MALWARE Reports recent_PC & MAC

    Just yesterday morning, the local Colorado Springs, CO CBS Affiliate (KKTV.com) cited recent MALware incident(s), in which MACs and PCs were stated to each be susceptible. The jist of the scenario is that during browsing, you'd end-up entering (a Popular, authentic appearing, web home page) a site that is totally faux, and bad news. Now the internet-user, can no longer go On-Line?? News to anyone, our was "our" news-central get an "F"?   Thanx for any news .......     

Scare tactics sells news soap, see this about DNS chahanger...
http://x704.net/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6008

Similar Messages

  • Problem Report for Mac OS X Kernel

    Twice within half an hour I had a message I've never seen before telling me to shut down my MacBook by pressing the power key down for a few seconds.  The message took up the whole screen, I couldn't escape from it and when I did as it said, my computer had the "Problem Report for Mac OS X Kernel" report ready to send to Apple.  But when I hit "send to Apple", I get the message "Your report could not be submitted.  Please try again later."   I've tried about 5 times to submit it but it won't go through.  Does this mean I have a virus? 
    In case this helps, here is the problem detail that I can't send to Apple.
    Interval Since Last Panic Report:  164 sec
    Panics Since Last Report:          1
    Anonymous UUID:                    AB7441C1-FF8F-4875-AE44-5667520924CF
    Sun Mar 18 11:23:52 2012
    panic(cpu 1 caller 0x001AB0FE): Kernel trap at 0x010e341c, type 14=page fault, registers:
    CR0: 0x80010033, CR2: 0x00000008, CR3: 0x0194e000, CR4: 0x00000660
    EAX: 0x20228000, EBX: 0x000c63d1, ECX: 0x08961a00, EDX: 0x00000000
    CR2: 0x00000008, EBP: 0x301a3b78, ESI: 0x2047d000, EDI: 0x2047d000
    EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x010e341c, CS:  0x00000008, DS:  0x25d80010
    Error code: 0x00000002
    Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
    0x301a3988 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45f91c 0x301a39bc 0x13355c 0x0)
    0x301a39d8 : 0x1ab0fe (0x469a98 0x10e341c 0xe 0x469248)
    0x301a3ab8 : 0x1a1713 (0x301a3ad0 0x2047d000 0x301a3b78 0x10e341c)
    0x301a3ac8 : 0x10e341c (0xe 0x1000048 0x10 0x24ed0010)
    0x301a3b78 : 0x10e55b6 (0x2047d000 0x8961a00 0x59a 0x2044f090)
    0x301a3c88 : 0x43faec (0x2047d000 0x1 0x301a3cdc 0x301a3cd8)
    0x301a3cf8 : 0x444345 (0x2047d000 0x1 0x42c6d04 0x1)
    0x301a3d28 : 0x44445c (0x2047d000 0x1 0x42c6d04 0x301a3d58)
    0x301a3d68 : 0x18ac09 (0x2047d000 0x1 0x42c6d04 0x5d043b8)
    0x301a3db8 : 0x12d4d6 (0x5d04384 0x4f25d98 0x301a3df8 0x11f1c6)
    0x301a3df8 : 0x1264fa (0x5d04300 0x4276254 0x1fac174 0x0)
    0x301a3f08 : 0x198fa3 (0x301a3f44 0x0 0x0 0x0)
    0x301a3fc8 : 0x1a1cfa (0x5d010e0 0x0 0x1a40b5 0x5d010e0)
    No mapping exists for frame pointer
    Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xbfffd058
          Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
             com.apple.GeForce(5.4.8)@0x10c9000->0x1160fff
                dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(5.4.8)@0xc0d000
                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0xbff000
                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x6fa000
                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x7f8000
    BSD process name corresponding to current thread: Skype
    Mac OS version:
    9L31a
    Kernel version:
    Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:55:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_I386
    System model name: MacBook5,2 (Mac-F22788AA)
    System uptime in nanoseconds: 1595040333581
    unloaded kexts:
    com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport    2.4.0 - last unloaded 335995043855
    loaded kexts:
    com.apple.nke.pppoe    1.5 - last loaded 118994245267
    com.apple.nke.ppp    1.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor    1.9d0
    com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothSCOAudioDriver    2.1.9f10
    com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothA2DPAudioDriver    2.1.9f10
    com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport    2.4.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager    2.1.9f10
    com.apple.filesystems.autofs    2.0.2
    com.apple.driver.AppleHDAPlatformDriver    1.7.1a2
    com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient    2.7.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver    1.7.1a2
    com.apple.driver.AppleHDA    1.7.1a2
    com.apple.driver.AGPM    100.8.7
    com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X    6.0.3
    com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController    1.7.1a2
    com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin    3.4.0a17
    com.apple.driver.NVSMU    1.1.7
    com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI    1.0.1d1
