Virus / Spyware? Tiny bug crawling on screen

I've got what looks like a tiny bug randomly crawling around my screen. After researching a bit - I thought it might be a real but - but it's not. I know this because when the hard drive is being accessed and the computer's at work - the "bug" stops moving, or slows down, then speeds up again.
My kids have recently started using my computer - so I'm not sure if they opened up an attachment or not. The computer has been running a bit slower lately - so I'm concerned there's some spyware or a virus on the machine.
Can anyone offer some advice?
Thanks -
Dan

One way to test is to Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, Test for "bug" in Safe Mode...
PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive
Reboot, test again.
If it only does it in Regular Boot, then it could be some hardware problem like Video card, (Quartz is turned off in Safe Mode), or Airport in 10.4 & below, or 3rd party add-on, Check System Preferences>Accounts>Login Items window to see if it or something relevant is listed.
Check the System Preferences>Other Row, for 3rd party Pref Panes.
Check any DashBoard Widgets installed.
Also look in these if they exist, some are invisible...
/private/var/run/StartupItems
/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Similar Messages

Bugs under the screen????

Hi, my Portege M400 laptop came with a manufacturing defect where the screen would separate from the lip of the plastic whenever I'd close it or flip it into tablet mode...But I'd only noticed it once little specs of dirt got underneath it, and I'd tried calling support for them to fix it but they said they wouldn't, keep in mind this was about three years ago, and now I open my laptop to find a little bug crawling under the screen! I'm pretty sure my warranty is out anyway but I accidentally squashed it against the LCD(or whatever type it is)...What should I do? Should I open the top and clean it out or what? I'm kind of worried that there's more somewhere under it, and this one's annoying, it's right on my Firefox URL box!
Help??
NOTE: I don't have enough money for a new laptop!

zenny53: I've seen no mention yet of whether the same design has been used as the Micro.
Dust getting into the screen is not a function of sealing the screen. It will get in through air gaps e.g. where the buttons are. All I can suggest is keeping it in a good quality case, and away from dusty environments.
As for the headphone socket, technically you can only return the player when it's developed an actual fault. Is the sound reproduction actually effected?

When ever I browse a news or cricbuzz app on my iphone5 it automatically brings up the jelly splash on the AppStore within 5 to 10 sec every time. Please could some one suggest of this is a virus or a bug. It is annoying.

When ever I browse a news or cricbuzz app on my iphone5 it automatically brings up the jelly splash on the AppStore within 5 to 10 sec every time. Please could some one suggest if this is a virus or a bug. It is annoying and does not allow me to browse anything on the net.

This is not due to malware. There is no known malware capable of infecting any iOS device, unless that device has been jailbroken.
I have seen one other report this morning of a similar issue. This could simply be due to a rogue ad on those sites. However, if it's happening on a number of other sites as well, you may be having some problems with your network. As an example of the sort of thing I'm talking about, see:
Brazilian internet service provider hacked
Although the following page is written for Mac users, and thus some of its advice is not appropriate for the iPhone, you can still find some good information on such problems here:
Eliminating browser redirects and advertisements

What is the best virus/spyware software for OSX 10.6.8?

What is the best virus/spyware software for OSX 10.6.8 on an iMac?

Csound1's answer albeit short is correct. Because there are no viruses (as in zero, none, nada, zip) for OS X having antivirus software is a waste of time, resources and possibly money. About the only need for antivirus software is if you frequently download files you know nothing about and then forward them to Windows users. In that case even though you still don't need anything for OS X you are protecting the Windows users from your passing along infected files. Most anti-virus software for OS X tend to create more problems than they solve however if you insist I'd recommend ClamXav which is free, non-intrusive and is frequently updated.
Roger

Can you find if spyware or bugging software has been installed?

can you find if spyware or bugging software has been installed?

Not possible to install any software except from AppStore, unless
the iPhone is jailbroken. Is your iPhone jailbroken or has it been out
of your possession for a few hours so some else could have
jailbroken it?
Restore as new - not from backup.

