We are getting a screen indicating that there are 71 items that need attention as part of an Apple Security Alert. The screen indicates that it is part of Apple Security Center. It asks to click ok to remove the offending objects (virus, malware). Is this legitimate apple software or will it introduce a virus?
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)
I received a link to the trojan. It's the same dude, still operating out of 69.50.201.198. Here's his latest screen:
The archive name is "anti-malware.zip" and it expands to "MacProtector.mpkg." The current version of clamav recognizes both files, as well as the installed trojan. I don't use ClamXav myself, but presumably it will recognize them too. Use it to delete.
He's processing payments through the domain "mac-defence.com." Network admins, please firewall. I've already gotten him booted from one anonymous registrar in Australia; now he's using another one. Others may wish to pick up the torch on that issue.
By the way, the Mailinator mailbox is accessible to anyone who knows how to use that site. No password needed. Anyone with appropriate experience, feel free to use it.
Just to be clear, it doesn't appear that I got a link such as a pop-up or anything like that. I was on my Hotmail account and suddenly it turned into the link per my previous attached screenshot (attached again below)
I had no idea what it was or whether it was legit but proceeded to click "remove all". It then saved some file onto my computer. I then Googled "Apple Security Center" and got this forum which probably saved me a lot of grief. I never installed the downloaded file. I'm hoping that was enough to save me. Nevertheless, I downloaded ClamXav and did a scan just in case.
Got this on Chrome the IP is http://178.xx.xxx.165/ < Edited by Host >
It seems to have popped up after failing to connect to www.hydrogentoday.us. I'm not sure it is related as I've been out for hours and returned to my Mac and see this in my tabs. I'll read the thread but what's up with this?
iMac 10.6.7
Chrome 12.0.742.60 beta
I have no idea if this is the source but the timeline in my history show that the Drudge Report having been left open and refreshes automatically was left open on my desktop while I when to visit my father in law at the VA.
Check the timeline and what opened....
Is it logical that this is related?
If a trojan as ds store suggests then see:
Trojan War
If you discover a trojan program is running on your computer then look to the following information for assistance:
1. A recent discussion on the Apple Support Communities: MacDefender Trojan.
2. An excellent site devoted to Mac Malware: Macintosh Virus Guide
3. Another site for removing MacDefende, et.al.: MAC Defender Rogue Anti-Virus analysis and Removal
Removing strange software can be a task. The following outlines various ways of uninstalling software:
Uninstalling Software: The Basics
Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Applications may create preference files that are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can look for them in the above location and delete them, too.
Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.
Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.
Some applications may install a Startup item or a Log In item. Startup items are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the Delete [-] button to delete it from the list.
Some software use startup daemons or agents that are a new feature of the OS. Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.
If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term. Unfortunately Spotlight will not look in certain folders by default. You can modify Spotlight's behavior or use a third-party search utility, Easy Find, instead. Download Easy Find at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Some applications install a receipt in the /Library/Receipts/ folder. Usually with the same name as the program or the developer. The item generally has a ".pkg" extension. Be sure you also delete this item as some programs use it to determine if it's already installed.
There are many utilities that can uninstall applications. Note that you must have this software installed before you install software you may need to uninstall. Uninstallers won't work if you install them after the fact. Here is a selection:
AppZapper
Automaton
Hazel
CleanApp
Yank
SuperPop
Uninstaller
Spring Cleaning
Look for them and others at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on removing software and dealing with spyware and malware.
After removing all the components of the software you may have to restart the computer to fully disable the software. This will be the case when removing software that has installed a daemon. After the daemon has been removed you need to restart the computer to stop the daemon. Alternatively, you can kill the daemon process using the Terminal application or Activity Monitor.
Thanks for all the good work. From your blog.
I don’t know what data was sent, perhaps someone experienced with packet sniffing could test and let us know. (Edit: I took a shot at collecting the data in Wireshark, and the relevant packets can be seen here. None of it looks particularly disturbing to me, but I’m far from an expert at network packet analysis.
