Loaded w/ possible malware - what to do?

I was helping my father with some things on his macbook (running Leopard) and noticed that in his downloads folder there were over 200 .exe files, with a handful of other strange .dmg and .pkg files in there as well (all named things like "movie" and so on.) I asked him what they were and where he'd downloaded them from, and he responded, "I don't know. I've never downloaded anything ever!"
Obviously he has. I'm not sure if he's opened any/tried to run them or not (couldn't get a solid answer.) I've never had to deal with security issues such as this on a Mac before, so I'm at a loss as to how to fix the situation. I've got two questions, basically:
1. How can I remove all the bad stuff and make sure that it's been removed thoroughly?
2. Is there anything I can do to prevent stuff like that from getting downloaded in the future? I've tried explaining that one shouldn't download files at random or click on links in spam emails, etc. but he seems to think that everything is legit, or it wouldn't be on the internet. Is there any sort of program or anything that will block this stuff?
I'm really at a loss here. I considered taking it to Genius Bar and hoping they can sort it, but the nearest one is over an hour away, so I'd prefer not to do that unless I have to. I'd be super grateful for any help anyone can offer. Thank you!

Hello g:
Welcome to Apple discussions.
.exe files will not execute on a Mac - just delete them.
Some of the .pkg and .dmg files may be legit. One would have to look at them to see what they contain.
Is there anything I can do to prevent stuff like that from getting downloaded in the future? I've tried explaining that one shouldn't download files at random or click on links in spam emails, etc. but he seems to think that everything is legit, or it wouldn't be on the internet. Is there any sort of program or anything that will block this stuff?
I'm not being critical or flippant, but you cannot protect people from their own actions. A powerful learning experience would be to have someone download something that clobbers the computer.
Impress on him that random downloads can cause trouble - even on a Mac.
FWIW, there are NO documented viruses that affect a Mac running OS X - none.
Barry

Similar Messages

  • Applications not loading and possible malware, please help.

    I got my mom a mac because I knew she would click on anything, and this way her chances of doing anything too deleterious might be reduced.
    Anyhow, I think she downloaded something malicious. Now the screen saver, which originally pulled pictures from a folder in iphoto, now goes through a random set of photos in iphoto and also shows some really pixelated images that are superimposed on the photos. For example, there will be a photo, then the next image is a large, pixelated heart superimposed on the same photo. Then there will be another random picture, and then a different pixelated image on top of that photo.
    Then I noticed that applications were not loading. So far, software update does not work, safari does not work, and itunes does not work. She says she only uses firefox though and now it loads by itself on startup even when I never applied that setting. I saw another post where it was recommended to download clamX, but it would not load. I went to the apple site and downloaded the latest software update, but it would not open. I tried the disk utility, but it only showed green-nothing was wrong.
    I am at a loss of what to do, and even what is going on with the computer. I'm wondering what information has been compromised. I've tried doing a search on previous discussions, but am unsure of what key words to use. My mom does not have administrator privileges. This computer is mainly used for a filemaker pro app (which still works) and the internet/email.
    I appreciate any thoughts you might have and any advice. Also, if you have any ideas on how to make this more "mom-proof". She has a hard time knowing what should be avoided as there is some language barrier.
    Thank you.

    I appreciate your reply. It was never a problem before though. The screensaver was always a folder in iphoto.
    What can I do to find out why none of the applications work? I just tried downloading adobe reader since preview is not working, but even though it installed it won't start up.
    I appreciate any tips!

  • I opened an email that I later identified on hoaxbusters as depositing malware.  I have malwarebytes on my laptop, but nothing similar on my iphone4  what app should I buy?  If I run it, will it find or fix the possible malware?

    I opened an email on my phone that I later identified on hoaxbusters as depositing malware.  I have malwarebytes on my laptop, but nothing similar on my iphone4.  What app should I buy?  If I run it, will it find or fix the possible malware?

    The creeps that generate this code figured that the iPhone since is is selling so well would be a great market for them even if iOS makes it impossible for their code to do anything practical unless it is jail broken first.
    For additional information on jailbreaking, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking

  • I think my mac book pro has a virus - is that possible and what can I do?

    I think my mac book pro has a virus.  Is that possible and what can I do?
    I opened an attachment on an email claiming to be an order confirmation from Amazon.  I now have several copies of it on my desktop and can't delete them.

    theforgebridget wrote:
    I opened an attachment on an email claiming to be an order confirmation from Amazon.  I now have several copies of it on my desktop and can't delete them.
    It is highly likely that this attachment is malware. It's also highly likely that it is Windows malware. So you're probably not infected with anything. What is the exact name of the attachment you opened? Please be sure to include whatever extension the filename has (such as .exe, .pdf, .doc, etc).
    What happens when you try deleting the attachment files from your desktop? Is there an error message of some kind? If so, what is the exact error message you're seeing? (Please don't try to paraphrase it... tell us the precise wording of the message.)

  • To download an App the 3 security questions are required. But at the end, apple is not able to complete the task and gives an error message. No more downloads are possible. What can I do?

    to download an App the 3 security questions are required. But at the end, apple is not able to complete the task and gives an error message. No more downloads are possible. What can I do?

    Very Important, how much Free Space is on your Hard Drive first of all? Click on the Macintosh HD on the Desktop, then do a Get Info on it.
    Could be many things, we should start with this...
    "Try Disk Utility
    1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
    2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
    *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
    3. Click the First Aid tab.
    4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
    5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
    Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
    (Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)
    If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.
    Do they launch OK while in Safe Mode?

  • I need to install on macbook pro (early 2008) one hard disk 1 TB. Is it possible? What kind of HD is it better?

    I need to replace the HD of my macbook pro (early 2008) with another one with 1 TB storage capability. Is it possible? What kind of HD is it better?
    Thanks
    Enrico

    Take a look at what is offered by Mac specialists, such as OWC http://www.macsales.com and see what drives they handle.  Their drives are all guaranteed to be compatible with Macs.  And they have on-line videos that show how to do the installation.
    Even if there are problems getting them to deliver where you live, you can get ideas of what works well with your system.

  • We are a creative design studio, we need to use apple mac pro server , so we can make more than a different user to use at the same time doing different activities, on different screens, is it possible?what is the max. no. of users that can work efficient

    we are a creative design studio, we need to use apple mac pro server , so we can make more than a different user to use at the same time doing different activities, on different screens, is it possible?what is the max. no. of users that can work efficient.
    Appreciate your support and if possible , how to do this?

    If you want to work with Mac OS X, you need one computer per simultaneous user.
    What you are describing, " Multiple simultaneous logins to a single computer" is not avialable on a regular Mac of any description, unless you decide to use Unix tools instead of Mac OS X.
    Server will happily store files for many, many users and provide them to multiple (up to hundreds) of computers at "near hard Drive" speeds over Gigabit Ethernet. It can make the File Sharing part easy.

  • I want to use my Mac desktop as a portal for viewing my cable television via some kind of cord. Is this possible and what do I need to set this up?

    I want to use my Mac desktop as a portal for viewing my cable television via some kind of cord. Is this possible and what do I need to set this up?

    It can be done with analog but not digital thanks to "good 'ol" HDCP copy protection which apple (and most other manufacturers) unfortunately respect.
    So you can take the analog output from your cable box (component -- 5 cables -- if it has it but generally they all have composite -- 3 cables) and feed it into some kind of converter or into some appropriate pci card for your mac pro.  But none of them are going to let you directly use the HDMI output from the box to your computer.
    Bottom line, no single cord is going to work and it will never be the higher quality digital picture you get on your tv.
    Some qualification:  There are boxes that I think support hdmi input.  Look at Blackmagic.  But I still don't think you can get around the HDCP from the cable box (might depend on the kind of cable box). 

  • Ever since I downloaded the new Firefox, when I right-click on a link to open it in a different tab, the tab will open but will not load anything, no matter what link I try.

    Ever since I downloaded the new Firefox, when I right-click on a link to open it in a different tab, the tab will open but will not load anything, no matter what link I try. The tab will show the website destination in the navigation bar, but will not automatically load it; I have to press the load button in the navigation bar instead of it instantly loading.
    == This happened ==
    Every time Firefox opened
    == The newest version, 3.6.6, of Firefox was downloaded

    It's not specific sites. I can middle-click on the same link 50 times and it will open it in a new tab 45 times and 5 of those times, it will randomly open it in an entirely new window. I don't know what's causing this.
    It happens so randomly that I don't know how to pin-point what it could be.

  • Have new iMac with iPhoto sharing turned on. When the shared library is clicked the library disappears or starts to load then disappears? What is wrong?

    Have new iMac with iPhoto sharing turned on. When the shared library is clicked the library disappears or starts to load then disappears? What is wrong?

    Try this:  launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import some photos and check to see if the same problem persists. If it doesn't then your current library is damaged and needs repair.
    Therefore  make a temporary, backup copy (select the library and type Command+D) and  apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
    Fix #1
    Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
    Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #1, followed by #3 and then #4 as needed.
    Fix #2
    Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
    Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
    In the next  window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
    Click on the Create button.
    Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
    If you experience the same problem with the test library then try this basic fix a try:  make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and try the following:
    1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your
         User/Home()/Library/ Preferences folder.
    2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your
         User/Home()/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder. 
    Click to view full size
    3 - launch iPhoto and try again.
    NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding down the Option key when launching iPhoto.  You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
    NOTE 2:  In Lion and Mountain Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
    If that fails a reinstall of iPhoto is indicated. To do so you'll have to delete the current application and all files with "iPhoto" in the file name with either a .PKG or .BOM extension that reside in the HD/Library/Receipts folder and from the /var/db/receipts/  folder,
    Click to view full size
    Then install iPhoto from the source it came on originally.
    OT

  • I can't download apps, or update to mavericks in the App Store. It just keep, "loading" doesn't matter what wifi I'm on...

    I can't download apps, or update to mavericks in the App Store. It just keep, "loading" doesn't matter what wifi I'm on...

    It's hard to tell what's wrong with your Apple ID. Maybe the country you have registered is different from what your friend have registered. Apps are available differently in different areas. That's what I see.

  • HT4623 I have an iPhone 4s and I attempted to update my device's iOS to 7.0.2. The download was successful but when I tried to install the software, it asked me to connect my device to iTunes. I did but my phone failed to load: ERROR 4013. What to do?

    I have an iPhone 4s and I attempted to update my device's iOS to 7.0.2. The download was successful but when I tried to install the software, it asked me to connect my device to iTunes. I did but my phone failed to load: ERROR 4013. What to do?

    Hi there KrisonCastillo,
    I would recommend taking a look at the troubleshooting steps found in the article below.
    iOS: Unable to update or restore
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808
    -Griff W.

  • Safari can't load adf.ly server, what to do ?

    Safari can't load adf.ly server, what to do ?

    It appears that currently Dynamic Web TWAIN Plug-in for Mac doesn't support Safari 5.0 when it's run in 64-bit mode (5.1 or above is ok) . Therefore you need to run Safari 5.0 in 32-bit in order to use Dynamic Web TWAIN Plug-in for Mac. i changed it to 32bit mode and it worked for adf.ly servers.

  • My iphoto doesn't work, it just keeps loading and never works. what is wrong and how do i get it to load?

    my iphoto doesn't work, it just keeps loading and never works. what is wrong and how do i get it to load?

    Option 1
    Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
    If that fails:
    Option 2
    Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
    Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
    Regards
    TD

  • HT201209 If I have redeemed my my gift and the balance is updated in the App Store and I still can not down load apps...what could the issue be?  I keep getting this error message "Your Purchase Could Not Be Completed". Then it refers me to apple support.

    If I have redeemed my my gift and the balance is updated in the App Store and I still can not down load apps...what could the issue be?  I keep getting this error message "Your Purchase Could Not Be Completed". Then it refers me to apple support.

    If you haven't already contacted iTunes Support then you can do so via this link and ask them why the message is appearing (we are fellow users here on these forums, we won't know why) : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/ - click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page, then Purchases, Billing & Redemption

Maybe you are looking for

  • How to publish a single SWF file?

    Hello, I need to know how can I publish a single SWF file (like the EXE option). I've tryied to publish many times, but the Captivate creates many SWF files, including the skin.swf file, but this one I know how to remove. I'm using Captivate 3.0. Tha

  • CSV error reading

    hi, I am trying to read a CSV file but am getting this error. I dont want to use a DSN.           String dbUrl = "C:\\pl\\New Folder\\data.CSV";                Class.forName("sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver");                //use this without setting a

  • Is it possible to attach two 27 inch displays the new generation 17 inch MacPro?

    Is it possible to attach two 24 inch displays to the new generation 17 inch Macbook Pro?

  • How can I get the "OK" button to light up to post the URL?

    I am trying to post the URL but the OK button does not light up.

  • QM - Inspection Lot cancelation.

    Dear Master , Production confirmation GR into Warehouse , after QM release the UD and stock move into Unrestricted stock. I found that production Cost are not accurate because wrong activity time enter , so i would like to cancel the production order