Possible malware in email attachment, can this affect earlier time machine backup?

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Possible malware in email attachment, can this affect earlier time machine backup?

I have accidentally opened an xls file in an email thinking it was acknowleging content in a form recently completed online.

Unfortunately I quickly realised it wasn't as it came from an unfamiliar email address, the file was called feb17processing.xls & contained a blank xls sheet which I had opened expecting to see my submission in the form.

This may be malicious so I have closed down time machine which was partly backed up & disconnected from the internet.

Question is - if it is malicious could it possibly have entered time machines earlier backups or is it safe to restore my hard drive to an earlier version from time machine?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Feb 19, 2021 10:05 AM

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Answer 1

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LaPastenague

Level 9

67,262 points

Feb 19, 2021 11:33 AM in response to stivesvelo

AFAIK it cannot corrupt your earlier Time Machine versions.. that is so far I have heard no report of it ever happening. And Apple greatly increased security on Time Machine backups over the last several OS releases. Since you are running latest Mac OS (from your profile) I doubt it will do any harm to your Mac. More likely to be a windows virus..

Running virus software on a Mac is really not required but you could download say SOPHOS and run it once. Then turn it off. Some people occasionally run Malwarebytes occasionally.

Do delete the email, and check that any copy of the attachment is gone as well.

If you wish to wipe and restore your Mac from earlier backup, you may need Apple help with that since big sur is not yet well known. And you could also talk to their support about the virus and what to do about it. Even if you have to pay.. if it is work problem then it is work expense.

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Answer 2

stivesvelo Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 19, 2021 12:00 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks for your response and words of caution as I just managed to restrain myself from jumping in both feet first & restoring everything to an earlier version, as it seems straight forward on the surface!

I'll do a bit more homework before I do so as I 'think' it will be ok & hopefully someone will know the answer.

PS. not work related but rather not give away passwords etc etc which I think are secure.

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Possible malware in email attachment, can this affect earlier time machine backup?

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