Latest Malicious Software Targets Macs, Takes Your Picture, Passwords
by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 24th 2008 at 8:25AM
More or less since the inception of the Macintosh OS, users of Apple computers have felt invulnerable to the threats that their Windows-using counterparts have faced. Viruses and other malicious bits of computer software that regularly affect Microsoft's platforms are very rare on the Mac. But contrary to popular belief, they're not absent altogether, and a new one making the rounds is a real doozy, as it disables your security software, steals your passwords, and even takes your picture using the MacBook or iMac's built-in camera.According to Mac anti-virus developer SecureMac, the malicious program is a Trojan, an app that installs itself pretending to be friendly and useful, but actually hides an unwanted payload. This particular one is distributed as a supposed game or utility and, after installing itself, exploits a vulnerability in Mac OSX versions 10.4 and 10.5 that enables it to take complete control over your computer. From there it can do whatever it likes, including montior every keystroke you make to capture passwords, deletes ystem logs to hide its existence, and take over your camera to monitor what you're up to.
The good news is that you'll have to actually agree to download and install this thing in order for it to get onto your computer. So, make sure you know exactly what it is that you're downloading and installing and you should be okay (be extra wary of random utilities or games that offer themselves up to your for download and install). In addition, you should install an anti-virus program onto your Mac and run it regularly.
This Trojan is a nasty one, that's for sure, and a reminder that even if you're using a Mac, you should be careful where you click that mouse! [Source: NewsFactor]
It seems like everyday computer users have a new reason to fear that their data is unsafe. And to be fair, it isn't. Unless you lock vital PC components up in separate bank quality vaults, encrypt all your data, and never go online, you're always in some danger, and at that point what use is a computer anyway? But every once in a while a hacker demonstrates a vulnerability in our computers that makes us second guess our ability to be even slightly secure.
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