For years now, Mac users have flaunted their seeming immunity to computer viruses, malware, and other noxious applications that plague the hearts, minds, and hard drives of PC users. However, there have been exceptions to the Mac's invincible reputation, like the one app from last summer that stole photos and all sorts of other information. According to security software firm Symantec, there's another one on the loose, turning Apple computers into zombies.

The app is (somewhat humorously) called iBotnet, and it runs quietly in the background after its taken control of your Mac computer. It then allows the crooks who distributed the software to use the infected machines for their nefarious means, doing whatever they like. That's the essence of the botnet. Only a few thousand Macs are infected, but, given the general lack of virus protection on most Apple computers, that's a number that could quickly balloon.

What can you do? Well, if you're on a Mac, it's time to start watching what you click and download, just as your PC brethren have been doing for years. And perhaps it's time to be a little less self-sure, too. [From: CNN]

You might not even realize it, but when you first log onto your PC, dozens of programs and services are starting that you most likely don't need. Some rear their ugly heads in the system tray (that little collection of icons next to the clock in Windows), but others run quietly in the background with you none the wiser.

Now, don't get scared, these instructions will take you to corners of your operating system (OS) you may not have seen before, but follow our instructions below and you should notice slightly quicker performance and, potentially, much faster boot times.

• You can control what applications start with OS X by going to System Preferences, Accounts, and opening LoginItems.

• Here, turn off any application that you absolutely don't need the moment you turn on your computer, like iChat and Skype.

• Remove any widgets from Dashboard that you don't use, or remove them all and disable Dashboard entirely.

• To disable Dashboard open the Terminal by going to Applications, then Utilities.

• Enter the following, 'defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean YES' hit enter.

• Then type, 'killall Dock' and hit enter to restart Dock without Dashboard enabled.

• Dashboard can also be disabled with a free application called TinkerTool.

• You can turn off unused networking services by opening Sharing, under System Preferences.

• Make sure any services you don't need are unchecked: Windows Sharing, FTP Access, Apple Remote Desktop. As a bonus, this will also make your Mac safer.

Yesterday, Cnet and Macworld reported that a new phishing scam is targeting the users of the Apple service MobileMe, and is doing so under the guise of an official Apple e-mail. Explaining that the user's monthly MobileMe payment has failed to go through, the e-mail directs the recipient to follow a link, where he or she is then instructed to enter credit card information. Seeing as we offer warnings about opening strange e-mails and entering your personal information into unfamiliar Web sites time and time again, we need not tell you good folks, "Don't do it."

But, just in case, "Don't do it!" [From: Macworld via Cnet]

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• Internet Scams Increasing as Economy Stumbles
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• Phishing Scams Plague Twitter

Last week, the folks at Apple informed retailers that the company's iMacs will soon be in short supply, according to a report last Friday on Apple Insider. Judging in part from that projected drop in supply, Apple Insider's commentators have inferred that the world will soon see the next iMac line. But could it also just mean -- in this shopping-averse economy -- that demand for iMacs is down, too.

At present, little is known about the new iMacs' specifics, but hints -- and conjecture -- abound. While Apple enthusiasts have already discovered that the new machines will run on the same NVIDIA chipset used in contemporary laptops (and the speculated-about 15-inch Air), some guess that the manufacturer will embrace Intel's new quad-core low-power processors.

As for now, there's little to do but wait and wave farewell to that departing generation of iMacs. It's really just as well; we don't have the money right now, anyway. [From: Apple Insider]

Related Links:

• Internet Scams Increasing as Economy Stumbles
• Arrested Fannie Mae Worker Attempted to Plant Computer Virus
• With Economy in Decline, Plenty of Empty Booths at CES

It seems like the signs are pointing to a refresh of the Mac mini when this year's Macworld rolls around. According to a press release by SeeFile, their new (version 4.6) Web server software can be purchased bundled with a Mac mini server with 1 terabyte of storage -- which is odd enough, since the largest internal drive that ships with the thing is 120GB. And how about the release itself, indiscreetly titled: "New Mac Mini Hardware to Be Supported by Revolutionary SeeFile Web Sharing DAM Software." Of course, this could all be mere speculation, rumors and innuendo. We'll find out soon enough, won't we? [Via Yahoo]