    com.apple.driver.AppleLPC    1.3.1
    com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal    5.4.8
    com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP    1.7.7
    com.apple.driver.AppleIRController    113
    com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver    1.0.6
    com.apple.GeForce    5.4.8
    com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl    2.8.15
    com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight    1.6.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver    1.0.0d28
    com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor    2.1.1d2
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub    3.5.2
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTrackpad    1.7.4f1
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver    1.7.4f1
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard    1.7.4f1
    com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController    2.1.9f10
    com.apple.driver.USBCameraFirmwareLoader    1.0.9
    com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice    2.1.1
    com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient    2.1.1
    com.apple.driver.XsanFilter    2.7.91
    com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI    1.1.2
    com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage    1.2.3
    com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx    367.91.22
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub    3.4.9
    com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient    3.5.2
    com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort    1.7.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI    3.4.6
    com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI    3.9.7
    com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver    1.1.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM    1.2.0
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI    3.4.6
    com.apple.nvenet    1.0.54
    com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager    158.10.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleRTC    1.2.3
    com.apple.driver.AppleHPET    1.4
    com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPCI    1.2.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons    1.2.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS    1.4
    com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC    1.2.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC    1.4
    com.apple.security.seatbelt    107.12
    com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall    1.8.77
    com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet    3
    com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement    76.2.0
    com.apple.driver.DiskImages    199
    com.apple.BootCache    30.4
    com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily    9.4
    com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib    1.7.1a2
    com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily    1.7.1a2
    com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily    3.4.0a17
    com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily    1.6.9fc5
    com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib    1.1
    com.apple.NVDAResman    5.4.8
    com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport    1.7.3
    com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily    1.7.3
    com.apple.driver.AppleSMC    2.3.1d1
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController    2.1.9f10
    com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily    2.1.9f10
    com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver    3.4.6
    com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite    3.2.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice    2.1.1
    com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily    1.5
    com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily    1.5
    com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily    1.5
    com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily    2.1.1
    com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family    216.1
    com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily    1.5.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily    3.4.9
    com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily    3.5.2
    com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily    1.6.1
    com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime    1.2.0
    com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily    1.1
    com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily    1.5.6
    com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily    1.5.5
    com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform    1.2.5
    com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily    2.6
    com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily    1.2.0

    Welcome to Apple Discussions.
    It is unlikely you have a virus. From other threads, it seems that Apple is no longer accepting crash reports for OS X Leopard 10.5.
    Here's some guidance on troubleshooting Kernel Panics:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742

  • How can I eradicate this "Visual Touch" malware form my Mac OS X?

    How can I eradicate this "Visual Touch" malware form my Mac OS X on google chrome?
    I have tried everything i've seen in these forums so far, removing all extensions, manually added suggested filters & even uninstalled the entire browser and its contents on my device but still i am seeing the disgusting double underlined advertising haunting a large proportion of web pages i am visiting.
    Any help would be appreciated to finding a credible solution. Although it's advised to remove the adblock software as it is the potential cause it is unbearable surfing without it. So after trying every advised antidote i've just reinstalled it, and living with the double green line bullsh*t.
    Also i almost never use safari, just google chrome but when i went to try safari it looks like the parisite and found its way on to that browser too.
    Is there any type of malware software to search the computer which can successfully find and remove the cause of this ongoing issue? please it's insatiably irritating

    Identify and remove adware/malware
    http://www.thesafemac.com/arg/

  • How do I check and clear malware from my Mac book Pro 10.6?

    How do I check and clear malware from my Mac book Pro OS x 10.6?

    Helpful Links Regarding Flashback Trojan and Virus Protection
    An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
    A link to a great User Tip about the trojan: Flashback Trojan User Tip.
    To check for the trojan: Anti Flashback Trojan 2.0.4.
    A Google search can reveal a variety of alternatives on how the remove the trojan should your computer get infected. This can get you started. Or the preferred method is to use Apple's protection tool: Flashback Malware Removal Tool 1.0.
    Or, open Software Update. If you do not have the Apple protection software installed it will download and install it via Software Update. If no update appears that means you either already have it installed or it isn't needed for your system. The software is only available for Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion versions of OS X.
    Also see Apple's article About Flashback malware.
    For general anti-virus protection I only recommend using ClamXav.
    For the DNS Changer malware see the following:
    Will your internet service cut off on July 9?
    DCWG | DNS Changer Working Group
    How to remove the DNS Changer malware

  • Did someone put malware on my mac?

    How do I know if someone put malware on my mac? I thought I was getting tech support from DLink, but in fact it was a scam and I let iyogi.ca have access to my mac via their log-in system. Duh. Now that I've done that, how do I know if I have problems, or my files have been copied or personal info stolen?

    The only way to be sure is to erase and reinstall your OS. Since that'll wipe out everything, make sure you back up your own stuff/files first. Since you allowed them access and the company is not DLink, but just someone advertising "support", I would absolutely erase and reinstall.

  • How to remove Malware from a Mac

    How do you remove Malware from a Mac?

    Solution may be found if you search in the "More Like This" section over in the right column. 

  • How can I remove spyware and malware from my mac ?

    How can I remove rootkit.spyware and Trojan.malware from my mac ?
    Since a few days, some webpages open by themselves and it look like the security of my computer is compromised.
    I have a Mac OS X 10.9.5
    Thanks for your help !

    Remove Browser Pop-up Problems
         AdwareMedic
         Adblock Plus 1.8.9
         remove adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac

  • I was online checking flights when a window popped up on my screen saying my computer has been infected by 3 viruses: Backdoor, Adware, and Malware. Does Mac automatically send this alert or is it a program designed to gain access to my system?

    I was online checking for flights when a window popped up on my screen saying my computer had been infected by 3 viruses: Backdoor, Adware, and Malware.  Does Mac automatically send out this alert?  The pop up has a "cleanup button", and is asking me to register some antivirus to enable a full cleanup.  Is this really from Mac/Apple or from some entity trying to gain further entrance to my data?  Can't seem to get assistance from Apple until 6 am.  I am not computer savvy. PLEASE ADVISE!!!

    Do not ignore this... it's malware, not a virus. Even if you didn't click on anything, make sure your Mac is free of malware.
    Follow the instructions from the first two links.
    http://www.fixkb.com/2011/05/remove-mac-protector.html
    http://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/02/new-macdefender-malware-threat-for-mac-os-x/
    And read here.  http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/
    Never accept unsolicited offers from the internet.

  • I'm one of the few idiots in the world who use the "Pages" App. Whenever I open an XLS file. "Numbers" quits - siting use of SFCompatability plugin. Reports to Mac. Problem remains constant?

    I'm one of the few idiots in the world who use the "Pages" App. Whenever I open an XLS file. "Numbers" quits - siting use of SFCompatability plugin. Reports to Mac. Problem remains constant?

    When you get the SF Compatibility plug in message something in the installed iWork part is corrupt. You ned to uninstall and install iWork again
    You cannot completely delete iWork by moving the iWork '09 folder to the Trash. Instead, use Yvan Koenig's script:
              •          Go to http://www.box.com/s/00qnssoyeq2xvc22ra4k
              •          Choose public_YK > for_iWork'09 > other_iWork'09 items
              •          Click on uninstall iWork '09.zip, decompress it, open it in AppleScript Editor and click the Run button
    Restart the computer and install from the iWork disc. Do the Software updates too.

  • Help i have malware on my mac how do i remove it sophos says clean up manually

    please help i have malware on my mac mini. my daughter clicked on a bogus removal thing while on a wabsite and it downloaded antimalware.zip antantimalware1.zip to my mac, but sophos will not remove it! what do i do now?

    as for sophos, see this post.
    get rid of that junk quick !
    as for the malware, check out this user tip.

  • I believe that i have malware on my mac, osx 10.9.4. accordingly, i've tried to run clamxav (on my mac HD) but just get a spinning wheel, then have to shut down. any advice on how to stop spinning wheel or get rid of malware? please help. :-).

    i believe that i have malware (possible highjack of safari browser) on my mac, osx 10.9.4. accordingly, i've tried to run clamxav (on my mac HD) but just get a spinning wheel, then have to shut down. any advice on how to stop spinning wheel or get rid of malware? i have symnatic endpoint and, after scanning, it reveals nothing. please help. :-).

    are locked user files or that have incorrect permission a bad thing?
    Yes.
    why am i removing symantec?
    Short answer: Because it's worse than useless and worse than the imaginary "viruses" you're afraid of would be if they really existed. For the long answer, see below.
    1. This is a comment on what you should—and should not—do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the user's actions. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the computer, or who has been able to log in to it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it.
    The comment is long because the issue is complex. The key points are in sections 5, 6, and 10.
    OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
    2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
    The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
    The following caveats apply to XProtect:
    ☞ It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
    ☞ It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
    As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
    3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
    Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
    ☞ It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
    ☞ A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
    ☞ An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
    Apple has so far failed to revoke the codesigning certificates of some known abusers, thereby diluting the value of Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. These failures don't involve App Store products, however.
    For the reasons given, App Store products, and—to a lesser extent—other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. Sandbox security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
    4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
    5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they are not, and never will be, complete protection. Malware is a problem of human behavior, and a technological fix is not going to solve it. Trusting software to protect you will only make you more vulnerable.
    The best defense is always going to be your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "Trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the scam artists. If you're smarter than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some warning signs of danger.
    Software from an untrustworthy source
    ☞ Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent, or Usenet, or on a website that also distributes pirated music or movies.
    ☞ Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website. Do not trust an alert from any website to update Flash, or your browser, or any other software.
    ☞ Rogue websites such as Softonic and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
    ☞ The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web ads. Any ad, on any site, that includes a direct link to a download should be ignored.
    Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
    ☞ High-priced commercial software such as Photoshop is "cracked" or "free."
    ☞ An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission.
    Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
    ☞ A telephone caller or a web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
    ☞ A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
    ☞ You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
    ☞ Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you download an application of his choosing.
    ☞ A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
    ☞ Anything online that you would expect to pay for is "free."
    Unexpected events
    ☞ A file is downloaded automatically when you visit a web page, with no other action on your part. Delete any such file without opening it.
    ☞ You open what you think is a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file. Even if you don't get the alert, you should still delete any file that isn't what you expected it to be.
    ☞ An application does something you don't expect, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
    ☞ Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
    I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
    6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
    Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
    Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it—not JavaScript—in your browsers.
    Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
    Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
    7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" (AV) or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they are all worse than useless. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store—nothing else.
    Why shouldn't you use commercial AV products?
    ☞ To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. This technique is a proven failure, as a major AV software vendor has admitted. Most attacks are "zero-day"—that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based AV does not defend against such attacks, and the enterprise IT industry is coming to the realization that traditional AV software is worthless.
    ☞ Its design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere. In order to meet that nonexistent threat, commercial AV software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
    ☞ By modifying the operating system, the software may also create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
    ☞ Most importantly, a false sense of security is dangerous.
    8. An AV product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject low-level code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
    An AV app is not needed, and cannot be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful, if at all, only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not really effective, because new Windows malware is emerging much faster than OS X malware.
    Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else. A malicious attachment in email is usually easy to recognize by the name alone. An actual example:
    London Terror Moovie.avi [124 spaces] Checked By Norton Antivirus.exe
    You don't need software to tell you that's a Windows trojan. Software may be able to tell you which trojan it is, but who cares? In practice, there's no reason to use recognition software unless an organizational policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in everyemail attachment until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, ClamXav or a similar product from the App Store may serve a purpose if it satisfies an ill-informed network administrator who says you must run some kind of AV application. It's free and it won't handicap the system.
    The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
    9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
    10. As a Mac user, you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither can you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. Navigating the Internet is like walking the streets of a big city. It's as safe or as dangerous as you choose to make it. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

  • Is there any Malware that affects Macs?

    Hi everyone,
    I recently bought a macbook pro and i wonder if i need a security app? I read something about Kaspersky for Mac, did anyone have an idea about this app?

    1. This is a comment on what you should and should not do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to your computer, or who has been able to log in to it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
    If you find this comment too long or too technical, read only sections 5, 6, and 10.
    OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
    2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
    The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
    The following caveats apply to XProtect:
    It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
    It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
    As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
       3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
    Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
    It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
    A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
    An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
    For the reasons given above, App Store products, and other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. Sandboxing security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
    4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
    5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they're not absolute protection. The first and best line of defense is always going to be your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "Trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and Internet criminals. If you're smarter than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some red flags that indicate danger.
    Software from an untrustworthy source
    Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent or Usenet.
    Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website.
    Rogue websites such as Softonic and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
    The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web popups.
    Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
    Software that you would otherwise have to pay for is "cracked" or "free."
    An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission.
    Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
    A web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
    A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
    You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
    Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you install an application of his choosing.
    A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
    Unexpected events
    You open what looks like a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file or message.
    An application does something inexplicable, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
    Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
    I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
       6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
    Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
    Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it — not JavaScript — in your browsers.
    Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
    Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
    7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, if they do any good at all. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store — nothing else.
    Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?
    To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. New threats are emerging on a daily basis. Research has shown that most successful attacks are "zero-day" — that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based malware scanners do not defend against such attacks.
    Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
    In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
    By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
    8. An anti-malware product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
    An anti-virus app is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not completely effective. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.
    A Windows malware attachment in email is usually easy to recognize. The file name will often be targeted at people who aren't very bright; for example:
    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!!!!!!!H0TBABEZ4U!!!!!!!.AVI♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.exe
    Anti-virus software may be able to tell you which particular trojan it is, but do you really care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use the software unless an institutional policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in every unknown email attachment until proven otherwise.
    The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
    9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
    10. As a Mac user you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither should you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. "Hmmmm, this torrent is a crack of that new game I want. I think I'll download it. It could be a trojan, but the antivirus will warn me if it is." Then they wonder why their Mac is so slow all of a sudden. It's slow because it's running flat out mining bitcoins for a hacker who has already sold their credit card number and banking passwords to a criminal gang. Maybe a week later the antivirus does warn them, but what good does that do?
    Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

  • Malware - trojan on mac

    hi all.
    I just had an experience where my emai account running through mac mail was spamming thousands of emails to the world. I was getting over 2000 replied emails  with address unknown, can't find server and all of those kinds of errors. my hosting company thinks that my computer was infected with a trojan or malware, but I was under the impression that mac's don't get viruses.
    They have changed my password and my cpanel log in for security and have asked me to check me system
    can you guys lend me more information on what I can use or what I shoudl look for that may have caused this issue?
    thanks
    bret

    thanks for the reply guys.
    Here is a full email message. I don't know if they are being sent from my computer or not. I am not seeing anything in the outbox that is being sent, but I am receiving the following or have been receiving the following in the thousands.... I am using imap services and not pop.
    This is the mail system at host gateway07.websitewelcome.com.
    I'm sorry to have to inform you that your message could not
    be delivered to one or more recipients. It's attached below.
    For further assistance, please send mail to postmaster.
    If you do so, please include this problem report. You can
    delete your own text from the attached returned message.
                      The mail system
    <****>: host ****[204.127.217.21] said: 551
       not our customer (in reply to RCPT TO command)
    Reporting-MTA: dns; gateway07.websitewelcome.com
    X-Postfix-Queue-ID: D9CF85FB9A267
    X-Postfix-Sender: rfc822; ****
    Arrival-Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 18:04:25 -0600 (CST)
    Final-Recipient: rfc822; ****
    Action: failed
    Status: 5.0.0
    Remote-MTA: dns; ****
    Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 551 not our customer
    From: "Richelle Wayne" <****>
    Subject: ṼĭẳǴṙẳ
    Date: 11 January 2014 11:04:21 am AEDT
    To: ****
    <Email Edited By Host>

  • HT6114 how to check for malware on my mac

    My macpro is running slow all of a sudden.  How do i check for malware?

    No need, really. You've shown no evidence that malware would be causing the issue. Furthermore, OS X has its own built-in anti-malware protection. It's unlikely your problem is due to malware. See the following:
    Things You Can Do To Resolve Slow Downs
    If your computer seems to be running slower here are some things you can do:
    Start with visits to:     OS X Maintenance - MacAttorney;
                                      The X Lab: The X-FAQs;
                                      The Safe Mac » Mac Performance Guide;
                                      The Safe Mac » The myth of the dirty Mac;
                                      Mac maintenance Quick Assist.
    Boot into Safe Mode then repair your hard drive and permissions:
    Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions Pre-Lion
    Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list.  In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive.  If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
    Repair the Hard Drive - Lion/Mountain Lion/Mavericks
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the Utilites Menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD disk icon and click on the arrow button below.
    When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list.  In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive.  If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported, then click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
    Restart your computer normally and see if this has helped any. Next do some maintenance:
    For situations Disk Utility cannot handle the best third-party utility is Disk Warrior;  DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.x is now Intel Mac compatible.
    Note: Alsoft ships DW on a bootable DVD that will startup Macs running Snow Leopard or earlier. It cannot start Macs that came with Lion or later pre-installed, however, DW will work on those models.
    Suggestions for OS X Maintenance
    OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.) If this isn't the case, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep.  Dependence upon third-party utilities to run the periodic maintenance scripts was significantly reduced since Tiger.  These utilities have limited or no functionality with Snow Leopard or later and should not be installed.
    OS X automatically defragments files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive.
    Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection
    An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
    Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.
    See these Apple articles:
              Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection
              OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
              OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
              About file quarantine in OS X
    If you require anti-virus protection I recommend using VirusBarrier Express 1.1.6 or Dr.Web Light both from the App Store. They're both free, and since they're from the App Store, they won't destabilize the system. (Thank you to Thomas Reed for these recommendations.)
    Troubleshooting Applications
    I recommend downloading a utility such as TinkerTool System, OnyX, Mavericks Cache Cleaner, or Cocktail that you can use for removing old log files and archives, clearing caches, etc. Corrupted cache, log, or temporary files can cause application or OS X crashes as well as kernel panics.
    If you have Snow Leopard or Leopard, then for similar repairs install the freeware utility Applejack.  If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the command line.  Note that AppleJack 1.5 is required for Leopard. AppleJack 1.6 is compatible with Snow Leopard. Applejack does not work with Lion and later.
    Basic Backup
    For some people Time Machine will be more than adequate. Time Machine is part of OS X. There are two components:
    1. A Time Machine preferences panel as part of System Preferences;
    2. A Time Machine application located in the Applications folder. It is
        used to manage backups and to restore backups. Time Machine
        requires a backup drive that is at least twice the capacity of the
        drive being backed up.
    Alternatively, get an external drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
      1. Carbon Copy Cloner
      2. Get Backup
      3. Deja Vu
      4. SuperDuper!
      5. Synk Pro
      6. Tri-Backup
    Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore.  Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files. For help with using Time Machine visit Pondini's Time Machine FAQ for help with all things Time Machine.
    Referenced software can be found at MacUpdate.
    Additional Hints
    Be sure you have an adequate amount of RAM installed for the number of applications you run concurrently. Be sure you leave a minimum of 10% of the hard drive's capacity as free space.
    Add more RAM. If your computer has less than 2 GBs of RAM and you are using OS X Leopard or later, then you can do with more RAM. Snow Leopard and Lion work much better with 4 GBs of RAM than their system minimums. The more concurrent applications you tend to use the more RAM you should have.
    Always maintain at least 15 GBs or 10% of your hard drive's capacity as free space, whichever is greater. OS X is frequently accessing your hard drive, so providing adequate free space will keep things from slowing down.
    Check for applications that may be hogging the CPU:
    Pre-Mavericks
    Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder.  Select All Processes from the Processes dropdown menu.  Click twice on the CPU% column header to display in descending order.  If you find a process using a large amount of CPU time (>=70,) then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar.  Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process.  See if that helps.  Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.
    Mavericks and later
    Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder.  Select All Processes from the View menu.  Click on the CPU tab in the toolbar. Click twice on the CPU% column header to display in descending order.  If you find a process using a large amount of CPU time (>=70,) then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar.  Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process.  See if that helps.  Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.
    Often this problem occurs because of a corrupted cache or preferences file or an attempt to write to a corrupted log file.

