back to the beginning, you may be surprised to find there is only one Mac vs PC post in the entire thread, and Si didn't post that one until many posts in.
posted
I don't understand this fuss,.....a bunch of Mac users got the same problem that pc users have had for decades and we make a big deal out of it?????? lets face it they've been damned lucky and this problem is long past the statistical averages of when it should have happened,..thus they have been lucky so far,.....poof "that" is gone and is no longer the situation,....they have to follow same rules as the rest of us now and there is a fuss about their problem,..sure many have thrown in the odd jab comment here and there from time to time at the the pc users,...ok mac users take your long over due medicine,....you've got it coming and its long overdue,...pc users I don't see the big deal,the mac users have joined the unfortunate ranks of the rest of us and have to deal with these menaces just like the rest of us,...no need to make a big deal out of it,...my grandpa used to say if ya stir stink with a stick long enough the stick is going to turn to stink,...only he didn't use the word stink,...,
[ April 08, 2012, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
you wana smack??? keep it up!!!hahahahahahahahaha
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic