I think our Mac Pro (not MacBook Pro) might have a virus - help!
Mac Pro early 2008 (NOT a MacBook Pro -- this is a tower desktop not a laptop)
2x2.8 GHz Quadcore Intel Xeon
OSX 10.8.5
4 internal hard drives
4 external hard drives
Here are most of the details of the problem:
The Finder's behavior is very, very odd.
Cannot type text into Spotlight - the text entry box will not accept any entries.
Cannot type admin password into login or for other uses.
Cannot access drop-down menus in various windows.
When I click on the desktop using the cursor, I get a strange little floating Finder window that is attached to the cursor that includes the following: New Folder, Get Info, Change Desktop Background, Clean Up, Sort By, Show View Options.
I seem to be able to access drop-down menus from top menu bar... BUT, I'm not sure about this. They seem to be general finder drop-down selection menus that include: Open, New Folder, Get Info, Change Desktop Background, Clean Up, Sort By, Show View Options.
To access any parts of the Finder (files, applications, and other content), I have to use an "Open" menu choice that is available in a separate window that pops up next to the cursor. Applications will not open by just clicking on Icons. Files will not open by clicking on their Icons, etc.
I tried repairing permissions, that helped for a while, and made it possible to access email for a short while, but didn't solve the finder problem.
The Finder problem affects all system applications.
After trashing the Finder .plist, I was able to access iTunes briefly and play a song, but that access lasted only a few minutes and then the Finder problem returned.
When I inserted a thumb drive to backup my User Library, at first I was able to use the Finder to access the contents of the thumb drive in a normal fashion, but after about 5 minutes, that normal access was no longer available and the symptoms described above appeared on the thumb drive Finder window as well.
I tried putting com.apple.finder.plist in the trash, and logout, but then I was unable to login again because I was unable to type in my administrator password - the password text box. I performed a manual shutdown and found that my User account was available without login. Then, I was able to access iTunes briefly and play a song, but that access lasted only a few minutes and then the Finder problem returned.
Recently, I updated Java from a pop-up prompt on my desktop. Also, I recently updated Adobe Flashplayer from a pop-up prompt that appeared on my desktop. Both of these just popped up while I was working with photos, checking email, etc. I fear that one or both of these were fake prompts and have installed a virus or malware.
I backed up my data to external drives, but I do not know if whatever is affecting my startup disk has also affected my external backup drives.
Is there a virus in my system?
