Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
Summary: In the latest update to Snow Leopard, Apple included software to protect Mac computers from a Trojan horse.
In the latest update to Snow Leopard, Apple included software to protect Mac computers from a Trojan horse that has been distributed by attackers disguised as iPhoto, but which opens a back door on the machine, security firm Sophos said on Friday.
When Apple released OS X 10.6.4 on Tuesday, the company said it addressed certain compatibility issues with VPN connections and other things, but failed to mention anything about adding an anti-malware update.
But buried in the code is an update to the XProtect.plist file, which contains signatures of malware written to target the Mac. The signatures now detect malware dubbed "HellRTS," Graham Clulely of Sophos wrote in a blog post.
For more on this story, read Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update on CNET News.
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Talkback
IT'A A LIE!!!!
Dyslexics of the world untie!!
well, no
everyone knows that macs are immune to viruses and worms and that you should not install PROGRAMS from sources you cannot trust. common sense.
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
Oh my you are an ID 10 T. However i do find it interesting that quote " Apple quietly add anti-malware" yet know one really says to much about it. Yet if Microsoft did this there would an outrage. Seems to me that the apple fanboys and everyone else has Saint Stevey ^ick stuck in their mouth.
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
Do you mean like the trusted update that Apple provided, the Flash Player 10.0.45.2 software update containing multiple vulnerabilities that expose users to malicious hacker attacks? Of course, that would never happen to you because of your common sense.
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
I keep hearing from MacHeads that Macs are immune to viruses, worms, etc. Perhaps they should stop listening to the propaganda and google "HellRaiser (aka OSX/HellRTS.D)".
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
Malware like Trojans work just as well on all operating systems
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
OFC they dont mention it, it would hurt their PR
All the real techies know that Mac OS is actually more vulnerable than Windows in terms of exploit ability. Its just that alot more people write malware for windows because of its popularity.
@Jimster480
Like Windows users, Mac users are encouraged to download and install software from arbitrary websites, on the assumption that it is always safe to do so. As a consequence, the infection rate of Macs, via Trojans, is likely to be similar to that of the infection rate of Windows, via Trojans.
Hmmmm.... not quite luv!
[i]"Actually more people write viruses for Windows because it's easier to infect Windows with Viruses, than any other Operating System."[/i]
Once would have agreed with you, but that simply isn't even remotely true anymore.
If you look to the various BlackHat-type test-beds/scenarios, OS X almost ALWAYS falls first! Windows ([i]post[/i]-XP) is getting closer and closer to standing fast with Linux (the user-friendly distros at least).
Where once upon a time Apple had a very secure OS product, they've become lost in their own marketing Machine and security has taken a back-seat. Why is it you think that Walled Garden gets higher and higher, with the iPad blatantly excluding Flash as a prime example?? Answer: because Apple is becoming less and less confident that their OS offerings can remain uncompromised in the real world!
@kaninelupus
I definitely agree with you there. Apple have taken a very secure Unix system FreeBSD and made it much less secure.
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
IMHO
(and no, I'm not necessarily a Mac fanboy... I'm really more of a Linux fanboy these days...)
www.dfwsupergeek.com
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
@zdnet-gregc
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update
Guess what, most infections to Windows are now caused by trojans also. Active cooperation is easily gotten by trickery on the part of the malware producer. Put a popup with a fake warning that your computer is infected, provide a SCAN button and people will push it. Bingo, you are infected. Viruses are soooo yesterday.
@hansa@
It is indeed, and the fact that the users are actively encouraged to source their software from arbitrary websites, makes it very easy indeed for such tricksters to apply their trickery. Which is why i would expect that the rate of infection via Trojans would be similar on both Windows and Mac.
When Microsoft finally gets rid of ActiveX, then I think we can finally ignore viruses, until then, while they may be sooooo old, the easy infection vector still exists, and it's built in to every version of IE still in use.
RE: Apple quietly adds anti-malware in Snow Leopard update