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Operating System Specific Discussions => Other Operating Systems => Topic started by: giZmo350 on April 05, 2012, 05:04:09 PM

Title: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: giZmo350 on April 05, 2012, 05:04:09 PM
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:
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: buzz on April 05, 2012, 05:13:26 PM
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!
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: commodorejohn on April 05, 2012, 05:19:48 PM
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...
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: Duce on April 05, 2012, 05:54:04 PM
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.
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: B00tDisk on April 05, 2012, 06:20:27 PM
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.
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: commodorejohn on April 05, 2012, 06:25:12 PM
(note to self: Cosmac VIP = rich, unexploited grounds for attack...)
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: TheDaddy on April 05, 2012, 06:30:27 PM
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! :D
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: runequester on April 05, 2012, 06:33:01 PM
Quote from: TheDaddy;687188
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! :D


The anti-virus industry is gearing up "Deluxe" "i" versions of their crap right now :)
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: B00tDisk on April 05, 2012, 06:58:16 PM
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?
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: B00tDisk on April 05, 2012, 06:59:06 PM
Quote from: commodorejohn;687186
(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 :D
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: Piru on April 05, 2012, 07:17:54 PM
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.
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: Trev on April 07, 2012, 04:49:13 PM
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.
Title: Re: Biggest Apple botnet discovered: 600K+ Macs infected
Post by: LoadWB on April 07, 2012, 08:13:58 PM
Quote from: Piru;687198
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.
Quote
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.