anne e

Q: Mac Defender

Mac Defender has appeared in my iMac (OS X 10.6.7)

I tried to remove it by dragging the program to the trash from the applications folder, but I cant because the program is open.

The program is pretending to be an antivirus program send $$, obviously a scam.

I re-started but I cat stop it from loading.

 

There is very little info on this program out there (MacDefender.app)

 

Any ideas?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Apr 30, 2011 8:41 AM

Close

Q: Mac Defender

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 9 of 12 last Next
  • by ZannahBT,

    ZannahBT ZannahBT May 13, 2011 9:49 PM in response to R C-R
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 13, 2011 9:49 PM in response to R C-R

    RC-R, I agree with your assessment completely and stand corrected about confusing viruses with Trojan horses. Nevertheless, these Trojan horses are very nerve-wracking for most non-tech users when they are subjected to them (as evidenced in this thread), as this one was to me before I realized what was going on.

     

    Thank you for your enlightened comments

  • by aafearn,

    aafearn aafearn May 13, 2011 10:17 PM in response to WZZZ
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 13, 2011 10:17 PM in response to WZZZ

    Thankd WZZZ!! Super helpful!!  I learned that lesson the hard way!  Next time I will do my research before giving out my credit card number!  I guess I was just feeling generous today!

  • by elizabethfromfort myers,

    elizabethfromfort myers elizabethfromfort myers May 14, 2011 3:07 PM in response to MacJoseph
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2011 3:07 PM in response to MacJoseph

    In my activities monitor, there is no MacDefender, there is MacProtector, is that the same?

    Thanks for your help!

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa May 14, 2011 3:21 PM in response to elizabethfromfort myers
    Level 7 (32,295 points)
    iPad
    May 14, 2011 3:21 PM in response to elizabethfromfort myers

    Yes it is.

  • by elizabethfromfort myers,

    elizabethfromfort myers elizabethfromfort myers May 14, 2011 4:04 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2011 4:04 PM in response to babowa

    Thanks so much for your help!

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa May 14, 2011 4:20 PM in response to elizabethfromfort myers
    Level 7 (32,295 points)
    iPad
    May 14, 2011 4:20 PM in response to elizabethfromfort myers

    You're welcome!

  • by Dolphbucs,

    Dolphbucs Dolphbucs May 14, 2011 10:51 PM in response to aafearn
    Level 1 (55 points)
    May 14, 2011 10:51 PM in response to aafearn

    referring to the link I posted earlirer for MacDefenderKiller it is a link to the MacUpdate website.  They are highly reputable and have an extensive vetting process .... in other words they don't post something until they've checked it out.  Understandable that you're leary about downloading something else, and if you can remove it manually following the other instructions that is probably best, but for those that would rather or need to use a tool MacDefenderKiller is a good choice.  BTW, it does remove several of the variants such as MacProtector. And it is Free.

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 May 15, 2011 1:46 PM in response to Dolphbucs
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    May 15, 2011 1:46 PM in response to Dolphbucs

    I don't really doubt that MacDefenderKiller is not everything it says it is.  It comes from what appears to be a legitimate web page, etc. But I won't be using it personally because I don't know exactly what it does.  I know that it runs an AppleScript but it was compiled as a run only script so I'm unable to judge it's effectiveness.  Certainly the developer is within his rights to do so to protect his work, but I would feel better about it if he at least provided a detailed description of what happens.

  • by Dolphbucs,

    Dolphbucs Dolphbucs May 16, 2011 7:30 PM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (55 points)
    May 16, 2011 7:30 PM in response to MadMacs0

    How many developers really give us that info or more make their apps open for examination ? I've been using the MacUpdate site since I got my first Mac and have never had any app I got from their site do any damage to my system.

     

    I understand the disclaimer, but are the people who need this software really going to be able to understand any description the developer put out there ? Do we know the developer wouldn't respond to a request for such information if asked ? All I can say is I trust MacUpdate as much as I trust the Mac App Store ... they have too much to lose to NOT have tested this thing out before listing it.

