Ok what do I need to Do? Virus/Trojan/Worm/SpyWare/Malware/W.E. Do I Freak?

As we all know there have been a flooding of posts regarded to newly discovered OS X Viruses and Worms. Do I need to run out and pick up some Anti Virus software or can I still feel relaxed that OS X is untouchable. I understand that it isn't anymore as you can infect your self my installing the so called virus and running it. I never download any files unless I know what they are, but still. Is this the turning point for OS X becoming Windows OS? I run a large network and want to keep everything safe. Of course firewalls run and stuff like that but am I really safe or do I ned to start worrying? I am not aware of any word from Apple has there been any?
Thanks for ANY insight of this I hope this doesn't become a issue with OS X too.
Internet Wiz

Hi Internet,
Take a deep breath, relax. There has been a huge hype about this "virus", but it really isn't that bad as people think. A lot of people were stunned that there was a piece of malware that effected Macintosh computers. I believe in Classic, there were macro "viruses" that never were really brought to people's attention. You should read some of the past threads about the "viruses", they're have been probably 5 in the past couple of days.
Jon
PS Don't forget, who would probably create the biggest hype about viruses. I am thinking a security company would.

Similar Messages

PLEASE HELP!!!!! I THINK I GOT A VIRUS/TROJAN/WORM

Yes this is the first time this has occurred..
I will tell you what happened... Here i go
Ok tonight i sent an im over aim to somebody and they said i sent a link which i didnt and i send another im to another person and they also said i sent a link which i didnt. So i dont know what this is, is it a trojan horse, a virus, or just a worm? I would think it would be a trojan horse. But i asked them what did the link say and they sent it back to me but it didnt register. And she told me that she sent it... Andi didnt think about it being a virus/trojan/worm untill she exited out of the window. Well i asked her what the link was and she said she didnt know. So it i told her if she gets the link again just send it back to me with out the .com so it wouldnt be a link. I am worried that i got one b/c this is the first time this has happened to me since i had my expensive imac. I am running a mac os x version 10.3.9. And i ran a virus scan for my apps with ClamXav so far there hasnt been a virus detected. Can someone PLEASE help me becuase when i tell my dad he is going to kill me if i dont fix it....
Thx alot, Robby

Hi k0rnyfr33k,
This is one of the oldest tricks in the virus writer's bag. When one of these infected e-mails hits a Windows computer, the virus/worm/Trojan automatically copies itself to every person in their address book. At the same time, it uses any one of those names to spoof the "from" address to make it look like it came from somewhere else. So it's an almost 100% certainty that the virus they got came from someone else's computer whom you know who has your e-mail address in their address book. I've gotten such stuff with my own address as the sender. Meaning that I know it came from one of my relatives, friends, or someone else who has my e-mail stored in their address book in Windows.

Mail - Virus/Trojan/Worm got in?

I noticed during a send and receive and email being sent when I had not created one.
The subject is not one related to anything I have done or received...
Have a virus/trojan/worm?
I did a screen grab....
Check out the send http://images47.fotki.com/v1498/photos/2/537502/7582427/EmailSend-vi.jpg

I have got the same problem. None of my mailboxes are IMAP, only POP. Im looking at the activity screen as you suggested. But it only states what is going on. So it is difficult to track (occurs seldom and quickly)
Also our server is blacklisted, bc someone of us is sending out spam (I could be me)
thanks for the help

What modification is needed to AVG virus protection system after updating Firefox?

When I try to update Firefox on my computer I receive a message that the process will disable my AVG virus protection. I am currently using the latest version of AVG updated earlier this year.
I would appreciate further information on what modification is required to maintain my virus protection.

The extension has nothing to do with it. The "Search.avg.com" was already disabled and I did remove the AVG Toolbar, and any others mentioned Firefox not compatible with I disabled or deleted, I restarted Firefox and the same problem exists. No extension is connected to my antivirus program.

Mail virus trojan worm not responding

ok last post ended up responses going futher and further away from the issues. turned into a boy cat fight.
was getting mulitple copies like trojan, virus, worm whatever. this am just typed a letter tried to send then disaster. had to get tricky keep from losing work. wouldnt send . then tried to open mailbox back not one thing showed up in in sent drafts trash etc. showed a number but nothing inside
mail wasnt responding. took some doing get to finder..
reopened all came back. took some doing but got that piece of mail in drafts out of outbox before ...
it would appear mac.mail10.4 has some" issues."
any concrete help not debate of theory out there?

d,
Spyware's highly unlikely on the Mac. Your phone, on the other hand, is a different story.
Bluetooth can be problematic, as well, if you allow any device to connect. There's even a term for it: Bluejacking, although it's used mainly for harmless pranks. It's easy enough to turn off, though.
Rebuilding the mailbox doesn't normally lose data. Deleting the mailbox would, though. Did you upgrade from OS X Panther to OS X Tiger? If so, mailbox data corruption is a fairly common issue and rebuilding tends to work well.
You can find out what processes are running and taking up your memory by running Activity Monitor. Slow response tends to go with either a process that's hogging memory or a simple lack of sufficient RAM.
Your Mail files are in Users/<your user name>/Library/Mail/<mailbox accounts>. You can back up by copying those files. If they're corrupt, you'll probably be wasting a blank disk.
Check my email for one other concern.
-Wayne

Do I need an anti-virus program on a MacBook?

I'm a brand new MacBook user. Just bought the 13-inch aluminum body version from Club Mac and it was delivered yesterday. The notebook is actually for my wife to be able to use while she's recovering from knee surgery in a couple of weeks and I thought it was time to branch our family out from PC's and Windows. So I'm setting up the MacBook for her to be able to use it...and for our family to get more literate on a Mac and it looks great! My question is do I need an anti-virus program and if so, which is a good one recommended by Mac users? NOTE: because my wife is familiar with Windows, I had XP service pack 3 installed and have VM Ware Fusion onboard to be able to run both Windows and Leopard for her convenience and to assist us. So there MAY be some Windows use on this MacBook, at least at first. All responses, replies, suggestions, welcome. THANK YOU.

Do You Need Anti-Virus Protection for Your Mac?
According to Rich Mogull's article, Should Mac Users Run Antivirus Software?,
"The reality is that today the Mac platform is relatively safe. There are hundreds of thousands of viruses and other malicious software programs floating around for Windows, but less than 200 are known to target the Mac, and many of those are aimed at versions of the Mac OS prior to Mac OS X (and thus have no effect on a modern Mac).
It's not that Mac OS X is inherently more secure against viruses than current versions of Windows (although it was clearly more secure than Windows prior to XP SP2); the numerous vulnerabilities reported and patched in recent years are just as exploitable as their Windows equivalents. But most security experts agree that malicious software these days is driven by financial incentives, and it's far more profitable to target the most dominant platform."
Mr. Mogull is a computer security expert. I recommend reading the entire article as it is quite informative.
For additional information on viruses, trojans, and spyware visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on viruses and spyware.

I have a brand new ipad2 connecting to iTunes 10.7 for the first time... It is not recognizing it in iTunes. It on windows and anti virus is off. What do I need to do?

I have a brand new ipad2 connecting to iTunes 10.7 for the first time... It is not recognizing it in iTunes. It on windows and anti virus is off. What do I need to do?

On the apple website that is correct i beleive.... but i have an italian american express and am able to purchase stuff here in the US.
I mean, i dont think it really matters

I am usiing Kaspersky Internet protection. I keep getting a 403 error Virus Detected on just one of the files that I am trying to convert. What do I need to do.

I am getting a message 403 that the file that I am trying to convert has a virus. I use Kaspersky virus detection and I ran it on just that file. I have converted another file with on problems. What do I need to do?

What is your Windows version? 32-bit or 64-bit?
Internet Explorer: you must use the 32-bit version, regardless of your OS version.
What is the exact error you get, and what are you doing when you get that error?

This is my first mac laptop. Do I need internet security/virus protection? If so, what is recommended?

This is my first mac laptop. Do I need internet security/virus protection? If so, what is recommended?

Additional informaton about OS X security can be found in Thomas Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
In addition to what Bimmer 7 Series has suggested...
Keep Java (not JavaScript) disabled in all your browsers and if you have not installed it yet, don't do so unless you are told that you need it in order to run a critical application or visit a web-site that you must use.
You won't need your Firewall turned on as long as you are on a trusted network using a strong WPA2 password for WiFi, such as your home or workplace, but be sure to turn it on when you need to take your MBP to Starbucks or some other public hotspot.

Do I need additional anti-virus protection for my Macbook Pro for everyday us than what is already on the laptop when you buy it?

I just purchased my Macbook Pro so it is brand new and I will only use my laptop for everyday use at college. So do I need extra protection for it and if I do what do you recomend.

1. This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. 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 victim's computer. 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, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." The malware recognition database is automatically checked for updates once a day; 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.
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. OS X 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 presumably effective against known attacks, but maybe not against unknown attacks. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
5. XProtect, Gatekeeper, and MRT reduce the risk of malware attack, but they're not absolute protection. The first and best line of defense is always 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 malware attacker. If you're smarter than he thinks you are, you'll win.
That means, in practice, that you never use software that comes from an untrustworthy source, or that does something inherently untrustworthy. How do you know what is trustworthy?
Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
Pirated copies or "cracks" of commercial software, no matter where they come from, are unsafe.
Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet binary newsgroup is unsafe.
Software that purports to help you do something that's illegal or that infringes copyright, such as saving streamed audio or video for reuse without permission, is unsafe. All YouTube "downloaders" are in this category, though not all are necessarily harmful.
Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. If it comes from any other source, it's unsafe.
Even signed applications, no matter what the source, should not be trusted if they do something unexpected, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
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.
Follow the above guidelines, 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 from malware.
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. Any database of known threats is always going to be out of date. Most of the danger is from unknown threats. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav— nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?
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. ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe. 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.
ClamXav is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware. 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
ClamXav may be able to tell you which particular virus or trojan it is, but do you care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use ClamXav unless a network administrator requires you to run an anti-virus application.
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 is going to catch some terrible disease every time you install an application, read email, or visit a web page. But neither should you have a false sense of safety. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then also feel free to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

Just found new FBI Virus on my MAC Pro. Won't let me shut down. What do I need to do?