  • HELP! I had a Flashback Trojan/Malware on my Mac, I deleted it in trash, and now my Mac won't start.

    At first my Mac Finder showed n81, n82, etc when you right-click it, instead of the commands " open new finder window", "hide" etc. I also noticed that sometimes, when I would go to sites such as facebook, it would redirect to a different site and I'd have to type in the address again to get to the site. Nothing else was wrong with it. Safari was not shutting down. It wasn't slow.
    I did some research and found that I probably have the Flashback Trojan/Malware virus (whatever that is?) And so I followed what some people did (which got their mac fixed) .. I downloaded clamvax and tinkertool to find the malware (hidden files) and I deleted it in trash.. my computer seemed fine but when I restarted it, it wont turn on anymore.. the screen remains blue, the mouse could still be moved, but it stays that way..
    did I lose all my files? am I being hacked as we speak? Is this virus very dangerous?! I am very paranoid and know nothing about this kind of stuff so please help!
    BTW, the malware was from the game Farm Frenzy.. I have no idea how I got this... I never play online games.

    @Thomas, Thanks for jumping in. I had to take my wife to a Doctor appointment and things went down hill from there.
    I note that you are using Mac OS X 10.5.x.  It's important to understand that the Java vulnerabilities that allowed this malware to get established on your machine cannot be fixed in 10.5.x.  You would need to upgrade to at least 10.6 (Snow Leopard) to be able to get a version of Java with those vulnerabilities fixed.  (Correct me if I'm wrong there, Al!)
    That's 100% correct. Natalia has the distinction of being the first OS X 10.5 user confirmed to be infected by Flashback as far as I can tell. That operating system is becoming increasingly dangerous as the days go by. The OS has not been updated since Aug 2009 and the last Security and Java updates were in June 2011. There is no XProtect system and more and more third party's have dropped support in updating their Applications.
    Natalia_ wrote:
    I actually ran disk utility, and it said that the Macintosh HD is fine... I also tried safe mode/safe boot and did the FSCK command.. even that said that my laptop was fine? but somehow it still stays blue when I start up!
    And I think it probably is fine, except that something is hanging during the initial loading process. Could be most anything.
    As for my files, I appreciate your advice but I am scared I might do something wrong and mess my laptop up even more!
    There is almost no chance of that and at this point it should be obvious to you that if the files on your laptop are that important, you should already have a backup.
    I will take it to Apple and hopefully they can help me... because it seems that my files aren't wiped out... yet... It still displayed that I had my files in there..
    One word of caution, then. I have been told that Apple has instructed their support folks not to attempt to clean up a malware infection. If I were you I wouldn't bring it up unless you have to.
    By the way, while the disk was running, it was making very loud noises.. humming/grinding/etc... what could this mean?
    Only one thing in my experience, you're hard drive is toast. All the more reason to try and get all the data you can off it immediately.
    The only way to test it is to do a surface scan which Disk Utility cannot do. You would need a third party utility to do that. If it tells you there are bad sectors, that is 100% proof that it's going bad, as modern hard drives repair themselves of bad sectors until they run out of reserves to substitute.

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