[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Is Apple to Blame for Size of Mac Botnet? here

[mrb186]

'Reality Distortion Field' - Engage!

[davep1]

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

[nonseq]

davep1, on 05 April 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

You are aware that Mac Defender is not a virus at all? It's a trojan and requires that the user open the door and invite it in...

Quote

Mac Defender (also known as Mac Protector, Mac Security,Mac Guard, and Mac Shield) is an internet rogue security program that can be installed by unwitting users of computers running the Mac OS X operating system. The Mac security firm Intego discovered the fake antivirus software on May 2, 2011, with a patch not being provided by Apple until May 31. The software has been described as the first major malware threat to the Macintosh platform (although it does not attach to or damage any part of OS X). However, it is not the first Mac-specific Trojan, and is not self-propagating.
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mac_Defender

[RegorTheGreat]

When has Apple ever informed it's users of potential virus/malware attack? They have this distortion field created from everything never hearing about the risks and they do their best to quickly patch and hide the vulnerability was ever there. If users knew of every risk which was threatening them, they wouldn't think so highly of the almighty Apple.

[countZero]

We have been waiting for Apple to blame Flash and Adobe...anyone but themselves. Apple fan boys are in denial. On the other hand Windows, with thousands more apps, has to take the blame for the weather.

[richeemxx]

nonseq, on 05 April 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

davep1, on 05 April 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

You are aware that Mac Defender is not a virus at all? It's a trojan and requires that the user open the door and invite it in...

The key here is that Apple often denies the existence of potential security issues and even breaches to their walled garden. All most all malware requires some sort of user interaction to be installed. By Apple denying the existence of these threats they give users the sense that they don't have to take caution or be on the look out for suspicious behavior. They can continue to blindly click away.

I'd really question the numbers involved here and the methods used to obtain those numbers. If I were a mac user I'd definitely make sure my system is up to date but I'd also be very careful fi you are looking for security software or happen to see any security related emails. There could be a further agenda here.

[JasperBeardly20]

nonseq, on 05 April 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

davep1, on 05 April 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

You are aware that Mac Defender is not a virus at all? It's a trojan and requires that the user open the door and invite it in...

Quote

Mac Defender (also known as Mac Protector, Mac Security,Mac Guard, and Mac Shield) is an internet rogue security program that can be installed by unwitting users of computers running the Mac OS X operating system. The Mac security firm Intego discovered the fake antivirus software on May 2, 2011, with a patch not being provided by Apple until May 31. The software has been described as the first major malware threat to the Macintosh platform (although it does not attach to or damage any part of OS X). However, it is not the first Mac-specific Trojan, and is not self-propagating.
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mac_Defender

Look it's the grammar police. A computer virus can be any type of malware such trojan, worm, etc. Don't get your panties in a bunch.

[linuxrants7xpg]

[AnonymousPC]

Not at all, it is the consumer who believes they are invulnerable that is to blame. Same with windows, and all other OSs.

[nonseq]

JasperBeardly20, on 05 April 2012 - 12:03 PM, said:

nonseq, on 05 April 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

davep1, on 05 April 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

You are aware that Mac Defender is not a virus at all? It's a trojan and requires that the user open the door and invite it in...

Quote

Mac Defender (also known as Mac Protector, Mac Security,Mac Guard, and Mac Shield) is an internet rogue security program that can be installed by unwitting users of computers running the Mac OS X operating system. The Mac security firm Intego discovered the fake antivirus software on May 2, 2011, with a patch not being provided by Apple until May 31. The software has been described as the first major malware threat to the Macintosh platform (although it does not attach to or damage any part of OS X). However, it is not the first Mac-specific Trojan, and is not self-propagating.
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mac_Defender

Look it's the grammar police. A computer virus can be any type of malware such trojan, worm, etc. Don't get your panties in a bunch.

It has nothing to do with grammar. It has a great deal to do with accuracy and, frankly, truthfulness. There is a distinction between viruses, which infect a machine without the user's permission. Trojans, on the other hand, require the user to give permission, wittingly or not, by performing a certain action.

[KLanD]

nonseq, on 05 April 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

davep1, on 05 April 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

You are aware that Mac Defender is not a virus at all? It's a trojan and requires that the user open the door and invite it in...

Quote

Mac Defender (also known as Mac Protector, Mac Security,Mac Guard, and Mac Shield) is an internet rogue security program that can be installed by unwitting users of computers running the Mac OS X operating system. The Mac security firm Intego discovered the fake antivirus software on May 2, 2011, with a patch not being provided by Apple until May 31. The software has been described as the first major malware threat to the Macintosh platform (although it does not attach to or damage any part of OS X). However, it is not the first Mac-specific Trojan, and is not self-propagating.
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mac_Defender

You know. I remember the good ole days when all malware was just called "A virus".

[tonybradley]

JasperBeardly20, on 05 April 2012 - 12:03 PM, said:

Look it's the grammar police. A computer virus can be any type of malware such trojan, worm, etc. Don't get your panties in a bunch.

