Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

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Level 1

0 points

What does the community recommend as an appropriate response in light of reports that "an estimated 600,000 or more Macs are currently compromised and part of a massive botnet thanks to the Flashback Trojan." Is Apple taking steps to mitigate the threat?

See article in PC World at: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/253403/mac_malware_outbreak_is_big ger_than_conficker.html

I have a MacBookPro and my wife has an iMac. I assume both are equally vulnearble.

MLSCOS

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 7, 2012 12:27 PM

Best reply

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Posted on Apr 7, 2012 12:30 PM

Maybe do some research. Apple has already released to Java updates to combat the issue as well as updating the hidden malware protection in OS X.

The only significant response is from the user - don't go downloading stuff you know nothing about because you must first download the trojan, then you must install it. Apple cannot protect you from that.

See:

Flashback Trojan User Tip

Malware Checker Dowload Link

View in context

33 replies

etresoft

Level 8

46,512 points

Apr 9, 2012 6:16 AM in response to ds store

ds store wrote:

And it's going to get worse, 10.8 is being released this summner, only a year after 10.7.

Given Apple's past behavior, that will leave 10.6 users from as recently as June 2011 out in the cold.

12-14 months ago and no security updates. 😁

Apple's past behaviour has been to go 2-3 years between major versions. Since AppleCare is a 3 year warranty, it seems obvious that Apple will always provide updates to any system currently under warranty. That means that you will get the same level of updates as before.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 9, 2012 10:44 AM in response to ds store

Tiger and Leopard have already reached their 'end of life'

R C-R

Level 6

17,782 points

Apr 13, 2012 2:18 AM in response to MLSCOS

Hopefully old news to most of you by now, but Apple just released (on April 12th) yet another Java update, this one with a Flashback removal feature added in.

Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 8 & Java for OS X Lion 2012-003.

Running Software Update from the Apple menu should get users of 10.6 or 10.7 the appropriate version for their systems.