DISQUS

louisgray.com: louisgray.com: I Got a Mac OS X Virus and Infected CenterNetworks. Oops.

  • Adam Turetzky · 1 year ago
    The main way that trojan was contracted was browsing porn sites.

    http://bit.ly/3eId3w

    Edit to add: you also didn't have to go and buy any Anti-virus software. The free and opensource Clamxav could have cleaned it up for you:

    http://www.clamxav.com/
  • Louis Gray · 1 year ago
    I did see that was the main driver of incidents like this. There was a good story in MacWorld on this type of Mac OS X Trojan. http://www.macworld.com/article/60823/2007/10/t... Had I seen that earlier today, I maybe could have saved a little money.
  • Chris Baskind · 1 year ago
    Geez, I'm sorry, Louis. And that is one wild-looking virus scanner UI. Turbo Mode FTW.
  • Anthony Farrior · 1 year ago
    Love your transparency/honesty! I've worked on but never owned a MAC, so I can't personally like or dislike it. It appears as we are all frail humans, so too, All Operating Systems have their vulnerabilities...
  • reechard · 1 year ago
    How thoughtful, they provide free Trojans along with the v*agra :-)
  • uway · 1 year ago
    It all starts with just one. We mac user use to brag about Our non virus infected Macs but now Its going to be a recommendation to install a virus protection software and then there starts the new virus wars. not only would it effect windows but both at the same time.

    Question is it possible to over load the internet?
  • Gordon Swaby · 1 year ago
    It is what it is Louis; i'm sure Allen understands fully.
  • Ballpoint Wren · 1 year ago
    Louis, at first I thought your browser was exploited by the DNS flaw described here: http://www.macworld.com/article/134786/2008/07/...

    ... but from what I understand, cache poisoning would direct you to another site. Flavoring the ads on the sites you visit doesn't seem to be how it works. (And have you installed that latest security update patching that flaw?)

    Technically, I don't think you infected CenterNetworks, because your problem didn't cause anybody else to see CN's site with those ads. I mean, it was limited to your machine, right?
  • Louis Gray · 1 year ago
    Bonnie, first, it's great to see you here. We miss your updates and Mojo.

    No, I didn't infect CenterNetworks with my foolishness. But my confusion caused him some grief.
  • shokk · 1 year ago
    It also seems likely that a Mac that cannot detect Windows viruses (for example in a Word doc or zip file) can still transmit them to Windows users where they will do their damage. It's certainly not the fault of the Mac user that Windows has such flaws, but the neighborly thing to do wouold be to participate in their detection and eradication. Almost like a global fight against these threats. Just not sure this is something the non-Windows users should fund.
  • Bryce Roney · 1 year ago
    Mac OS X viruses? How very dare you!!
  • gedcarroll · 1 year ago
    Hi Louis, You made a good choice with Intego, I use their stuff now that McAffee has cancelled Virex. Symantec's Norton offerings were doing things at a very low level on my system in a way that made me nervous and suspicious. I can also recommend Intego's Net Barrier: it is amazing the amount of attacks it stops on the likes of my cell carriers 3G network and the corporate networks of clients when I jack in.
  • AramZS · 1 year ago
    Welcome to the mainstream! The only reason Apple didn't have viruses before is because their market share was so low that no one cared. Now that they are increasing in popularity and visibility, I would not be surprised if we see an increasing number of OS X viruses in the future.

    That was pretty ridiculous, to have a virus that overlaid the banner ads is a pretty effective technique, the average user might not even know they were infected and it leaves the vector open for future trouble-making.

    It makes me wonder if we are going to be seeing more OS X machines in botnets in the future, and if so, what does that mean for security professionals who have become used to only having to defend PCs.
  • centernetworks · 1 year ago
    glad you are all fixed up louis!
  • foo · 1 year ago
    Here's the obvious solution. Quit browsing porn, Louis!
  • loquacious · 1 year ago
    Technically speaking, a porn website is no different from a non-porn site. They both use html, css, etc. If a trojan is transmitted from a porn site that doesn't mean that it cannot be transmitted by a non-porn site. It appears that the author picked up the trojan from a non-porn site.
  • Di · 1 year ago
    Hi Louis and thanks for the info. I am trying to locate a virus on my computer... I have the same as you I believe since like you, I am having sexual aid/penis growth ads showing up on a site that I view... it's a family oriented website and when I sent screen shots to the gal that has the website she accused me of photoshopping her webpages.... I have been using a program called Clean Sweep that my hubby downloaded from the net but so far all the files it has brought up, I deleted, and am still getting the ads. Am I going to have to get virus software for my Mac, or simply re-load my operating system? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks, Diane Cayton Hakey