Surely you've seen the Mac vs. PC commercials in which Apple loves to make a fool of the bungling PC, played by John Hodgman. In one commercial, embedded after the break, Apple shows a sick PC, coughing and saying he's been infected by some virus. The noble Mac offers a hankie and says he's immune. However, showing what little truth there is in advertising, Apple's not nearly as confident when it comes to making recommendations to customers.

The Zero Day blog at ZDNet recently noticed this statement on Apple's site:

Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult.

In other words, Macs are indeed not immune and, not only should users install an anti-virus program, Apple recommends that they install more than one! Somehow we don't think we'll see this warning pop up in the next round of commercials. [From: Zero Day]

As we've said countless times, you -- the user -- are the biggest security threat to your PC. While Windows has a well deserved reputation as being insecure, Macs are far from immune to attacks. While it may be more secure by the nature of its design, OS X can't force users to make smart decisions.

It appears that the age old trick of throwing up a fake dialog box asking users to click "OK" to install software (usually to allow them to see porn) is equally effective at fooling Mac users into opening the gates to malicious software.

As we've repeatedly said before, a new operating system, anti-virus software, or anti-spyware tools are no replacement for good browsing habits. Carefully read any pop-ups, don't open e-mails from unknown sources, and stay away from suspicious Web sites. Your best defense is a little common sense. [From: ZDNet]

Getting your old digital life to merge with your new digital life has always been somewhat of a chore. Fortunately, things got a little easier for Mac users trying to do just that.

Using Apple's backup application Time Machine, TUAW has put together step-by-step instructions for how to go about the crucial task, with pretty much zero chance of losing your priceless data (it's already backed up, see). The guide is super-simple, but then again, so is the process. Still, having your hand held through the procedure makes the whole thing much less stressful.

Trust us, it's going to be okay. Just have faith that Jobs is watching. [From: TUAW]

Mac owners who have been waiting for Netflix to open up the 'Watch Instantly' option just got a little something to light up their day -- the service is now available to the public; or at least members of the public who opt in via a Web form. It's all based on Microsoft's Silverlight, so you'll need to download and install the plugin for your Web browser, but please mind the six device limit if you've got a small cadre of 'Watch Instantly' devices in use.

So if you can live with the fact that Microsoft tech is the lynchpin to your Mac streaming enjoyment, then hustle on over and sign yourselves up for that non-HD, but ample selection of streaming content.

When it comes to computing technology, the general stereotype is that it's more a male-dominated culture. And in general, from the number of software companies and trade events we've worked at/attended, it's a fairly accurate assumption. But in these connected times, everyone -- yes, even that middle-school child with a phone that's better than yours -- is tied to technology, regardless of gender.

So what brands are women into besides Kodak? Apple. According to a survey conducted at a Canadian university, 43-percent of women prefer Apple laptops over PCs. Details were not given as to why women would prefer devices with incredibly classy looks and are known to "just work," but maybe today's event will shed some light on the subject.

It must be noted that this survey was conducted with a random sampling of only seven women, so the results are far from definitive. If our last visit to the SF Apple store was any indication, though, 43-percent seems like way too low a number. [From: TUAW]

Don't forget that Apple's laptop-centric event is today at 10am, 1pm eastern, and, as usual, the rumor mills have been going full steam in preparation for the announcement. So what can we expect from from Mr. Jobs today? Well, we've broke down each major rumor circulating and the likelihood that each one will turn out to be true.

• $900 MacBooks with an aluminum case. Odds: 4-1

MacBooks are in need of a stylistic update, and a move towards brushed aluminum, as on the MacBook Pro and Air, makes sense. A lower price would also help Apple continue to build market share, especially in these questionable economic times.

