Heads Up/Warning Mac Defender

The guy[assuming it is a guy] with the forum name ''mac-defender'' is very unfortunate as he has had his name long before this malware hit.

I asked in the Apple ''One to One''sessions how to do a second, non-admin account, and they said ''you can't run as ''non admin''else how do you do your software updates?

I am assuming, however that I should have TWO accounts? even so, they did not want to help with this, though they DID check that I had installed Firefox properly-[bro talked me through it over the phone].

I was told to ''forget'' about worrying about malware, as it is ''negative'', and that there has been a lot of scaremongering out there-but I just want to make my computer as safe as poss.

I did say to Apple, ''why was I not advised to ''uncheck the ''safe''downloads'' box, and was told ''It is up to you to decide what level of security you put on your computer''

But I just wish I had been warned. They knew I was a novice as I am at the ''123'' of the one to one lessons.

I asked which was better, Firefox or Safari, and again was told ''it is up to you'', and ''do internet searches to make up your mind''

So, any further advice would be helpful! thanks.

Sorry, ''mac_defender'' [have been told that these little differences matter😉

No problem, many users just asked Google and send me complains. At least the last weeks (after I posted the additional warning/note at my page) were quite silent. It's just sad to see that my nickname MacDefender is used for such a think. They already traced this stuff to Russia ( ok, it's nearly always Russia or China) and they can't do anything about it :-(

So now with 10.7 out that I'll never install as I really hate the MAS and those clouds..it't just a matter of time till I change my nick to something like LinuxDefender or so...or better something else that can't be used for any malware..

Just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one to be scared by "scareware". Several weeks before the current trojan outbreak, I was actually on this forum and clicked on a link which resulted in a pop up of some other program (don't know its name, but might have been an early mac defender) supposedly scanning my computer. I have had previous experience with pcs and realized that the scan was showing windows files, which I know are not anywhere on my mac. and the finder window was wrong. I closed everything and was still shaky. I immediately came back to this forum to get reassurance. Since then, I have learned a lot about this stuff, so hopefully I will have less of a panic reaction if another trojan shows up.

My first time on the forum was when I was having trouble with Safari losing internet connections. That was my first difficulty with my mac and I think panic might also be a way to describe my initial reaction. As you use your mac more you will get more comfortable with it. I did a lot of 1:1's also and still do when I'm not sure about something or want to try it out before I do it on my own. If you like books or guides (which I do because I am old fasioned enough to like to have things down in black and white ), there are a few that are actually understandable. I have the "Missing Manual" which I find pretty easy to follow for just learning how to do things, not just for troubleshooting. This forum is also a good place to learn how to use your mac, besides for solving problems.

laverne's mom

🙂

Thanks, Laverne's mom-and bad luck mac_defender having your name used in such a horrid way.

I am almost too scared to click on any links on this forum, but have done, and really want to see ''Reed's'' stuff, and may pluck up courage to do so-it WAS panic-making seeing my computer screen invaded by loud and strange boxes, and hope that now I know enough not to panic-just to force quit, and re-start -but some say Firefox is a safer browser, and others say Safari is ok as long as the ''uncheck ''safe'' downloads'' box is unchecked.

It is difficult to know exactly what to believe, and now i have heard for certain that ''facebook'' is bad news-my son goes on this, as does his girlfriend via my computer-and on this forum experienced members warn to stay away.

Oh, the joys of owning a computer! -but then, people like my family have had NO malware on their Macs, but they always use Firefox.

Yes, I went to the library today and took out ''macbook for dummies'' but it may be outdated already-like you i like to see things illustrated, so I can go through them s-l-o-w-l-y!

😉

I would really suggest that you read Thomas Reed's Guide to understand more and ease your mind about malware and viruses . http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/

I use Firefox, but mostly because I like some of its features and used it when I had pc's so I was used to it. I also use Safari because it works best on some other forums that I am involved with. It's not a bad idea to have two browsers anyway. Find the one you are most comfortable with. I don't go on Facebook, partly because I'm not sure of the security and partly because I think I would spend way too much time on it.

You already know what to do if you should have another bad experience and really as long as you don't download and install something you didn't want, you should be very safe. You might consider an add on called Web of Trust which you can get in Safari and Firefox. It alerts you. It is a Safari extension. You can find it by going to https://extensions.apple.com/ and scrolling down the page until you find it. It will put up a big warning if a website isn't considered trustworthy. It will also alert you when you do a google search as to which links are not trustworthly. I really like it.

And ask questions on this forum.

laverne's mom

Thanks, Laverne's Mom-

I did indeed click the link to ''Reed's Stuff'' and it was very helpful-prior, no one could really tell me what a ''firewall'' did-i was imagining a ''bouncer'' chucking back bad guys, but thought ''what if a bad guy looked harmless, but was bad underneath?''-and let through?- so now I understand a little about how firewalls work, and their limitations.

The ''web of trust'' thing I will look into.

And, as several forum members have already said, running two accounts is better than just sticking to the ''admin''-so hopefully the guys at the one to ones WILL next time show me how to do this..maybe could do it on my own, but am worried I will do something wrong!

Just done the ''Web of trust'' download-not that I ever visit dodgy sites, -well, not knowingly anyway. But will it help against Malware, or as Reedcorner says- is the brain is the best line of defence with these..?

The WOT helps in that it alerts you to a website which other have judged untrustworthy. So its an extra tool.

But yes, the brain is the best line of defense with these nasty guys. Sounds like you are doing great.

laverne's mom

😀

Please Please do not download MacDefender I was SCAMMED bigtime.I wish they would be investigated.

Everything went downhill with my MacBOOK PRO after I downloaded it.They claimed protection but we need to be protected from them.

They have the Better Business Bureau icon on their site and their customer service is abominable NO RETURN CALLS OR EMAILS!

buyer BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!