Would you, perhaps, want to forward that on for further analysis? This was the URL MadMacs0 from ClamX provided.
virustotaldotcom
EDIT: Please see my recent post replying to MadMacs0. I took the liberty of referring him to your blog and the packets dump.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3049657?answerId=15176922022#15176922022
I also gave him a link to this thread.
Message was edited by: WZZZ
Hey did it look like this? Every time I see it I force quit safari. Pops up all the time in google images which is annoying when i am doing work. Is it something to be worried about or just ignore and keep force quitting. Also is the something better to do other then force quit?
Thanks guys
That absolutely is it. There's no need to force quit... no need to even quit Safari, for that matter. Just close the window, delete anything that got downloaded an go on with life. See my previous message above for a link to get more info:
Your privacy is very important to Apple and we take numerous precautions to safeguard your personal information against loss, theft, and misuse, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. I prefer resetting of password every week and not disclosing to any one.
The following page outlines, in detail, how Apple protects your information:
Apple Privacy Policy
DMerz wrote:
Don't know if anyone from Apple corporate reads these forums?
As a rule, only the moderators read the forums, & most of that is to check for violations of the Apple Support Communities Terms of Use, often for posts users report as potential "abuse" (which could mean problems other than actual abuse). The volume of posts is much too high for anyone to see them all. If you want to make suggestions to Apple, the official way is through the links at http://www.apple.com/feedback/.
What is the consensus on a recommendation for a proper AV software?
There is no consensus! You will get opinions that vary from "it is all useless and/or just as bad as malware" to specific recommendations for one or another product from some users that love it that other users warn will do bad things.
That applies no less to my personal recommendation, which is Sophos Home Edition for Macs. I like it because it is totally free, based on industrial grade commercial products, well maintained, & has detected every variant of this malware I can find well before ClamXav has.
ClamXav is probably the most commonly recommended A-V product for Macs. It is an open source effort & is also free. If you are looking for consensus among those that recommend such things for OS X, this is as close as you will get.
The one thing that almost everybody (myself included) seems to agree on is to stay away from Norton A-V products.
You got trojaned, don't install, run or give your credit card to anything.
It's a variant of the MacDefender, MacSecurity malware floating around different parts of the Internet.
You can download the free ClamXav to remove it. If it's new, a update will be out shortly.
If you have a link to it, please email it to and explain how it did it (clicked a link?)
macdefendertrojan@mailinator.net
This email is for this express purpose, it's for Linc Davis who will send it off to the ClamXav people too.
here is the address of the link that connected to me, telling me i had 71 infected files, asking me to click the mac installer to clean them. i threw it in the trash! do i need to do anything else?
:
< Edited by Host >
Ds store asked that you email the link to him, not post it here. He gave you an email address just above your post.
Please re-read the Terms of User presented to you when you joined. Specifically, you should never post links to websites, especially suspicious ones.
I had that apple security center thing pop up twice today. I downloaded ClamXav and ran it (took about an hour and a half to scan the whole computer) and it didn't find anything. Should I just leave it at that or dig further? I never clicked on any of the links on the "apple security center" page.
hi, i have inadvertantly installed this earlier today, thought i was doing my parents a fav by finishing a partly completed download, ooops. i foollowed the advice on another one of these forums for deleting it from the 3 or 4 other places on the computer. i can not see it running at the moment. how do i know its really gone? i havent had any more of those pesky **** sites pop up but i do internet banking on this and just want to be sure. the apple care lady said it probably got in from a picture dad had downloaded off the google but we have intego virus barrier x6 so why didnt it get picked up? also i have an iphone and an ipad2, is ther the risk i will have that on them when i surf the web and how will i know.
im not that clued up on computers.
appreciate any help
thanks
mac os x 10.6.7
is apple security center safe?
