Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected

[giZmo350]

http://blogs.computerworld.com/19989/biggest_apple_botnet_discovered_600k_macs_infected
 
But my question is: Can OS4.X get infected? Is there any anti-virus/malware for OS4? I suppose it's a matter of being targeted though. :angry:

[buzz]

can os4 get infected from this specific exploit? no - as you don't have java.
you might be able to run some old amiga link viruses on os4. I doubt anyone would have any interest to make a virus/malware for os4.. fear the 100 machine strong os4 botnet!

[commodorejohn]

Uh, well, that depends, does OS4 for some reason use Apple's Java implementation? I don't see how or why that would be the case...

[Duce]

OS4 does not run Apple Java (or any Java version), so it is not susceptible to this.

As for legacy Amiga viruses infecting the NG platforms, I suspect it is doable in some form.  But as to how badly they would effect you on modern hardware is another story.  Things have changed a lot in the ways those old viruses would bugger up a system, and a fair number of them looked for specific hardware to corrupt specific devices.  A 68k Amiga virus meant to do bootblock floppy infections won't do a hell of a lot on a a OS4 machine, etc.

The legacy Amiga viruses were coded just to hassle the user, or as a proof of concept and don't have much threat in the modern day, rather than to steal your identity and pass it off over the internet like it is now.

Modern virii and malware just convert your machine to a botnet service, or work to gather your personal information.

If anyone has an old collection of Amiga viruses, I'd love to get ahold of them and see what they do exactly on my SAM 440.

[B00tDisk]

I wouldn't worry; the whole Amiga community is what, 4000-5000?  And "Next Gen" amigas are in the hundreds.

That viruses and security exploits are cropping up on the mac is evidence of it's increasing popularity; you're as likely to see someone expending the effort writing a virus for the Amiga as you are a virus for the RCA Cosmac-VIP.

[commodorejohn]

(note to self: Cosmac VIP = rich, unexploited grounds for attack...)

[TheDaddy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422

"People used to say that Apple computers, unlike Windows PCs, can't ever be infected - but it's a myth," said Timur Tsoriev, an analyst at Kaspersky Lab.

Apple could not provide a statement at this time.


FAIL!

[runequester]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422

"People used to say that Apple computers, unlike Windows PCs, can't ever be infected - but it's a myth," said Timur Tsoriev, an analyst at Kaspersky Lab.

Apple could not provide a statement at this time.


FAIL!

The anti-virus industry is gearing up "Deluxe" "i" versions of their crap right now

[B00tDisk]

Last time I was in the iStore (sptui!) which was years ago there were anti-virus/anti-malware programs for sale.

What did apple and developers know that they weren't telling people openly?

[B00tDisk]

(note to self: Cosmac VIP = rich, unexploited grounds for attack...)

Ah yes, the dreaded 3-machine (2 on alternate Sundays as the third person is out of town) botnet

[Piru]

Well it's about time if you ask me. Considering the popularity I would have expected similar incident years ago already.

Anyhow, there are dozens of antivirus applications for Mac.

What will be the hard part is educating the users to take security matters seriously.

[Trev]

And understanding that they only work after someone else has already been infected. Heuristics are effective but imperfect (obviously). Nothing beats a good dose of common sense.

[LoadWB]

Well it's about time if you ask me. Considering the popularity I would have expected similar incident years ago already.

With you on that.  I've been waiting since the OSX release hoopla.

What will be the hard part is educating the users to take security matters seriously.

Especially considering that for years the culture has been to teach the exact opposite and actively ignore any comments, questions, or proof of the opposite.