Iphone 4s Tiny Dust Under the Screen !

Hi,
When I look my iphone 4s screen carefuly , I see one piece tiny dust under the corner of the screen ! Are there any easy solution remove this ?
Is it normal ?
How is the dust in there ?
p.s : It's look dead or stuck pixel but when I looked phone is off with power led light and this is absolutely tiny dust under the screen ) There aren't apple store in my country.
thanks
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6525/...

I finally took my device to the Apple Store today. Due to having dust beneath the screen, as well as the crack, it meant they replaced the whole unit, rather than just the screen, which they would have done in the event of just dust.
If anyone else has any issues, I'd highly recommend taking it to a Genius Bar. The staff were so helpful, and no questions were asked really.
Well done Apple

Free Anti-Virus/Spyware Program?

Are there any good, free anti-virus/spyware programs out there to protect my Mac? Ones that remove Mac viruses/spyware as well as Windows ones too? I know there aren't nearly as many threats out there for a Mac compared to Windows, but they are still out there so I want to be safe and know my Mac is secure.
I'm an ex-PC user of many years so I am used to having some comfort knowing I have protection...
Message was edited by: JerichoX

there are some trojans and I think keyloggers exist too but they can't be installed without your active participation. meaning you have to download it, install it and enter your admin password. These things are sometimes disguised. there were a few posts recently by people who got a trojan while visiting adult websites the trojan was disguised as a codec that they were prompted to install to view certain content. However, currently that's pretty much the only way something like this can get into your Mac. If you use a standard account for normal computer operation and take minimal reasonable precautions about what you install on your system there is no need for extra protection.

Best anti virus/spyware software to date?

Hello,
What is the best anti virus/spyware software to date?
Thanks,
Jordan

Jordan asks:
What is the best anti virus ... software to date
I sez:
Don't date software. Date girls.
But if you MUST date software and are concerned about catching cooties, may I suggest that Intego's new VirusBarrier 4X ?
Intego VirusBarrier X4 is the simple, fast and non-intrusive antivirus security solution for Macintosh computers, by Intego, the leading publisher of personal security software for Macintosh. It offers thorough protection against viruses of all types, coming from infected files or applications, whether on CD-ROMs, DVDs or other removable media, or on files downloaded over the Internet or other types of networks.
Intego VirusBarrier X4 protects your computer from viruses by constantly examining all the files that your computer opens and writes, as well as watching for suspicious activity that may be the sign of viruses acting on applications or other files. With Intego VirusBarrier X4 on your computer, you can rest assured that your Macintosh has the best protection available against viruses of all kinds.
Intego VirusBarrier X4 is an application that works in the background and checks everything that your computer does, looking for viruses. It detects and eradicates all known viruses, including Word and Excel macro viruses, and even viruses targeting the Windows operating system. It knows the unique signatures of all known Macintosh viruses, and whenever a new virus is discovered, Intego's Virus Monitoring Center goes into action to provide updated virus definitions, which you can download using Intego VirusBarrier X4's automatic NetUpdate function.
When you purchase a license for Intego VirusBarrier X4, you have access to virus definition updates for one year from the date of purchase. After this time, additional subscriptions, allowing you to extend your access to virus definition updates, are available from Intego, and can be purchased by using NetUpdate.
Intego VirusBarrier X4 was designed according to specific concepts. The main idea is that an antivirus program should not require the user to do anything once it is installed and configured, unless a virus is detected. The Intego VirusBarrier X4 philosophy can be summed up in three words: simple, fast and non-intrusive.