• Discrete NVIDIA graphics for MacBook Pro. Odds: 2-1

MacBook Pros are aimed squarely at mobile graphics professionals. The fact that they has continued to rely on Intel's under-powered built-in graphics is absurd. NVIDIA graphics will make the MacBook Pro a viable gaming PC and greatly speed up things like Photoshop and video-editing.

• Blu-ray comes to MacBooks. Odds: 12-1

Apple has to adopt the next generation of optical disc at some point, but it's never tried to market its laptops as entertainment platforms (they don't have built-in TV tuners, either). Apple is probably not rushing to cram an expensive drive for an HD format with limited movie and TV titles into its laptops just yet.

• LCD screen touch pads. Odds: 40-1

Ever since the iPhone hit the market rumor mongers have been talking about Apple replacing traditional touch pads with a multi-touch display. Maybe one day, but certainly not today.

• iTablet. Odds: 200-1

This rumor just wont die. It's been circulation for years that Apple is prepping a touch screen tablet style laptop. Don't count on it. Ever. Tablet style PCs haven't been very popular for Microsoft, so why would Apple make one?

• Apple branded Wi-Fi HDTVs. Odds: 4,000,000,000-1

Ha! Weblogs Inc. (our parent company) founder, Jason Calacanis, made headlines when he speculated that Apple would unveil a line of HDTVs that could stream content from your Mac over Wi-Fi. Sounds like a great replacement for the Apple TV in theory, but the price would simply be too high. Phasing out the $229 Apple TV in favor of a $2,000 all-in-one HD monitor just simply doesn't make sense.

Don't forget to check back here later to see what Apple announces. And to keep abreast of live developments, check out our sister site Engadget's live blog of the event around 1pm EST. For additional rumor coverage, head on over to TUAW. [From: TUAW, Engadget, and Ars Technica]

OLO Computer is reportedly thinking of bringing to market a netbook-styled device that would actually enable (require?) users to plop their iPhone / iPhone 3G into the palm rest; from there, the handset would act as the brains of the operation and double as a trackpad. At the present time, there are no real specifications to speak of -- just a zany teaser page and lots of speculation.

We shouldn't have to remind you what an epic failure the whole "cellphone companion" sector has been, as one look at Palm's axed Foleo and the deeply discounted Celio REDFLY should be explanation enough. Hey, we're not trying to discourage you from giving this a go, OLO, but we'd probably have a backup plan ready to roll in case Apple itself drops a netbook on the world in the next 48 hours.

[Via Liliputing]

Read - Official teaser page
Read - Netbook-style clamshell for iPhone is coming

In a shift major shift among businesses, Macintosh computers are no longer just being allowed through the front doors of corporate America but are actually being encouraged as business work tools.

According to a new survey by the Yankee Group, a Massachusetts research firm, the Apple-made desktop computers, previously only the favorites of graphic designers and layout specialists, are now becoming the quiet favorite among network administrators.

The Macs are said to provide a more stable computer environment and are more resistant to security threats and common flaws than computers outfitted with Windows XP or Vista.

According to Laura DiDio, a Yankee Group research fellow, 8 in 10 U.S. Businesses now use Macs in a significant way. While the Macs only make up about 10 percent of all the computers used by businesses, this represents a major increase from the 2 percent they represented only just a few years ago.

Many businesses are even using the Macs to load Windows, since these computers are able to load both kinds of operating systems courtesy of the Apple's "Boot Camp" utility.

What are the specific reasons for a business to get Macs? The answer is stability and reliability. Macs, DiDio says, suffer from less downtime, they come with a utility called "Time Machine" that allows a user to essentially go back to a moment when a computer was operating properly in case a problem occurs, their desktop search (with a utility called "Spotlight") is easier to use, and iChat (an instant messaging platform) makes communication among workers easier.

While the IT pros surveyed admitted that Windows has better support for network issues, the stability of the Macs actually means they have less reason to require system help.

DiDio notes that businesses aren't about to swap out all their Windows machines for Macs – but the tide may be turning. [Source: Computerworld.]

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]