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I am still looking for an answer as to what function this Malware performs. Clamxav virus software downloaded from the App store identified several "Apple mails" and identified it as "Heuristic.Phishing.email.SpoofedDomain". I am unable to find the definition from Clamxav or searches through web serches.
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
You appear to be confused! Did you not say this is not Malware? From your description this is Malware!
You don't appear to know what the word "malware" means.
The expression ‘malware’ is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software.
'mal' = bad
The expression ‘malware’ is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software.
The key word there being "software"... some text and a link in an e-mail message, no matter how hostile or annoying, does not equate to executable code.
Agreed klaus. but Thomas A Reed said it is not Malware when it is decribed (with no reference) as a phishing scheme. Which is Malware if tricks a user into going to a unwanted Web site from there Email.
"malware" by common definition is software of some sort that installs on your computer. The term is a conflation of the words "malicious" and "software" and hence clearly refers to programming code running without authorization on your computer with the intent of taking unauthorized control of your computer, stealing personal information, or performing some other act that would be harmful to the computer and/or its users.
A phishing email, since it is not software on your system but strictly a message that purports to be something it is not, would by the common understanding of the term not be considered malware. A phone call from someone claiming to be from your bank and asking for your bank account information would be the same, just via a different medium.
But this is strictly a argument over semantics and hence no point in continuing the discussion on that basis. If you wish to consider a phishing email to be "malware", you are free to do so, though you should understand that few other people will understand it on that basis.
The most important thing is that with a phishing email, unless it came with some sort of attachment or responding to the email authorizes download of something, there is nothing on your computer to remove other than the message itself. If you respond to such an email with personal information, then you have to address the problem with the service for which you divulged said personal data.
Regards.
"Heuristic.Phishing.email.SpoofedDomain" Virus