Need help removing new FBI virus from my MAC Pro. Virus won't let me shut down computer. What do I need to do?

It's not a virus.
Quit Safari. Force quit if necessary.
Relaunch Safari by holding down the shift key and clicking its icon in the Dock. That will stop the bad page from reloading automatically. From the menu bar, select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Privacy ▹ Remove All Website Data
to get rid of any cookies or other data left by the server. Open your Downloads folder and delete anything you don't recognize.

HT3310 i have a problem with the headset of my ipod nano 4th gen. the right side don't have a sound. It comes in and out. what do I need to do?.. I am using the original headset eversince. I took it to an Apple Mac Center I was told they can't do anythin

I have a problem with the headset of my ipod nano 4th gen. the right side don't have a sound. It comes in and out. what do I need to do.. I am using the original headset eversince. I tool it to a Apple Mac Cennter and Taked with a Service Center Rep. And he told me that they can't do anything because they don't repair the ipod they didn;t even look at it. I was told instead to buy a new one. I was very disappointed.. This is already my 5th ipod though i am planning to buy a new one.. I still want it fixed so I can give it to my little sister

From the OP: "My old computer got a virus and when that happened all my music was lost. "
They don't have the music on their computer so they cannot transfer the iTunes folder, from the computer to their iPod and then to the new computer. And if they try to enable disk use on the iPod it will erase all the music that is on it. The method you cited is moving the files in a data format using the iPod as a flash drive. It doesn't work if they are in music format. That is why I suggested Yamipod.

I have a Mac running OS X 10.6.8 and have installed all updates and disabled Java Applets. Do I need to put virus protection on this computer and, if so, any recommendations?

I have a Mac running OS X 10.6.8 and have installed all updates and have disabled Java Applets. Do I need to install antivirus software and, if so, do you have a recommendation on what works best.

Mac OS X versions 10.6.7 and later have built-in detection of known Mac malware in downloaded files. The recognition database is automatically updated once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders. In most cases, there’s no benefit from any other automated protection against malware.
The most effective defense against malware is your own intelligence. All known malware that affects a fully-updated installation of Mac OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of trojans, which can only work if the victim is duped into running them. If you're smarter than the malware attacker thinks you are, you won't be duped. That means, primarily, that you never install software from an untrustworthy source. How do you know a source is untrustworthy?
Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown site, merely in order to use the site, is untrustworthy.
A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim.
“Cracked” versions of commercial software downloaded from a bittorrent are likely to be infected.
Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. No intermediary is acceptable.
Disable Java (not JavaScript) in your web browser(s). Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you won’t be missing much. This setting is mandatory in Mac OS X 10.5.8 or earlier, because Java in those versions has bugs that make it unsafe to use on the Internet. Those bugs will probably never be fixed, because those older operating systems are no longer being maintained by Apple. Migrate to a newer version of the Mac OS as soon as you can.
Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can reasonably be.
Never install any commercial "anti-virus" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use ClamXav — nothing else.

New Mac User - What do I need

Hi all, we are switching to Mac after being hardcore PC users for YEARS!! At this point, all of our documents are in MS Office programs. What software do I need to be able to transfer all the docs to our new Mac and then read docs from other PC users? The new Mac we are purchasing is OS-X, but in reading through the software that comes with it, I can't tell if what we will need is included. Thanks for any advice!

Hello:
As an option, you might consider iWork. That is the Apple product - less expensive than Office and seamlessly compatible with Office documents (at least with Word).
As a gratuitous suggestion, you do NOT need A/V software. There are NO viruses that affect a Mac running OS X - NONE. You also do not need to perform basic system maintenance. OS X, for example, "defrags" files of less than 20 MB on the fly.
Welcome from the "dark side" to the wonderful world of Apple computing.
Barry
Message was edited by: Barry Hemphill

Ive downloaded and installed Adobe Pro XI but can't open it. What do I need to do?

I have downloaded and installed the trial for Adobe Pro XI on my Macbook Pro. Its on my desktop.
I can see it, but when I try to open, all i get is a list of files and the option to EJECT!
What do I need to do to get the program to open? I need to extract data from a PDF into Excel - which looks straightforward enough, if I can ever get the program open!

Hi Dorothea,
Please ensure that you are logged in to your system as administrator and anti-virus is disabled.
Once you click to download Acrobat trial version, 'Adobe Download Assistant' application will start downloading.
Then, run the application and then sign up with your Adobe ID credentials to download Acrobat pro XI from the available list of products.
Let me know if you still face the problem and share the screenshot of the message.
Hope to get your response.
Regards,
Anubha

Ok what do I need to Do? Virus/Trojan/Worm/SpyWare/Malware/W.E. Do I Freak?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for