I have like 4-5 teeny tiny dots in the screen of my iphone i don't know what they are from. I can only see some of them when I tilt my phone a certain way. And they are little bitty but I am wondering what they are from

I have like 4-5 teeny tiny dots in the screen of my iphone i don't know what they are from. I can only see some of them when I tilt my phone a certain way. And they are little bitty but I am wondering what they are from

my total library is 680 mb, nowhere close to the 2.08 in the pictures folder. I am obviously messing up.
Actually you’re not.
The iPhoto Window reports the size of the library that would result if you exported all the current versions +and nothing else+ to a folder on the desktop.
The iPhoto Library Folder contains the Original, Modified and thumbnail versions of your pics. It also contains various cache and database files +all of which are necessary+ for the working of the Library.
Don't change anything in the iPhoto Library Folder via the Finder or any other application. iPhoto depends on the structure as well as the contents of this folder. Moving things, renaming things or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.
You can run a Library on an external disk:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library Folder as an entity from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
Regards
TD

Virus/Spyware/Firewall Protection

As a PC (Dell) user looking to switch to a MAC...can anyone recommend any good virus/firewall/spyware protection suites for the MAC OS, Tiger?
I understand that the virus/spyware/hacker threat is lower for a MAC than a PC, but I always like to have extra protection if possible, better safe than sorry (especially if you are not a programmer).
Thank you very much for your time, attention and recommendations.

You're welcome.
What type of Mac do you have - Desktop or Portable?
If a Desktop, do you plan on using a direct Ethernet connection to your modem or do you plan on creating/using a wireless network?
If wireless and you go with Apple's new Airport Extreme base station or the Airport Express which is very small and portable (I have both), these include a hardware firewall as do most other wired and wireless routers these days.
A router is a go between - between your computer and your DSL or Cable modem.
If a wired router (via an Ethernet port connection), the router is connected to the modem and your Mac is connected to the router. Most wired routers include several connections so you can have a number of computers connected to the router and sharing the internet connection at the same time. You can also create a computer network this way - sharing files, etc. between all computers that are connected to the router.
A wireless router also connects to the modem but computers with a wireless card connect to the router wirelessly also sharing the same internet connection. You can also create a computer network this way. I have an external USB hard drive connected to my Apple Airport Extreme Base Station which any computer that is connected to my wireless network can access. I also have a USB printer connected so I can print wirelessly with my PowerBook from anywhere in the house. I use a Dell notebook running Windows XP at work that includes a wireless card so I can access my internet connection and print wirelessly from my Dell notebook when at home.
So it depends on if you want a wired or wireless router and some are a combination of the two. I prefer using Apple's wireless routers (although a little more expensive than others) but I don't have to worry about router firmware updates from the manufacturer as is sometimes required when Apple releases OS X and Security updates.
When checking and deciding on a router, just be sure the specifications include a firewall. This provides double the protection and a firewall backup of sorts. If the hardware firewall fails (which isn't likely but anything is possible) and you keep the built-in firewall included with OS X enabled, there is your backup.
Best of luck to you!

Recommendations for anti-virus, spyware for mac.

Any suggestions for virus, spyware programs or is the OS strong enough to do without?

OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. Keep it that way with software updates from Apple.
A much better question is "how should I protect my Mac":
Never install any product that claims to "speed up", "clean up", "optimize", or "accelerate" your Mac. Without exception, they will do the opposite.
Never install pirated or "cracked" software, software obtained from dubious websites, or other questionable sources. Illegally obtained software is almost certain to contain malware.
Don’t supply your password in response to a popup window requesting it, unless you know what it is and the reason your credentials are required.
Don’t open email attachments from email addresses that you do not recognize, or click links contained in an email:
Most of these are scams that direct you to fraudulent sites that attempt to convince you to disclose personal information.
Such "phishing" attempts are the 21st century equivalent of a social exploit that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Don’t fall for it.
Apple will never ask you to reveal personal information in an email. If you receive an unexpected email from Apple saying your account will be closed unless you take immediate action, just ignore it. If your iTunes or App Store account becomes disabled for valid reasons, you will know when you try to buy something or log in to this support site, and are unable to.
Don’t install browser extensions unless you understand their purpose. Go to the Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions. If you see any extensions that you do not recognize or understand, simply click the Uninstall button and they will be gone.
Don’t install Java unless you are certain that you need it:
Java, a non-Apple product, is a potential vector for malware. If you are required to use Java, be mindful of that possibility.
Disable Java in Safari > Preferences > Security.
Despite its name JavaScript is unrelated to Java. No malware can infect your Mac through JavaScript. It’s OK to leave it enabled.
Block browser popups: Safari menu > Preferences > Security > and check "Block popup windows":
Popup windows are useful and required for some websites, but popups have devolved to become a common means to deliver targeted advertising that you probably do not want.
Popups themselves cannot infect your Mac, but many contain resource-hungry code that will slow down Internet browsing.
If you ever see a popup indicating it detected registry errors, that your Mac is infected with some ick, or that you won some prize, it is 100% fraudulent. Ignore it.
Ignore hyperventilating popular media outlets that thrive by promoting fear and discord with entertainment products arrogantly presented as "news". Learn what real threats actually exist and how to arm yourself against them:
The most serious threat to your data security is phishing. To date, most of these attempts have been pathetic and are easily recognized, but that is likely to change in the future as criminals become more clever.
OS X viruses do not exist, but intentionally malicious or poorly written code, created by either nefarious or inept individuals, is nothing new.
Never install something without first knowing what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to get rid of it when you don’t want it any more.
If you elect to use "anti-virus" software, familiarize yourself with its limitations and potential to cause adverse effects, and apply the principle immediately preceding this one.
Most such utilities will only slow down and destabilize your Mac while they look for viruses that do not exist, conveying no benefit whatsoever - other than to make you "feel good" about security, when you should actually be exercising sound judgment, derived from accurate knowledge, based on verifiable facts.
Do install updates from Apple as they become available. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Summary: Use common sense and caution when you use your Mac, just like you would in any social context. There is no product, utility, or magic talisman that can protect you from all the evils of mankind.

Viruses, spyware and Co.

Hello -- I am a happy Mac user for the past 5 years. And never have had any problems that I know of with viruses, spyware, malware and this whole gamut of invaders which I battled constantly on my old Windows based PC.
BUT..... I was interested if there have been any changes in this realm, i.e. is there any need to be checking for these problems? And if so, what are the recommended applications?

+I also had the peculiar experience of receiving what appeared to be an email from my own gmail account several weeks ago with a very obscure message. That made me wonder about a virus but nothing untoward has happened since.+
That simply means that someone was able to get into your Gmail account and address book there. I would have immediately changed my user name and password (make the password very difficult to guess) - you might consider doing that.
+A friend recent got a warning about one of our emails from her MacAfee software, even though there were no attachments. Is there any way we can tell if this is the case?+
I don't know of any way; I've been careful not to open anything unless I know the sender and I generally do not forward attachments. I have no idea why your friend would get a warning; but then I don't put much faith in MacAfee - it may have been a case of not recognizing a different format and therefore assuming it was bad.

Removed ALL of my anti-virus/spyware software and CANNOT CONNECT TO STORE

***?
iTunes 9 will NOT allow me to connect to the store. I don't have any firewall issues and have removed all of my anti-virus/spyware software. HELP!

This worked for me.
++molly15 wrote:++
++I was having the same problem. Finally figured it out! You have to uncheck "use proxy server" under control panel -> internet options -> connections -> LAN settings. Works just fine now.+

Anti-virus, spyware, adware

Hi,
I have not been using any 3rd party security software, but am now required to make sure that I have anti-virus, spyware, and adware protection with respect to my interface with a Windows network at my office. Two questions, please:
- Does my OS 10.5.6 already provide those security elements?
- If not, what security software would you recommend?
Thanks!