  • by lindafromsandy lake,

    lindafromsandy lake lindafromsandy lake May 17, 2011 12:20 PM in response to anne e
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 17, 2011 12:20 PM in response to anne e

    Aaah!  Help!  Was just browsing MSN and "Apple Security Center" popped up and told me that I am totally infected.  I called Apple and the tech advised that this has been happening for the past two weeks.  He told me to buy the Virus Barrier Plus from Intego for $9.99, run it and it will delete the problem.  Well - NO - didn't work.  I even tried the free version.  Both scanned and told me that the IMac is fine.  I did find "MacProtector" in my applications so I dragged it to the trash.  Also, I went to Activity Monitor and forced quit MacProtector.  The irritating red shield at the top right is now gone but I'm afraid it'll come back based on previous posts.  Does anyone know what else I should do.  For now, the **** pop-ups have stopped but I don't know for how long.

     

    Thanks.

  • by laverne's mom,

    laverne's mom laverne's mom May 17, 2011 12:31 PM in response to lindafromsandy lake
    Level 2 (395 points)
    May 17, 2011 12:31 PM in response to lindafromsandy lake

    Try this http://www.reedcorner.net/news.php/?p=138 

     

    and read this for more information on viruses, other malware etc 

     

    http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/

     

    and search this forum for MacDefender or Mac Protector or Apple Security Center.  There have been a lot of threads and one of them will have the information you need.

     

    Laverne's mom

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 May 17, 2011 12:42 PM in response to lindafromsandy lake
    Level 5 (4,801 points)
    May 17, 2011 12:42 PM in response to lindafromsandy lake

    lindafromsandy lake wrote:

     

    Aaah!  Help!  Was just browsing MSN and "Apple Security Center" popped up and told me that I am totally infected.  I called Apple and the tech advised that this has been happening for the past two weeks.  He told me to buy the Virus Barrier Plus from Intego for $9.99, run it and it will delete the problem.  Well - NO - didn't work.  I even tried the free version.  Both scanned and told me that the IMac is fine.

    I'm surprised to hear that.  My impression was that Intego was on top of this, but perhaps the signature has changed sufficiently to slip by now.  You might want to let them know.

    I did find "MacProtector" in my applications so I dragged it to the trash.  Also, I went to Activity Monitor and forced quit MacProtector.  The irritating red shield at the top right is now gone but I'm afraid it'll come back based on previous posts.  Does anyone know what else I should do.  For now, the **** pop-ups have stopped but I don't know for how long.

    As far as we collectively have been able to determine you have done everything you need to for now.  The most important thing for you to do going forward is to never enter your admin password to install something on your computer without knowing that it comes from a reputable source and what it will do once it's installed.

     

    There are one or two files remaining in your Downloads folder that could start this cycle all over again if you don't follow the above advise, so you might want to trash those, as well.  If you plan on helping Intego don't trash them until you've talked to them as they may want you to send one to them.  Those files should be called "MacProtector.mpkg" and "anti-malware.zip" but could have new names.

  • by lindafromsandy lake,

    lindafromsandy lake lindafromsandy lake May 17, 2011 1:01 PM in response to laverne's mom
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 17, 2011 1:01 PM in response to laverne's mom

    Thank you Laverne  I'll try that.

  • by lindafromsandy lake,

    lindafromsandy lake lindafromsandy lake May 17, 2011 1:04 PM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 17, 2011 1:04 PM in response to MadMacs0

    Thank you MadMacs0  i will try that also

  • by laverne's mom,

    laverne's mom laverne's mom May 17, 2011 1:12 PM in response to lindafromsandy lake
    Level 2 (395 points)
    May 17, 2011 1:12 PM in response to lindafromsandy lake

    Your welcome

     

first Previous Page 9 of 12 last Next