No. "Malware" is a catch-all term that applies to all malicious software, but it is not accurate to say that a "virus" can be a Trojan horse or worm. That isn't nitpicking terminology. It's pointing out a fallacy relative to the distinction between Mac Defender and the current threat.

[42n81]

richeemxx, on 05 April 2012 - 11:55 AM, said:

nonseq, on 05 April 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

davep1, on 05 April 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

You are aware that Mac Defender is not a virus at all? It's a trojan and requires that the user open the door and invite it in...

The key here is that Apple often denies the existence of potential security issues and even breaches to their walled garden. All most all malware requires some sort of user interaction to be installed. By Apple denying the existence of these threats they give users the sense that they don't have to take caution or be on the look out for suspicious behavior. They can continue to blindly click away.

I'd really question the numbers involved here and the methods used to obtain those numbers. If I were a mac user I'd definitely make sure my system is up to date but I'd also be very careful fi you are looking for security software or happen to see any security related emails. There could be a further agenda here.

Yeah, wouldn't it be nice if Apple would confirm the existence of these threats as soon as they hear about them?

NO! Instead, they insist in issuing a patch BEFORE they acknowledge the vulnerability.

Here is a copy of Apple's policy:

Quote

For the protection of our customers, Apple does not disclose, discuss or confirm security issues until a full investigation has occurred and any necessary patches or releases are available. To learn more about Apple Product Security, see the Apple Product Security website.

And for anyone interested in an in depth, scholarly article on the issues surrounding threats and patches, might I suggest the following:

Impact of Vulnerability Disclosure and Patch Availability - An Empirical Analysis Ashish Arora, Ramayya Krishnan, Anand Nandkumar , Rahul Telang and Yubao Yang H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA 15213

This post has been edited by 42n81: 05 April 2012 - 12:24 PM

[nonseq]

KLanD, on 05 April 2012 - 12:14 PM, said:

nonseq, on 05 April 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

davep1, on 05 April 2012 - 11:20 AM, said:

Why is anyone surprised. Remember that Apple's first response to the Mac Defender virus last year was to deny that it did or could exist.

You are aware that Mac Defender is not a virus at all? It's a trojan and requires that the user open the door and invite it in...

Quote

Mac Defender (also known as Mac Protector, Mac Security,Mac Guard, and Mac Shield) is an internet rogue security program that can be installed by unwitting users of computers running the Mac OS X operating system. The Mac security firm Intego discovered the fake antivirus software on May 2, 2011, with a patch not being provided by Apple until May 31. The software has been described as the first major malware threat to the Macintosh platform (although it does not attach to or damage any part of OS X). However, it is not the first Mac-specific Trojan, and is not self-propagating.
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Mac_Defender

You know. I remember the good ole days when all malware was just called "A virus".

You're right but things have changed as new classes of malware have emerged. Can you image the hew and cry if I were to wrongly assert that Linux is susceptible to "viruses"?

[kronoscornelius]

yes

[kronoscornelius]

The Apple logo with a worm would be so appropriate for this news !

[nonseq]

It is my firm, and reasoned belief, that "Macs are immune to viruses" have become a meme¹ that is commonplace among computer users. I also think that it is reasonable to suggest that whenever it is repeated, by both those who make the assertion and those to completely deny it, there is a segment of people who, upon seeing it repeated by either group, will have have their belief that it is true strengthened.

Quote

¹meme /meem/

[By analogy with "gene"] Richard Dawkins's term for an idea considered as a replicator, especially with the connotation that memes parasitise people into propagating them much as viruses do.

Memes can be considered the unit of cultural evolution. Ideas can evolve in a way analogous to biological evolution. Some ideas survive better than others; ideas can mutate through, for example, misunderstandings; and two ideas can recombine to produce a new idea involving elements of each parent idea.

The term is used especially in the phrase "meme complex" denoting a group of mutually supporting memes that form an organised belief system, such as a religion. However, "meme" is often misused to mean "meme complex".

Use of the term connotes acceptance of the idea that in humans (and presumably other tool- and language-using sophonts) cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has become more important than biological evolution by selection of hereditary traits. Hackers find this idea congenial for tolerably obvious reasons.
See also memetic algorithm.

(1996-08-11)
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org

[xMATTPERKINSxk9op]

If I'm not mistaken wasn't the very first piece of malware found on a computer come from a MAC?

And Apple doesn't mention these security issues because not only do they have an image to maintain but they also don't wanna send Mac users into panic mode.

If Apple doesn't wanna warn people then their best solution is build in security software that detects all forms of malware and clean up their vulnerabilities. So the users don't have to do anything. Remember most Mac users wouldn't know what to do if they got malware, they still think Macs don't need AntiVirus software.

[xMATTPERKINSxk9op]

If I'm not mistaken wasn't the very first piece of malware found on a computer come from a MAC?

And Apple doesn't mention these security issues because not only do they have an image to maintain but they also don't wanna send Mac users into panic mode.

If Apple doesn't wanna warn people then their best solution is build in security software that detects all forms of malware and clean up their vulnerabilities. So the users don't have to do anything. Remember most Mac users wouldn't know what to do if they got malware, they still think Macs don't need AntiVirus software.