If you are running Windows you need all the protection money can buy. But if you are running Mac OS X:
No viruses that can attack OS X have so far been detected 'in the wild', i.e. in anything other than laboratory conditions.
It is possible, however, to pass on a Windows virus to another Windows user, for example through an email attachment. To prevent this all you need is the free anti-virus utility ClamXav, which you can download from:
http://www.clamxav.com/
However, the appearance of Trojans and other malware that can possibly infect a Mac seems to be growing, but is a completely different issue to viruses.
If you allow a Trojan to be installed, the user's DNS records can be modified, redirecting incoming internet traffic through the attacker's servers, where it can be hijacked and injected with malicious websites and pornographic advertisements. The trojan also installs a watchdog process that ensures the victim's (that's you!) DNS records stay modified on a minute-by-minute basis.
SecureMac has introduced a free Trojan Detection Tool for Mac OS X. It's available here:
http://macscan.securemac.com/
The DNSChanger Removal Tool detects and removes spyware targeting Mac OS X and allows users to check to see if the trojan has been installed on their computer; if it has, the software helps to identify and remove the offending file. After a system reboot, the users' DNS records will be repaired.
(Note that a 30 day trial version of MacScan can be downloaded free of charge from:
http://macscan.securemac.com/buy/
and this can perform a complete scan of your entire hard disk. After 30 days the cost is $29.99. The full version permits you to scan selected files and folders only, as well as the entire hard disk.)
A white paper has recently been published on the subject of Trojans by SubRosaSoft, available here:
http://www.macforensicslab.com/ProductsAndServices/index.php?mainpage=document_general_info&cPath=11&productsid=174
Also, beware of MacSweeper:
MacSweeper is malware that misleads users by exaggerating reports about spyware, adware or viruses on their computer. It is the first known "rogue" application for the Mac OS X operating system. The software was discovered by F-Secure, a Finland based computer security software company on January 17, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacSweeper
On June 23, 2008 this news reached Mac users:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/23/mac_trojan/
More information on Mac security can be found here:
http://macscan.securemac.com/
The MacScan application can be downloaded from here:
http://macscan.securemac.com/buy/
You can download a 30 day trail copy which enables you to do a full scan of your hard disk. After that it costs $29.95.
More on Trojans on the Mac here:
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/63574.html?welcome=1214487119
The latest news on the subject, from July 25, 2008, is:
Attack code that exploits flaws in the net's addressing system are starting to circulate online, say security experts.
The code could be a boon to phishing gangs who redirect web users to fake bank sites and steal login details.
In light of the news net firms are being urged to apply a fix for the loop-hole before attacks by hi-tech criminals become widespread.
Net security groups say there is anecdotal evidence that small scale attacks are already happening.
Further details here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7525206.stm
A further recent development is the Koobface malware that can be picked up from Facebook (already a notorious site for malware), as reported here on December 9, 2008:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_7773000/7773340.stm
There may be other ways of guarding against Trojans, viruses and general malware affecting the Mac, and alternatives will probably appear in the future. In the meantime the advice is: be careful where you go on the web and what you download!

Anti Virus, spyware for Macbooks

Hi everyone, Im a new Mac user. Iam just confused about the Mac security, do Macs needs anti-virus, spyware software?? Someone said not necessary, others said Macs do get Virus so they need anti-virus software
any suggestion??

At this time there have been no confirmed Mac OS X viruses (subject to the semantic debate about whether the iChat exploit is properly classified as a virus or a trojan horse and not counting the Word macro virus that can affect Office v.X or non-updated copies of Office 2004), very few trojans and no adware or spyware. I therefore do not feel that antivirus or antispyware software is necessary at this time. It's never wise to become complacent, though, so security precautions are not wasted. Such security precautions mostly are common sense: don't download and run files from sites you don't know, don't double-click on attachments in emails you aren't expecting and/or from people you don't know, and make sure you password your system and keep that password secure as well as not having your system available and unattended (which also is a precaution against theft). In addition, it's possible for someone to inadvertently forward a Windows virus or worm to a PC user though you'd have to do it manually and said Windows malware cannot infect the Mac.
In addition, it's possible for someone to inadvertently forward a Windows virus to a PC user though you'd have to do it manually, and said Windows virus cannot infect the Mac.
If you do decide you wish to run antivirus software, I think that the donationware clamXav should be more than enough provided you remember to scan your system from time to time.
If you are running Windows on your system, either via BootCamp, Parallels Workstation or another solution, then that copy of Windows is subject to all the myriad exploits common to the Windows world, so you need to take full precautions, including running both antivirus and antispyware software.

Virus / Spyware? Tiny bug crawling on screen

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for